"“It is necessary to learn to be touched by the beauty, by a gesture, by a breath, not only by what is said and in which language, to perceive independently of what we know.” – Pina Bausch"
Pina Bausch
Originally from Terrebonne, Quebec, Maude Sabourin studied dance at École Supérieure de Ballet Contemporain in Montreal from 2000 to 2003. She joined Jeune Ballet du Québec in 2003, under the artistic direction of Didier Chirpaz and performed in Montreal, Miami and France. Her first appearances on stage with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens took place with The Nutcracker.
In 2006, she moved overseas to join Ballets de Monte-Carlo, a company directed by Jean-Christophe Maillot, and interpreted major roles from her repertory: The Nurse and Lady Capulet in Romeo And Juliet, The Stepmother and Stepsisters in Cinderella, The Death in Faust, The Fairy of Darkness in Sleeping Beauty as well as Her Majesty the Night in LAC (After Swan Lake). She was promoted Soloist in 2010 and Principal Soloist in 2014.
Maude Sabourin has also worked with choreographers whose pieces are featured in Ballets de Monte-Carlo's repertory: Johan Inger, William Forsythe, Marco Goecke, Alexander Ekman, Marie Chouinard, Ina Christel Johannessen, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Pontus Lidberg, Jeroen Verbruggen, Shen Wei and Nicolo Fonte. She has been particularly moved by Silent Cries by Jiri Kylian. She also interpreted The Chosen One in The Rite of Spring by Nijinsky.
In 2018, she came back to Quebec and joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Since then, she had the opportunity to perform memorable roles such as Myrtha in Giselle, The Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty choreographed by legendary Marcia Haydée, a true favorite. She also worked on creations by Garrett Smith, Edward Clug or Lesley Telford. She was promoted Principal Dancer at the beginning of the 2022-2023 Season.
2016 Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer, awarded by the Financial Times (Paris), Dance Europe and Pointe
2005 First Prize at the Concours international de danse de Nyon (Swiss)
