In cooperation with La Fabrique culturelle, Télé-Québec and the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), Ample Man Danse is leading the large participatory creation project En ces lieux, ils danseront, which brings together professional dancers and patients with chronic pain. This project is presented in the form of six choreographic creation workshops where patients create movements and choreography. The project will result in four video clips of the professional dancers performing in four rarely used areas of the CHUM. A documentary will also be produced throughout the creative process highlighting the transformative power of art to free patients from the confines of chronic disease and restore their self-confidence.

“One of the objectives here is to offer patients an opportunity to get active—body, heart and spirit—and get involved in a concrete project that lets them challenge themselves. Creating develops potential and motivates. Our goal is to help patients break their isolation through group discussions, increase their confidence and give them a new momentum into their healing journey or develop a new identity that is positive, despite their illness,” said Émilie Demers, CHUM occupational therapist and professional dancer. She will present the project at the upcoming International Association for Dance Medicine and Science conference in Montreal this October.

The exclusive video creations are set for fall 2019 on La Fabrique culturelle’s website.