MARIE-JOSÉE CHARTIER

Stories & Testimonials

MARIE-JOSÉE CHARTIER

Toronto, ON
Contemporary and Improvisation
Career Pathway: Dance, Voice

Marie-Josée Chartier: A multi-faceted artist, Marie-Josée moves easily between the worlds of dance, music, opera, and multi-media in her roles as choreographer, performer, director, vocalist, or teacher. Her choreographic works have been presented in festivals in Canada, Europe, and Latin America and have been featured on documentary films and national television. She is the recipient of several awards and accolades.

MARIE-JOSÉE’S STORY

“I came to Toronto as a professional contemporary dancer after my beginnings with Montreal’s Compagnie de danse Pointépiénu. Once in Toronto I worked for several years as a freelance dancer for numerous choreographers. I joined Dancemakers in 1988 and left in 1997. I started choreographing in 1988 and then got involved in directing contemporary opera in 2003. Alongside my dance background I always studied voice. My first encounter with DTRC was with Joysanne Sidimus, founder and director of DTRC. My first meeting with Joysanne was on Sunday, November 17, 1985, in the DTRC office. This date is engraved in my mind as it coincided with a major personal event. I was curious about receiving support for parallel studies in voice, continuing my previous training. From then on, I remained very close to the organization. Joysanne invited me as a speaker in Den Haag, Holland, for a conference to represent the DTRC and also for the on the MOVE conferences in Toronto.

Firstly, just knowing that the organization is always present and vibrant makes me feel more secure in my artistic life. If I ever decide to fully transition to a completely different career, I know I can get the support I need; I doubt I would ever leave the performing arts, but life is so unpredictable! So far, I have used the services of parallel studies, skills, and various consultants; this moral and financial support has allowed me to add new facets to my creative career.”

DTRC’S SUPPORT

Counselling
Skills Grants
Retraining (Study) Grant

National Office

The Lynda Hamilton Centre
Suite 303
1000 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4W 2K2

Phone: 416-595-5655

nationaloffice@dtrc.ca

Office Hours:
By Appointment Only – Please contact nationaloffice@dtrc.ca

*Wheelchair accessible

BC Office

The BC office runs as a virtual office and is open on a part-time basis, according to a variable schedule.

bcoffice@dtrc.ca

Regional Reps

British Columbia
Mika Manning
bcrep@dtrc.ca

Alberta
abrep@dtrc.ca

Manitoba
Eugene “GeNie” Baffoe
mbrep@dtrc.ca

Atlantic
Sydney Ewert
atlantic@dtrc.ca

Toll-free: 1-800-667-0851

Territory Acknowledgment

We acknowledge the lands, waterways, languages, and Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island – First Nations, Inuit and Métis – who have been living on these lands since time immemorial. As we carry out our work, digitally and in person across many distinct territories, we offer our recognition and respect to all the peoples and places that are connected through our engagement together. We, at the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, commit to the ongoing work and learning required of all of us to address past and persistent harms. We continue to deepen our understanding and we welcome dialogue as we strive to move into better relations with Indigenous peoples and with the land.