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The program
BIG BANG
A program that supports artists in deepening their artistic maturity and shaping a distinct movement language.
Each program includes approximately 300 hours of training over 12 weeks. Each week offers around 25 hours of technique classes and workshops, scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays (9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), and Wednesdays (12:00–4:00 p.m.). The program is designed and led by Stéphanie Decourteille, developed by BIG BANG Danse, in partnership with Académie de Danse d’Outremont. The Academy’s studio is also available to participants every Sunday for research time as part of their solo creation process.
MISSION
To support artists in building solid technical tools in dance, developing a refined listening to their bodies, and cultivating an authentic freedom to create.
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.
CARE
Nurturing a culture of care that creates trust—inviting audacity, exploration, and artistic freedom.
Care is a foundational value of Stéphanie Decourteille’s teaching approach and of the program. It supports artists in an environment where they can take creative risks, be vulnerable, and work freely. This spirit of care must be carried by everyone in the cohort to ensure a respectful, supportive, and balanced space for each person.
COMMITMENT
Fully committing, together, to a rigorous and transformative artistic journey.
Commitment is central to the program. The teaching team shows up fully to share their expertise and guide artists through their process of research, reflection, and creation—with steady presence, deep listening, and personalized support. In return, we expect artists to bring wholehearted involvement, because full commitment is key to making the most of this experience.
Registration fees
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Canadian artists who are members of the RQD may be eligible for the Dance Training Support Program. Canadian artists can also apply for professional development funding through the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) and/or the Canada Council for the Arts.
PAYMENT METHODS
Option 1 - Pay in 4 instalments
$720 due by May 15, 2026
$720 due by September 7, 2026
$720 due by October 7, 2026
$720 due by November 7, 2026
Option 2 - Pay in 2 instalments
$720 due by May 15, 2026
$2,160 due by September 7, 2026
Option 3 - Pay in 1 instalment
$2,880 due by September 7, 2026
REGISTRATION FEES
PROGRAM #18
$2,880 (CAD) taxes included
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
To strengthen and deepen your contemporary dance practice
Through contemporary dance technique classes and workshops in floorwork, partnering, improvisation, contemporary ballet barre, and acro-dance, artists develop their technical skills and refine their relationship to movement. Throughout the program, Stéphanie Decourteille and guest teachers support each artist in this process, allowing everyone to build a technical progression adapted to their individual background and path.
CREATION
To explore, question, and shape a distinct artistic voice.
Guided by personalized mentorship, a collective creative dynamic, and research labs, artists commit—over the three months of the program—to an artistic and choreographic research process. Open studio access on Sundays supports individual exploration and development. This journey culminates in a public showing of a first stage of each artist’s solo work. At the end of the program, each artist receives a video recording and photos of their solo.
EXPLORATION
Opening up to new approaches and feeding artistic research.
Through workshops led by guest artists recognized for their expertise, participants are introduced to a wide range of artistic and cultural approaches (afro dance, hip-hop, breaking, krump, theatre, electro, house, and more). This track encourages cross-disciplinary exchange and directly informs the solo creation process.
Solo Work-in-Progress Excerpts
Teaching Team & Guest Artists
The teaching team evolves from one edition to the next, based on each program’s artistic direction. The list below features the instructors and guest artists from Program #16.
ARTISTIC & PEDAGOGICAL DIRECTION
Stéphanie Decourteille
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTION
Stéphane Casta
ARTISTIC COORDINATION
& PEDAGOGICAL ASSISTANT
Joshua Yates
CONTEMPORARY DANCE
Daniela Jezerinac
Jason Martin
Stéphanie Decourteille
CONTACT IMPROVISATION & PARTNERING
Ciro Melgaço
Stéphanie Decourteille
ACRO-DANSE
Nicole Jacobs
Vincent Jutras
FLOORWORK
Stéphanie Decourteille
AXIS SYLLABUS
Kerwin Barrington
ARTISTIC MENTORSHIP
& CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Stéphanie Decourteille
HIP HOP FREESTYLE
Jaleesa Coligny
THÉÂTRE & PERFORMANCE
Sarah Leblanc
HAND BALANCING
Christophe Bétournay
KRUMP
7Stars
MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKSHOPS
Mariela Borello
Shirley Gibbs
HOUSE
Dominique Sophie
POPPING
Mecdy Mystic Rootz
BALLET & CONTEMPORARY BALLET BARRE
Stéphanie Decourteille
WAAKING
Gabriela Jovian-Mazon
DRAMATURGY
Julianne Decerf
CREATION WORKSHOPS
Stéphanie Decourteille
ELECTRO
Carlos Mendoza
BREAKING
Kate Lynx
AFRODANCE
Athena Lucie
DEPTH MOVEMENT
Edivaldo Ernesto
BIOGRAPHY & ARTISTIC APPROACH
Maud Mazo-Rothenbülher
LIGHTING CREATION SUPPORT
Bastian A. Miranda
PHOTO LAB
Morgane Guillou
Anika Ste Marie