Evidence of meeting #48 for Canadian Heritage in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was training.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gord Brown
Thank you very much.
Mr. Nantel and Ms. Sitsabaiesan, you have seven minutes.
4 p.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
First, I would like to thank Ms. Molnar, Ms. Maboungou, Ms. Bissonnette and Mr. Laurent.
Ms. Bissonnette, I must say that it is a privilege to meet you. Honestly, I'm very honoured to have the chance to be in the same room as you. I am familiar with all the grace you showed on stages around the world. I believe that is an expression you used. You said that we need to let our dancers bring that grace.
As a representative of the only francophone institution in North America, how popular do you think it is with young artists? Do you have the feeling that it is thriving? My sister was in the Grands Ballets canadiens with Ms. Chiriaeff at the time, and my two daughters studied with Véronique Landory, outside Montreal. We are going to address the financial aspect, but I would first like to know if ballet is still popular.
4 p.m.
Artistic Director, École supérieure de ballet du Québec
I think so, because we know that classical ballet is the basis of all dance. So it is important for a dancer to begin with classical ballet. It is structure. Little girls and boys start with classical ballet. I think ballet is popular. I hold auditions across Canada, and a lot of people come to audition. As I said, parents and the public also need to be educated. Even if you don't become a professional dancer, you become very educated and extremely well trained, perseverant and disciplined, qualities that are essential for any profession.
Young dancers at the secondary level are often associated with a very demanding school, the Pensionnat du Saint-Nom-de-Marie. They have fewer academic hours because they are with us for three to five hours a day, but they succeed just as well as the other students. They even obtain a Governor General's award, and have absolutely exceptional careers.
4 p.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
You were one of the recipients of a Governor General's award in 2014, along with Louise Lecavalier. The Canada Council of the Arts gives out these awards through the Governor General.
Do you have the feeling that there is a lack of recognition by the Department of Canadian Heritage of these institutions and associations? Beyond the artist and creator on the stage, there are associations and schools, as well. Do you have the feeling that there is an inconsistency here? You spoke about your funding. You lost—
4 p.m.
Artistic Director, École supérieure de ballet du Québec
From Canadian Heritage, it is very low. The Quebec ministry of culture and communications provides us with reasonable funding. There's a problem at Canadian Heritage in terms of the training schools. Certainly, the École supérieure de ballet du Québec is not the only school in Canada, but it is the only francophone one. Many young people come to study with us so that they can also learn both languages. It is important that they learn French, not just in other provinces, but outside Canada.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Thank you to everyone.
Madame Bissonnette, I have to disagree for a second with a comment you made that classical ballet cannot be the foundation for all professional dancers. Being a professional classical Indian dancer, I never had ballet training for a day of my life. I saw Madam Maboungou's face when you made that comment, and I'm sure we all have different avenues of classical training before we can get to.... But that's not my question at all. No worries.
My question is about supporting our artists domestically. I've heard all of you mention the importance of developing our domestic talent. I'd like to ask all of you about the benefits of implementing partnerships with schools. Just like sports are integrated right into our curriculum across the country in our schools, what would you say are the benefits of broadening the interest for young people by integrating dance into our school system?
Ms. Molnar, do you want to go first?
4:05 p.m.
Artistic Director, Ballet BC
I'll try. I think it's absolutely essential. We'd love to get into the public school system. In the U.K. they have made it comparable to a sport. They are able to go right into the public school system and get kids dancing on a regular basis as a physical activity.
I can say there are statistics out there that show more kids are dancing on a weekend than playing hockey, and if that's any news for you guys it might be something to look at. It's an incredible form of exercise. I think we can get it into the education system on a more regular basis because our technology is taking over now and sedentary life is everywhere. This is an important issue that we're going to have to deal with, and dance is one way we can help deal with that.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
I spent over eight hours every weekend dancing, every weekend for at least eight hours.
Do you have anything else to add?
4:05 p.m.
Artistic Director, Zab Maboungou/Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata
Hopefully, yes. I'm a philosophy professor myself, so I know about the importance of developing the intellect and the physicality with it, of course. I would be totally in agreement that dance should be put back because there's been a whole movement that took it away. It should definitely be put back in schools. Absolutely.
4:05 p.m.
Executive Director, École supérieure de ballet du Québec
I think students are more successful and much better at school when they have an art form.
4:05 p.m.
Executive Director, École supérieure de ballet du Québec
I think it's one of the best things that should be done to push arts forward.
4:05 p.m.
Artistic Director, Ballet BC
It's proven that kids are more alert when they are physically active.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
It has been. Thank you.
Ms. Molnar, did you say the U.K. produced a report before they made those changes?
They did. Okay.
4:05 p.m.
Artistic Director, Ballet BC
Yes. I know the Canada Council can help you with all that information. When they were doing the mapping study, they examined all of that, and it's a very interesting thing to look at.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Great. Thank you.
I have a quick question. Ms. Molnar, you mentioned, and I think Madam Maboungou you also might have mentioned, about moving productions globally.
Is our government currently doing enough to help establish international partnerships so you can grow our productions internationally?
4:05 p.m.
Artistic Director, Zab Maboungou/Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata
The government should do more.
4:05 p.m.
Artistic Director, Zab Maboungou/Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata
I don't know where we are right now because it seems to me some of the decisions the government is making are blocking that aspect instead of improving it. We certainly need to improve it because the dancers we train—and we train them as full persons, educated and artistic—learn to pay attention to the world they are in. It's more necessary than ever that we can really understand this moving world. I think we should increase the capacity for us to work with partnerships internationally.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gord Brown
We're out of time. Sorry. We'll be back around.
Mr. Dion, you have seven minutes.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, Monsieur Laurent, Madame Bissonnette, Madam Maboungou, and Madam Molnar. Thank you so much for being with us.
In our eight minutes can we discuss the way in which the federal government may be a better partner for you? Is there something we should improve?
Ms. Bissonnette, you talked about apprentices.
Is that an area we can have an impact on?
Is there anything we can do to help you, as far as apprentices are concerned?
4:10 p.m.
Artistic Director, École supérieure de ballet du Québec
Yes. It's important to help professional companies support young apprentices who have graduated from Canadian schools.
4:10 p.m.
Artistic Director, École supérieure de ballet du Québec
It would involve financial support. Dance companies need money to train apprentices, and oftentimes, they can't afford it. They would like training to continue. For example, does a 20-year-old graduate of our school have enough training to join a dance company? I think that dancer should have an opportunity to be an apprentice in a dance company.