Acclaimed worldwide as one of Canada’s greatest choreographers, Ginette Laurin has created over fifty choreographies and is a pioneer of contemporary dance in Quebec. As the founder and artistic director of O Vertigo, she has dedicated more than thirty years to this company. She has led numerous dance internships and taught at various universities and dance schools in Canada and abroad.
Madame Laurin had training in dance and gymnastics. She began dancing professionally with Groupe Nouvelle Aire and performed for several Montreal choreographers before founding O Vertigo in 1984. The company quickly established itself with large-scale performances characterized by vibrant and poetic dance, using cutting-edge technologies and elaborate set designs. Notable works include La Chambre Blanche (1992), Luna (2001), Passare (2004), and KHAOS (2012).
While her early works were distinguished by humor, energetic physicality, and theatricality, her recent pieces are marked by introspection and a focus on the subtleties of choreographic writing.
She has received numerous awards, including the Grand Prix of the Conseil des arts de la Communauté urbaine de Montréal in 1992, the Dora Mavor Moore Award in Toronto for La Chambre blanche in 1994, and the Prix de reconnaissance de l’UQAM in 2002. She was named a Companion of the Arts and Letters of Quebec in 2015 and a Member of the Order of Canada in 2016. In 2018, she received the Governor General’s Award, the highest honor for performing arts in Canada.
In 2015, Madame Laurin transformed her company and invited three renowned young choreographers (Mélanie Demers, Catherine Gaudet, and Caroline Laurin-Beaucage) to consider the mission that this new entity should undertake. This reflection led to the creation of the Centre de Création O Vertigo (CCOV), whose primary mission is to provide long-term residencies for artists wishing to create large-scale works. The CCOV also aims to serve as a laboratory to foster the emergence of new forms of creation and support emerging artists in the field of dance.
Madame Laurin now pursues her career as a freelance choreographer and performer.
