BIG BANG is a three-month dance program in Montréal, combining contemporary dance training, multidisciplinary exploration, and a creation track supported by personalized mentorship.
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Who should apply?
BIG BANG is open to artists aged 18+ — dancers, circus artists, actors, and anyone engaged in a movement-based artistic practice. Whatever your background, the program is for artists with a strong understanding of movement, able to commit physically to demanding work, and driven by a genuine desire to create and share. Each edition brings together artists from Québec, across Canada, and from around the world—creating cohorts with rich, diverse backgrounds. This cultural and artistic mix strengthens collaboration, sparks peer learning, and expands creative horizons. International artists can join the program without needing a study permit.
What are the educational objectives?
The BIG BANG team aims to help each artist build a strong technical foundation in dance, while exploring a wide range of artistic, cultural, and cross-disciplinary perspectives on the moving body. Through discovery and technical challenges, artists are invited to push themselves further, deepen body awareness—of strength, capacity, sensation, and emotion—and refine their physical skills. Throughout the program, an ongoing search for authenticity is encouraged, opening the door to genuine creative freedom. Supported by dialogue, reflection, and personalized mentorship, each artist develops artistic maturity and a distinct movement language.
What are the core values?
Care is an essential value at the heart of Stéphanie Decourteille’s pedagogical approach and of the BIG BANG program. It allows artists to grow within an environment where they feel safe enough to take risks, step outside their comfort zones, and create freely. This spirit of care and mutual respect must be shared by everyone, ensuring a harmonious and supportive workspace for all.
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Commitment is another core value of the program. Every member of the teaching team is deeply invested in sharing their knowledge and guiding artists through their creative and reflective processes. This commitment is expressed through consistent presence, attentive listening, and personalized support. In return, we ask artists for full engagement, as dedication to the program is essential to fully benefit from this unique and enriching experience.
Professionnal development
Through contemporary technique classes—along with floorwork, partnering, improvisation, and acro-dance workshops—and with the support of the teaching team, artists strengthen and deepen their contemporary dance practice.
Creation
Guided through personalized mentorship, a collective creative dynamic, and research labs, artists commit to an artistic and choreographic research process that culminates in the presentation of a first stage of their solo work.
Exploration
Through workshops led by guest artists known for their expertise, participants are introduced to a wide range of artistic and cultural approaches. This exploration encourages cross-disciplinary exchange and directly supports the solo creation process.
What are the dates of the next programs?
PROGRAM #18- AUTUMN
from September 7 to November 29, 2026
PROGRAM #17 - SPRING
from March 2 to May 24, 2026
Where is the training held?
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All classes and workshops in the program will take place in the large studio at Académie de Danse d'Outremont, located at 999 McEachran Avenue in Montréal, near the Outremont metro station. The space can be divided into multiple studios, two of which are equipped with professional dance flooring.
What are the prices?
FEE FOR PROGRAM #18
- 2 880$ tx. incl.
PAYMENT TERMS
Option 1 – 4 payments
Option 2 – 2 payments
Option 3 – 1 payment
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VIDEO - AUDITION
To attend spring dance program
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A video-audition process is possible.
Please submit your resume and letter of intent to info@espace-ouvert.com. Additionally, include a video showcasing a dance improvisation (less than 2 minutes) and another video demonstrating floorwork (less than 2 minutes). Optionally, you may also provide a video discussing your artistic influences and creative vision.
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Deadline:
April 10, 2026
Team of teachers and guests speakers #9
Direction pédagogique et danse contemporaine : Stéphanie Decourteille
Coordonnatrice : Sarah Lafortune
Acrodanse : Nicole Jacobs
Ateliers de partenaire : Stéphanie Decourteille
Ateliers d'improvisation-dirigée : Stéphanie Decourteille
Ateliers multidisciplinaires : Maria Borello
Choreographic workshops: Stéphanie Decourteille and Louise Michelle Jackson
Creation workshop : Audrey Bergeron
​Repertoire workshop: Sophie Breton
​Ballet : Stéphanie Decourteille
Capoeira Angola Fabrice Koffy
Contemporary dance: Charles Alexis Dégagné
Échauffement, prévention et renforcement : Liliane Moussa
Essentric : Ellyn Ochs
Floorwork: Victoria Mackenzie
Flow et floorwork: Charles Brécard
Hip Hop FreeStyle: Jaleesa Coligny
Interpretation and theatre: Agathe Foucault
Jumpstyle: Camille Dubé
Krump: Vlad Laurore (7Star)
Research and creation lab: Stéphanie Decourteille
LFTDCLASS: Nicholas Bellefleur
Nutrition and performance: Alexia De Macar
Acrobatics: Gisle Henriet et Jérémie Robert
Video: Julien Blais
Wushu: Phi Nguyen
Yoga: Sarah Bueno Fredette and Ajouna Bao-Lavoie
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"I was already feeling an intense need to surpass myself physically and push my technique, but after my first experiences with Stephanie and her approach, at the summer workshops, that convinced me to do it. The formula was exactly what I needed, both in terms of physical intensity and diversity. Also, there is the very human side of Stephanie which immediately makes us feel in our place and which supports us. Throughout the training I felt that my body was unlocking and developing new paths through the movements and that my technique in general had come into being in a significant way. I also had the pleasure of noticing that I had developed my physical strength and progressed in areas I would not have believed, such as acrobatics. I recommend the training to any artist who hopes to do that for themselves."
