Choreographed by Paul-André Fortier in 1980, "Violence" is part of a series of hard-hitting works produced during the decade. It is a fine illustration of the dance-theatre element of Quebecois dance. To emancipate himself from the formalism that characterised modern dance in Montreal, the choreographer uses an unsettling emotive register that explores the sexual and relational tensions of a neurotic couple played by the choreographer and Michèle Febvre. The repetition of sequences of movements to saturation point, the emotional detachment of the characters against a backdrop of anodyne background music and the phallic used of a garden hose create the distance required for the harshness of the piece and bring to mind the work of Pina Bausch.

Source : Geneviève Dussault in the thematic "An overview of dance in Quebec: unreasonable bodies"

Credits

Choreography: Paul-André Fortier
Creation: 1980

Paul-André Fortier entered the world of dance in the 1970s. As a member of Groupe Nouvelle Aire, one of the country’s most innovative choreographic ensembles, he, along with other exceptionally creative artists in the group, contributed to building the reputation of Quebec dance from the 1980s until today.
 

Fortier first distinguished himself as a dancer. A “natural” dancer - as self-taught dancers were described at the time - he was known for his strong stage presence and elegant, refined interpretations. He soon became a leading figure on the Montreal dance scene, then on the Canadian stage, a position he has retained. He was involved in all of the innovative projects at the time, with his mentors (Martine Époque and especially Françoise Sullivan, whom he called his “artistic mother”) and his peers (including Edouard Lock and Daniel Léveillé), who began to create their own works, as did he.
 

Fortier’s career as a choreographer had an immediate and significant impact on the dance landscape. He was known for “inventing” new concepts that differed in both form and content (if one can be dissociated from the other), beyond the scope of tradition and convention. Very early on, he became the forerunner of a style, recognized by his peers, that used theatricality to draw attention to the stresses and tensions of the modern world, with intense, determined and rigorous form. During this period, he was one of the first to lead the way toward a style of dance freed from the constraints of the past, inspiring a whole generation of choreographers to be open to modernism and creative risk.

Source: Cie Fortier Danse-Création 's website (Michèle Febvre)

More information: fortier-danse.com