From July 7 to 11, Les Grands Ballets' National Centre for Dance Therapy and Espace Transition at CHU Sainte-Justine hosted an intensive week-long creative camp. A group of young people living with mental health challenges and transitioning back to daily life came together for a series of dance and visual art workshops, guided by the choreographic signature of Marie Lambin, dance teacher and community-engaged artist.
Marie invited participants to explore a creative space where each person could take the time to cultivate their own inner garden and flourish through movement and painting. Through accessible exercises and moments of both individual and collective creation, the body and visual art became powerful tools for expression and exploration.
Throughout the week, Marie was accompanied by a clinical practitioner from the Espace Transition team, who was present to support the youth as needed and ensure a safe and supportive environment. This clinical presence fostered trust and emotional safety, allowing each participant to fully engage in the creative process while respecting their personal rhythm.
At the heart of the project was a clear goal: to offer young people the experience of completing an artistic process from start to finish. Together, they created a choreographic and visual installation titled Le jardin des possibles, which was presented at the end of the week during a vernissage for parents, friends, and staff. Each participant experienced the tangible satisfaction of seeing a project through to completion.
Within this supportive and inspiring framework, Le jardin des possibles became a space for regaining confidence, expressing oneself, and reaffirming one’s ability to create, engage, and bring a vision to life.
