DanceHouse is thrilled to present Joe, a major piece of the Canadian dance repertoire. A pivotal work by the late Jean-Pierre Perreault, Joe presents an image of the human condition that is so accurate and so moving that it remains forever imprinted in the memories of those who have seen it. To the sound of 32 pairs of work boots obsessively pounding the floor, 32 dancers dressed in long coats and hats, move in a compact mass from which individuals occasionally attempt to free themselves to escape a foreordained destiny.

This video recording of the piece Joe, produced in 1995 by Bernard Picard for Radio-Canada, not only pays tribute to one of Canada’s greatest choreographers, but also allows the public to discover or rediscover an absolutely breathtaking performance that has had a profound impact on contemporary dance. Joe is a masterpiece, a landmark work not only in Jean-Pierre Perreault’s oeuvre but in Canadian contemporary dance.

Enjoy this archival video in its vintage resolution, which is already 26 years old. The technology may have aged a little, but Joe hasn’t!

After the performance, there will be a 25-minute documentary contextualizing the creation.