Brief History
In 1984, the choreographer Jean-Pierre Perreault created the foundation that bears his name. Over the next 30 years, the FJPP presented 20 critically-acclaimed works, both at home and abroad, including Nuit, Lieux-dits, L‘Exil-L’Oubli, Les Ombres and Joe, and also exhibited Perreault’s many drawings and paintings. In 1993, the FJPP purchased the Saint-Robert-Bellarmin church in order to transform it into a choreographic centre (the church has since been handed over to Circuit Est).
In 2002, Perreault’s untimely death led the FJPP to reflect on its role in Quebec’s choreographic landscape, with a view to promoting and keeping alive the work of its founder. It began to broaden its horizons, reaching out to a growing number of choreographers. This transformation occurred during which the Fondation developed partnerships with various cultural institutions in Quebec and Canada, including the Société de la Place des arts and the National Arts Centre. With Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ), the FJPP helped to create the Jean-Pierre Perreault fonds.
Originally focused on preserving the work of its founder, in 2014 the FJPP broadened its mission to include documenting and transmitting Quebec’s contemporary dance legacies, while encouraging reflection on the creation and promotion of our dance heritage. The Fondation initiates long-term strategies and collective actions—including new digital platform EC2, choreographic toolkits, virtual exhibition, international museum exhibitions, shows, cultural mediation workshops, seminars, focus days on copyright and dance heritage, and an artistic legacy guide—targeting dance professionals, the arts community and the general public. Through these initiatives, the FJPP makes works accessible for research, teaching and reinvention. All of these activities keep the memories of dance alive, inspiring creativity in the present and future, and allowing choreographers to earn royalties.
September 21, 2016, the Fondation launched the portal EC2_Espaces chorégraphiques 2, along with its first online collection of choreographic toolkits, ensuring the dynamic presence of our dance legacies in the digital world. This initiative was carried out in close collaboration with Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, the Dance Department at UQAM, Fortier Danse-Création, La 2e Porte à Gauche, Le Carré des Lombes, Louise Bédard Danse, Lucie Grégoire Danse, the Margie Gillis Dance Foundation, PPS Danse and Tangente.
The new digital platform EC2_Espaces chorégraphiques 2, fulfils the Fondation’s new mission, paying tribute to the visionary spirit of its founder, Jean-Pierre Perreault.