Jean-Pierre Perreault

Jean-Pierre Perreault (February 16, 1947 - December 4, 2002) was a Canadian dancer and choreographer.

Background Born and raised in Montreal, he began his career as a dancer with Jeanne Renaud's Le Groupe de la Place Royale in 1965, becoming co-artistic director with Peter Boneham of the company by 1971. He remained with the company until 1981, when he resigned to pursue his choreography career independently.

The show, a work for 32 dancers set to the rhythm of their army boots pounding on the floor as they danced, saw several further remounts and international tours over the next number of years, as well as a television adaptation in 1996.

His noted later works included Nuit, Flykt, Piazza, Les Années de pélérinage, Eironos and The Adieux Cycle.

He died of cancer in December 2002. His dance company initially tried to continue staging his works under new direction, but ceased operations within a couple of years.

Honours He was a two-time Jean A. Chalmers Award recipient, receiving the regular award in 1990 and a lifetime achievement award in 1996. just a few months before his death.

In 2004 he was posthumously inducted as an officer of the National Order of Quebec.

In 2005 he was the subject of two documentary television films, Jean-Pierre Perreault: Giant Steps (Le petit Jean-Pierre, le grand Perreault) by Paule Baillargeon and Perreault Dancer (Danser Perreault) by Tim Southam.

Works