Jean-Benoit Labrecque

His initial passion for urban dances, combined with his training in contemporary dance, give Jean-Benoit Labrecque a great versatility of interpretation sought after by creators.

Since graduating from the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal in 2014, he has collaborated with choreographer Danièle Desnoyers on four creations; ANATOMIE D’UN SOUFFLE (2016), UNFOLD|7 PERSPECTIVES (2019), LA FORÊT MIXTE (2021), and FAUNES VARIATIONS (2022). Thanks to the choreographer’s Compagnonnage project, Jean-Benoit has been developing a solo project for three years now which is growing layer after layer. If the emblematic work DUOS POUR CORPS ET INSTRUMENTS (2003) remains the gateway to his project, his quest goes beyond the notion of repertoire and aims at the appropriation, even the authorized diversion, of a conception of space, a sound environment and choreographic material.

He also collaborates with Toronto choreographer Riley Sims on several creations, including ARE YOU STILL COMING TONIGHT (2016), DRUNK ON FICTION (2017), ODE PARADE (2017), AMOROUS PLAYLIST (2019) and THIS LAMENT I’LL LIP-SYNC UNTIL I’M BORN AGAIN (2022). Jean-Benoit is also involved with the choreographer Andréa Peña on several creations, including the piece UNTITLED I + III (2019) presented at Usine C, the short film SAINTE-MONIQUE (2020) broadcast by the Festival Quartier Danse, the piece MANIFESTO 6.58 (2021) presented at the Agora de la danse de Montréal as well as two new creations, including BOGOTA which was presented at the Biennale de Venice in the summer of 2023 as well as REPLICA which will be presented in the spring of 2025 in Montreal. Jean-Benoit has also had the privilege of interpreting on international stages the choreographic universes of Catherine Gaudet (L’AFFADISSEMENT DU MERVEILLEUX) and Daniel Léveillé (SOLITUDES SOLO and SOLITUDES DUO). He is also part of the cast of the play SOME HOPE FOR THE BASTARDS by Frédérick Gravel in addition to having collaborated on the project CARAVANE DANSE (2022) and the short film A SILENT TALE (2023).

He will also be part of his new creation scheduled in 2025. Jean-Benoit also collaborates with choreographers Justine A. Chambers (FAMILY DINNER 2017), Alan Lake (LE CRI DES MÉDUSES 2017), Jacques Poulin-Denis (ON/OFF PARCOURS 2022), Sébastien Provencher (CHILDREN OF CHEMISTRY 2017) and George Stamos (RECURRENT MEASURES 201 8). In 2023, Jean-Benoit will be involved in the dance department of UQAM as well as guest choreographer for graduates of the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal.

Photo: Bobby Léon