Jean-Pierre Perreault (February 16, 1947 - December 4, 2002) was a Canadian dancer and choreographer.Linde Howe-Beck, "Jean-Pierre Perreault". The Canadian Encyclopedia, February 7, 2006.
Background Born and raised in Montreal, he began his career as a dancer with Jeanne Renaud's Le Groupe de la Place Royale in 1965, becoming co-artistic director with Peter Boneham of the company by 1971.Alan Hustak, "Montreal dancer won acclaim for integrity". Ottawa Citizen, December 6, 2002. He remained with the company until 1981, when he resigned to pursue his choreography career independently.
Joe Joe, his most famous dance work, was originally created for dance students at the Université du Québec à Montréal in 1983.Linde Howe-Beck, "Dance Joe retains its rhythmic beauty". Montreal Gazette, March 31, 1989.
The show, a work for 32 dancers set to the rhythm of their army boots pounding on the floor as they danced, saw several further remounts and international tours over the next number of years, as well as a television adaptation in 1996.
Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault In 1984 he launched his own dance company, Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault. Many of the company's works featured echoes of Joe. In 1986, he created a special site-specific work, The Highway '86 Event, for Expo 86.Michael Crabb, "Created renowned dance works". National Post, December 6, 2002.
His noted later works included Nuit,Linde Howe-Beck, "Perreault's new dance creation Nuit should floor the audience". Montreal Gazette, October 16, 1986. Flykt, Piazza, Les Années de pélérinage, Eironos and The Adieux Cycle.
Perreault was also a visual artist, with most of his dance works beginning as drawings or paintings before being expanded into full works with movement and set design based on the original artwork. Some of his artworks also received exhibition in galleries and touring art shows independently of the dance pieces.
His last major work, The Comforts of Solitude, was commissioned by James Kudelka for the National Arts Centre.Deirdre Kelly, "Moonbeams and darkness". The Globe and Mail, February 16, 2001.
He died of cancer in December 2002.Susan Walker, "Jean-Pierre Perreault was dance innovator". Toronto Star, December 5, 2002. His dance company initially tried to continue staging his works under new direction, but ceased operations within a couple of years.Victor Swoboda, "Expanding upon Perreault". Montreal Gazette, December 5, 2009.
Honours He was a two-time Jean A. Chalmers Award recipient, receiving the regular award in 1990 and a lifetime achievement award in 1996.
In 2002 he was named a recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award,"Kain heads list of GG winners". Peterborough Examiner, November 2, 2002. just a few months before his death.
In 2004 he was posthumously inducted as an officer of the National Order of Quebec.
In 2005 he was the subject of two documentary television films, Jean-Pierre Perreault: Giant Steps (Le petit Jean-Pierre, le grand Perreault) by Paule BaillargeonEric Kohanik, "Giant Steps profiles Perreault". Montreal Gazette, January 6, 2005. and Perreault Dancer (Danser Perreault) by Tim Southam.Gaetan L. Charlebois, "Tele-Quebec pays tribute to dance-maker Perreault". Montreal Gazette, March 26, 2005.
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