Marie-Noële Pilon
The jury salutes the exceptional career of Sophie Michaud, who has worked behind the scenes for generations as rehearsal director for renowned companies and choreographers. Her discreet but crucial role has helped bring richly coherent works to maturity, from their infancy to their public presentation. As a creative advisor, she has forged links between choreographers, performers and artistic collaborators, providing a clear vision and sympathetic support at all levels.
Sophie Michaud has also distinguished herself through her in-depth documentation of the fundamental role of rehearsal director, a central and demanding position in the choreographic creation process. Her ability to guide choreographers and performers with intelligence and sensitivity has not only enriched the artistic scene, but also supported the development of a new generation of artists.
Rehearsal director and artistic advisor
Sophie Michaud began her career in the early 1980s. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in dance, and has also completed doctoral studies in arts studies and practice (UQAM). Based on her university studies and sustained practice, she specialized in accompanying choreographic projects. For nearly 35 years, as rehearsal director and artistic and dramaturgical advisor, she has collaborated with numerous choreographers from a wide range of generational and stylistic backgrounds. To date, she has taken part in over 200 stage, film, in situ and multidisciplinary choreographic creation projects. As a researcher and practitioner, she is interested in the phenomenon of perception, modes of communication and the interweaving of artistic and relational issues in the context of creation.
Sophie Michaud is also known as the artist who, since the 1990s, has been promoting the profession of dance rehearsal director. She is the ideator and artistic director of Tracement, a project rich in archival documents that promotes knowledge of Quebec artists experienced in the role of rehearsal director and artistic advisor. A consultant, mentor and artistic mediator, she has also offered various training courses for emerging artists.
She is currently on the faculty of the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal (EDCM). She is also a member of various committees and boards of directors of dance organizations in Quebec.