Compagnie Virginie Brunelle

Fables de Virginie Brunelle © Vanessa Fortin

Compagnie Virginie Brunelle is a choreographic creation company founded in 2009 that produces and presents original works under the artistic and general direction of the eponymous choreographer. Holding a bachelor’s degree in dance from UQÀM in 2008, Virginie quickly set herself apart in the Montreal dance scene with her distinctive style. The company contributes to the promotion of dance and the appreciation of the arts by the public through about ten works, which have been presented in numerous theaters in Montreal as well as throughout Quebec, Canada, and internationally.

Biography – Virginie Brunelle

Virginie Brunelle © Anne-Marie Baribeau

After dedicating her childhood to learning the violin, Virginie Brunelle, driven by this musical knowledge, entered the world of dance and, in 2008, obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Choreography from UQÀM. Her works revolve around human-centered themes where the writing of rhythm, the intensity of gestures, pauses, breaths, and gazes unfold like the notations of dynamics, attacks, and phrasing on a musical score. This precise approach, where every element is meticulously thought out, allows Virginie to infuse emotion into every movement. Her artistic approach explores the poetics of vulnerability, where the fervor, endurance, and fatigue of bodies lead the audience into an immersive, powerful, and disturbing experience.
Since founding her company in 2009, Virginie has created eight stage works (Les cuisses à l’écart du cœur, Foutrement, Complexe des genres, PLOMB, À la douleur que j’ai, Beating, Les corps avalés, Fables) and two film works (Reminiscences, Show me the exit) that have been presented in more than fifty cities across a dozen countries.

Recent work : Fables

Through a rigorous movement vocabulary, Fables offers a sometimes harsh, sometimes poetic vision of women’s ongoing struggle. Against the backdrop of the chaos of an era turned upside down, the piece projects us into fantastical spaces from which larger–than-life characters emerge — contemporary female archetypes who paved the way to freedom from invisible yet real barriers. A universe of great evocative power, echoing a crying need for utopia, hope and humanity.

Choreographer – Virginie Brunelle
Dancers – Isabelle Arcand, Nicholas Bellefleur, Sophie Breton, Alexandre Carlos, Chi Long, Milan Panet-Gigon, Marine Rixhon, Peter Trosztmer, Lucie Vigneault, Evelynn Yan
Pianist – Laurier Rajotte
Dramaturgy – Nicolas Berzi
Rehearsal director – Claudine Hébert
Piano composition et soundtrack composition – Laurier Rajotte
Soundtrack composition and sound environment – Philippe Brault
Sound engineer – Joël Lavoie
Costume designer – Elen Ewing
Scenography designer – Marilène Bastien
Light designer – Martin Labrecque
Production director – Charlotte Ménard
Technical director– François Marceau
Coproducers – Lugano Arte e Cultura, Danse Danse, Ottawa National Arts Centre, Harbourfront Centre, Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur
Financial supports – National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts de Montréal

Upcoming dates

February 26 + 27, 2025 – National Arts Centre – Ottawa, ON, Canada

November 19, 2024 – Centre Culturel de l’Université de Sherbrooke – Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

Novembre 16, 2024 – Centre de Création Diffusion de Gaspé – Gaspé, QC, Canada

Novembre 13, 2024 – Le Carré 150 – Victoriaville, QC, Canada