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Camille Mougenot
BIG BANG graduate - Program 6
Testimonies
Graduates
program #16
08/09 au 30/11/2025
Andrea Muñiz
Barbara Simms
Brigita Gedgaudas
Doria Djarboui
Elina Saryazdi
Élodie Blanchard
Farah Boukhoms
Florence Winter Bowdige
Isabella Onorato
Jazz McLaughlin
Madison Esdale
Michaela Lincová
Nino Wadel
Paula-Maria de Peretti
Sadie Segriff
Graduates
program #15
03/03 to 25/05/2025
Bashir Al Mahayni
Danae Serinet Barrera
​Ezgi Türker
Fanny Déglise
Flavie Bonin
Ines Chiha
Jocelyn Snow
Julianne Decerf
Lili Malo
Neta Peleg Ginzburg
Noan Joffraud
Rayanne Fawaz
Salome Aebersold
Selena Russo
​Sophie Tremblay
Graduates
program #14
26/08 to14/12/2024
Clara Barbieux
Desirée James
Flore Magnier
Jade Gallant
Jocelyn Snow​
Julianne Decerf
Kristopher Griffin​
Marie-Anouck Huard Lefebvre
Marlee Stephens
Sarah Buono Fredette
Shirley Gibbs
Sofya Kovalskaya
Sydney Bluck
Graduates
program #13
28/08 to 17/12/2023
Alice Marroquin-Éthier
Anja Raberanto
Anne-Charlotte Lajoie
Anthony L’Heureux
Christophe Bétournay
Elisabeth Bergeron
Inés Chiha
Kio
Kirandevi A.Naidu
Lorenzo Serafino
Margaux Vibert
Morgane Guillou​
Nicolas Sylvestre
Pascale Laliberté
Rhys Alexander Phillips
Sofya Kovalskaya
Sophie Groleau
Graduates
program #12
28/08 to 17/12/2023
Ana Perret-Halsouet
Angeline Bourgeault
Camille Robert
Chloé Jouffre
Christophe Bétournay
Daeva Miles
Emma Wallace
Estelle Beaulieu
​Ines Chiha
Lara Haikal
Manon Veissiere
Marc-Aurèle Euzenot
Marianna Yiannaki
Maya June
Sarah Roy
Sophie Groleau-Rouleau
Alice Fournier (artiste/étudiante)
Graduates program #11
23/01 to 14/05/2023
Alessia Moschettino
Alexa Bender
Amélie Albert
Constance Gadan
Danae Zeller Silva
Evane Gislard
Julianna Heft
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Kiera Whitla
Léna Roth
Maëva Houck
Maya Conway
Milena Sundari Nowak
Yule Burlefinger
Zenobia Cook
Graduates program #10
2022/08/29 to 2022/12/17
Alice Valinducq
Ambre Michel-Picque
Bowie Siu
Diane Cezard
Flora Spiga
Joshua Yates
Lorenzo Serafino
Manon Burtin
Megan Gaudreault
Millie Brinck-Dubuc
Nicolas Sylvestre
Sarah Marie Benninghoff
Tina Donzelle
Graduates program #9
2022/01/17 to 2022/05/13
Aicha Benchaâboune
Angelica Zuenko
Camélia Letendre
Ciro Melgaço
Eva-Maria Eder
Juliette Ieva
Lisa Natalia Cabrera Lozano
Manon Serignat-Daléas
Megan LeBlanc
Myrtille Michallet
Nicole Jacobs
Nikki Theroux
Sarah Lafortune
Solana Del Bel Belluz
Graduates program #8
2021/08/23 to 2021/12/17
Catherine Jeannotte
Châtelaine Côté-Rioux
Claire Cherriere
Estelle Wecking
Eva André
Fanny B. Poulin
Jacinthe Desjardins
Johanna Simon
Lola Thirard
Marie-Éve Quenneville
Nicole Jacobs
Soléne Laurin-Laliberté
Sarah Lafortune
Rachelle Alexandra Fleury
Graduates program #7
2021/01/25 to 2021/05/21
Antonin Desmarais
Audrey Sargent
Cachou Trudel-Langevin
Laura Borello Bellemare
Samuel Terzis
Anna-Maude Lamontagne
Camille Mougenot
Camille Scully
Laurie Gaudichon
Jeanne Théroux-Laplante
Marianne Mercier-Dulac
Samuel Terzis
Shania Leblanc
Graduates program #6
2020/08/24 to 2020/12/18
Florine Gall
Samuel Terzis
Sarah Lafortune
Thibault Ayrinhacz
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Laura Perron
Samuel Terzis
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Graduates program #4
2019/08/26 to 2019/12/19
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Graduates program #3
2019/01/14 to 2019/05/09
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Graduates program #2
2018/08/28 to 2018/12/16
Aram Dermenjian
Sophia El Iraki
Thaïna Rosinvil
Etienne-St Pierre
Rameez Karim
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Sophia El Iraki
Gabriela Jovian-Mazon
Camélia Letendre
Etienne-St Pierre
Pénélope Quevillon
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Graduates program #1
16/01 au 04/05/2018
Be Heintzman-Hope
Chanel Cheiban
Chelsea Chen
Shanyca Eli-Leconte
Thaïna Rosinvil
Pénélope Quevillon​