The Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur

The Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur:
The countdown has begun!

Saint-Sauveur, Friday, July 23, 2010 – Less than a week to go until the opening of the 14th Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur. More than 150 artists, including some of the top names in international dance and music, are scheduled to perform at the event.

World premieres and finales
The Festival will open with the prestigious Royal Winnipeg Ballet in a magnificent triple program featuring the world pre-premiere of “Wonderland,” the all-new work by choreographer Shawn Hounsell. The Big Top will also be the venue for youth dance company Sursaut, the reputed Alonzo King Lines Ballet from San Francisco, and the marvelously audacious Compañia Nacional de Danza 2. This is the last chance to see a performance by the Madrilenian troupe under the direction of Nacho Duato, the legendary choreographer having decided to leave his post after 20 years at the helm.

Evenings of musical excellence
Lyrically speaking, opera fans will be interested in the grand world premiere of “Visibilia,” the latest work by Nouvel Opéra, the troupe guided by soprano Suzie LeBlanc. Angèle Dubeau & la Pietà, along with the students of the Institut canadien d’art vocal, will also perform on the main stage.

Free outdoor concerts
Along with the action under the Big Top, the Festival has scheduled a series of free shows: a total of seven productions taking place on the outdoor Desjardins Stage: Velours et ses Rubis, Heart Hand Soul, Les Langues Fourchues, Studio Shake, Irem Bekter et ses Diabluras, Julie Crochetière and l’Ensemble Dave Gossage. Song, dance, folklore, jazz, pop, hip hop, reggae, Celtic… homegrown talent that’s sure to please all ages and all tastes. Once again this year, the Festival will present Tohu Bohu, an afternoon dedicated entirely to young festival-goers. For them, organizers have arranged a special few hours of interactive workshops, educational activities, and children’s shows.

Says Anik Bissonnette, artistic director and spokesperson of the Festival, the 2010 edition looks especially exciting. “Our programming is on a par with the major dance festivals in Europe and North America. Saint-Sauveur is now part of the international circuit and we are getting ready to welcome the best choreographers, dancers, and musicians in the world.”

The Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur, which runs from July 29 to August 7, is the largest Canadian event devoted to classical dance and contemporary ballet. Excellent seating is still available. Tickets are on sale at Ticketpro. Details and schedule at www.fass.ca

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Information, photos and interviews: Noémi Soucy-Girard, nsg@cgocable.ca, 514-560-5656.