About Agora
Catalyst for creation. Agora de la danse was the first permanent venue in Quebec devoted specifically to contemporary dance, and has been at the forefront of new dance creation and presentation for more 30 years. In addition to offering a public performance venue for dance, Agora also co-produces avant-garde dance projects and provides long-term support for choreographers with different residencies.
Agora over the Years
Agora de la danse opened its doors in Montreal in 1991 on Cherrier Street in the same building as the UQAM dance department, at the instigation of a founding body composed of Dena Davida, Martine Époque, Florence Junca-Adenot and Gaétan Patenaude. The Quebec dance milieu was burgeoning at the time and needed a space to create and present dance works to the public. A dance creation fund was soon established in order to provide artists with residencies and co-productions. A program of public activities demystifying and promoting dance was also launched, expanding over time. To develop networks across Quebec for the presentation of dance performances, the Agora implemented international exchange projects with the Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-Denis in France (1995), with Vooruit in Belgium (2003) and also in Catalonia (2008) in order to present shows from other countries in the Agora venue and have Quebec works featured abroad.
1- 1991 Opening
2- 1995-1996 First in a long series of international exchanges.
3- Since 2002, more than $1 200 000 invested so far in co-productions.
4- Destinations danse Catalogne.
Agora today
A new space for exploration. In 2017 Agora de la danse embarks on a new chapter of its existence as it settles into its new home in the Wilder Building in the heart of Montreal’s entertainment district. Its new studios allows it to better serve the development of new dance works, while continuing to offer a season of national and international performances in a variable configuration theatre that it shares with Tangente. This urban context, combined with evolving artistic practices, opens up a new range of activities both indoors and outdoors such as free live performances, unconventional encounters with the public.
Placing Agora de la danse in the very heart of the entertainment district (with all its vitality) and being close to the major dance artists and companies there gives pride of place to this necessary and audacious art.Florence Junca-Adenot, Chair of the board of directors and a founding member of Agora de la danse.