LES BALLETS JAZZ DE MONTRÉAL

Biography

BJM – Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal is a firmly established presence on the international dance scene.
A repertory company known for its hybrid approach to dance, BJM combines the aesthetics of classical ballet with a wide range of other styles.
Founded in 1972 by Geneviève Salbaing, Eva Von Gencsy, and Eddy Toussaint, the company has continued over the decades to pursue a distinctive artistic path.
Today its artistic vision is strongly contemporary: performances are sensual, explosive, original, and accessible to broad audiences, with dancers consistently receiving enthusiastic acclaim.
The term “jazz” in the company’s name refers not to jazz music or jazz dance as genres, but rather to the idea of “jazzing up” classical ballet.
Since 1998, artistic direction has been led by Louis Robitaille, whose remarkable talent for attracting outstanding choreographers and presenting major new works has helped the company grow both artistically and technically.
Under his leadership, BJM has presented creations by internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Trey McIntyre, Patrick Delcroix, Rodrigo Pederneiras, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Cayetano Soto, and Barak Marshall.
Robitaille has also shown a strong commitment to supporting Canadian choreographers, composers, and designers. Among the artists who have enriched the company’s repertory are Dominic Dumais, Crystal Pite, Aszure Barton, and more recently Wen Wei Wang.
BJM is now considered one of Canada’s most popular dance companies. Having performed more than 2,000 times in 67 countries before audiences exceeding two million spectators, it serves as an important ambassador for Quebec and Canadian culture worldwide.
As it entered its forty-sixth season, the company achieved both artistic maturity and organizational stability while remaining open to the constant evolution of contemporary dance.
Its productions are marked by dynamic physicality, virtuosity, and a powerful individuality embodied by the dancers themselves, all actively contributing to the company’s distinctive artistic identity.
One of BJM’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to communicate directly and clearly with audiences through energetic performances of vigorous, expressive, and demanding dance.
Through both performances and educational activities, the company engages audiences around the world, encouraging discovery, stimulating imagination, making dance accessible, and sharing its passion for the art form.
The success of BJM stems from the unique alchemy that allows each new creation to become the memorable result of an encounter between choreography, performers, and audience.