Canadian Heritage committee  I would like to really insist on the fact that the aspect of cultural diversity is very important. In French we're calling ourselves des passeurs. Our companies are cultural messengers, so to speak. I, myself, am from another country but I meet Canadians who identify with me, t

Canadian Heritage committee  We wanted to have transferable credits. But we were told, at the time, that we couldn't proceed that way. Our funding was contingent upon on our not formalizing that approach. So we complied with the terms of our agreements with the Department of Canadian Heritage. Clearly, the r

Canadian Heritage committee  I would just add that the field of contemporary dance has undergone some tremendous changes, well after classical dance. In contemporary dance, old methods and the way dancers were trained were called into question. How the field views the relationship between health and the body

Canadian Heritage committee  It's for young dancers in training, meaning those already following an artistic path and working towards becoming professionals. So they already have training. The students who come to us aren't 14 or 15 years old but, rather, in their 20s. They have a genuine desire to specializ

Canadian Heritage committee  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 d

Canadian Heritage committee  The government should do more.

Canadian Heritage committee  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

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes, it's pretty good.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, usually dance complains. In the western culture they complain about the lack of male dancers. Of course, it's pretty common, it's pretty general. I probably suffer from that, but maybe less than others. I have a technique that uses the drum, which I've brought into the te

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely. We are probably the most well-known dance company that does that. We do attract these culturally diverse crowds, but also people, dancers, who are trained diversely. Not only are they culturally diverse, but they're trained diversely. Some have been trained in ballet,

Canadian Heritage committee  Merci. It's pronounced “Maboungou”.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. I will speak in French and a little in English. I don't have a lot of time, just eight minutes. I would like to sincerely thank the very honourable members of the committee. I feel privileged to have been invited to appear. I have learned that today is the committee'