Carried by their African roots and a practice rooted in the body and spirituality, Athena Lucie Assamba and Leah Danga pay tribute to the symbolic power of traditional African masks. In African Celestial Beings, they explore their vitality, their ritual function and their role as a link between the visible and invisible worlds. Using movements inspired by traditional and urban African dance, this duo questions the place of the sacred in living art and collective memory. A committed piece, between heritage, incarnation and contemporary resonance.

Authentic, freedom, celestial

ONZE is an intense choreographic work that dives into human emotion and trauma, performed by four dancers of Cuban origin. Inspired by the July 11, 2021 protests in Havana, the piece explores dance as a path to liberation and a search for meaning. Blending contemporary dance, Afro-Cuban folklore, and classical ballet, ONZE creates a unique alchemy where each gesture tells a story of resilience. The rhythm of the piece invites the audience into introspection—a sensory journey where dance becomes a universal language of transformation and healing.

Repression, justice, freedom

PEHCHAAN is a personal exploration of masculinity in India by Rameez Karim. This solo addresses gender norms, identity and societal expectations through reinterpreted folk dances. By reusing elements such as skirts and veils, the work challenges traditional roles while celebrating the diversity of masculinity. The piece reflects on the tensions between acceptance and rebellion in the face of cultural expectations.

Masculinity, India, dance

Wolastoq and Québécoise artist Ivanie Aubin-Malo creates sensitive worlds where movement, music, and voice weave rooted narratives. With Wahsipekuk: Beyond the Mountains, she presents an interdisciplinary work in collaboration with violinist Julian Rice (Mi’kmaq and Kanien’kehá:ka), inviting us into a dreamlike space shaped by memory, land, and resilience. Inspired by the story of Koluskap, this performance calls upon the Giants of Wabanaki oral traditions in a vibrant celebration of life, carried by a deep commitment to transmission and collective gathering.

Dreamlike, interdisciplinary, graphic

Trained at Toronto Metropolitan University and now based in Montreal, Zachary Bastille‘s choreographic approach focuses on emotion, vulnerability and human relationships. Honey Never Spoils is a powerful trio that imagines the consequences of the disappearance of bees, symbols of ecological balance and collective solidarity. Inspired by the role of beekeepers and the dynamics of the hive, the play questions our relationship with nature, loss and individualism, calling for a profound transformation in the way we co-exist.

Melancholy, energizing, ambiguous

Pauline Gervais, a Montreal-based choreographer and performer, continues her sensitive exploration of memory and the invisible ties that shape us with Auf Wiedersehen. Adapted from her short film HERBERT, this visceral and precise performance delves into the silences of loss and the presences that linger. Between whispered farewells and intimate metamorphoses, Auf Wiedersehen carves a poetic path between body and memory. Presented in the UK and Brazil, the work reflects the unique artistic voice of Pauline Berndsen Danse.

Intimate, poétic, evocative