Le Grand Continental
Participatory work
In situ
LE GRAND CONTINENTAL® and its variations
Combine folk tradition and contemporary art. Enliven the joy of line dancing with the fluidity and expressiveness of contemporary dance. When Sylvain Émard set himself the challenge of this unlikely marriage, he had no idea of the enthusiasm it would unleash, nor the scale the phenomenon would take. A happy union of art and festivity, a marriage definitely consummated.
In 2009 the piece featured some 60 amateur dancers of all ages and origins. One year later, Le Très Grand Continental featured 120. Sylvain Émard then rocked Mexico City with El Gran Continental. Disco, techno and country music became cumbia, salsa and danzón. In 2011, Le Continental XL included more than 200 performers. For Montréal’s 375th anniversary celebrations in 2017, Le Super Méga Continental featured 375 dancers.
There was also the international, virtual version Le Grand Continental – Format chez soi during the pandemic, which in 2021 led to Le Grand Continental 3.0.
Now smaller communities regularly benefit from the condensed version, Le Petit Continental.
Since its creation, the concept travelled all over the world, getting over 3,000 amateur performers dancing up a storm and galvanizing more than 125,000 spectators.
Credits
Le Super Méga Continental (2017)
- CHOREOGRAPHY Sylvain Émard
- MUSIC Martin Tétreault and Poirier
- LIGHTING DESIGN Bruno Rafie
- REHEARSAL COACH AND PROFESSIONAL DANCER Nathalie Blanchet
- PROFESSIONAL DANCERS Maryse Carrier, Claudia Chan Tak, Stéphane Deligny, Mark Eden-Towle, Geneviève Gauvreau, Audrée Juteau, Nicolas Patry, Amélie Rajotte, David Rancourt, Julie Siméon, Catherine Viau, Daniel Villeneuve
- PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Pierre Koch
- TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Karine Gauthier
- PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Mélanie Primeau
- REHEARSAL STAGE MANAGER Marie-Frédérique Gravel
- A Sylvain Émard Danse and Festival TransAmériques co-production, co-presented by Quartier des spectacles
Review excerpts
"What caught the eye above all, when glancing across the massive dance floor, were the smiles and sincere joy animating the dancers. In light of such heartfelt commitment, the spectator feels deeply engaged by their gaze, by bodies energized by rhythm, caught up in the movement of these great dancing chains that intertwine and overlap, harmoniously complementing each other."
—Mélanie Carpentier, JEU, Montréal, Canada, September 2017
"Best of 2015, Top 5 dance"
—Deborah Meyers, The Vancouver Sun, Canada, December 2015
"Best moments in dance 2012"
—Andrew Boynton, The New Yorker, United States, December 2012
"Émard has staged variations of the piece [Le Grand Continental] in Montréal, New York City, Mexico City and Philadelphia, earning international raves for the way it elevates line dancing into exuberant art. […] a delightful half-hour performance."
—Marty Hughley, The Oregonian, Portland, United States, September 2012
"[the dancers] are delightful to watch. [...] And the shy, flirtatious smiles many of them presented to the audience were absolutely winning."
—Claudia La Rocco, The New York Times, United States, June 2012
"Infectious and festive, it has proved to be a big hit, and Sylvain Émard has been riding the rising swell of the irresistible Continental wave."
—Catherine Lalonde, Le Devoir, Montréal, October 2011
"Two hundred people dance their hearts out. What's not to like?"
—Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail, Toronto May, 2011
"An artistic experience that has an undeniable social, human and collective impact. […] A veritable feast with energy that is contagious."
—Christian Saint-Pierre, Voir.ca, Montréal, May 2011
"A stroke of genius "
—Victor Swoboda, The Gazette, Montréal, Canada, June 2009
"An enormous wave of pleasure flows from Sylvain Émard’s Le Grand Continental. [...] a true declaration for dance at the very heart of the pleasure that it attains, both traditional and festive."
—Marjolaine Zurfluh, Danser, Paris, France, October 2009
Testimonials
"An army of massive joy and delight. [...] 7 lines by 30 columns of concentrated happiness [...] Le Grand Continental is not just a simple choreography. Behind the anecdotal square dance reworked for modern tastes lies a very rich human experience that I had never previously enjoyed. And behind the choreographer is one of the most humane, gentle, gracious, inspiring, accessible and talented individuals I have ever met." —Normand Miron, Montréal
"There are probably few human actions that have the liberating quality of dance. We move our bodies as we please in order to produce pleasure and delight. That is how dance can be subversive, for the dancer demonstrates that he is master of his body, of himself. If that person is accompanied by 149 others moving voluntarily to the same rhythm, the experience of freedom becomes a collective celebration." —Emilio Montemayor, Mexico
"It’s like snowflakes out here – we’re all different, but we come together into one big happy family." —Brad Faubion, Portland (Oregon)
"This has been the most incredible experience I have lived. I have never experienced the camaraderie that I found here, whereby I am your left leg and you are my right leg, and if you can’t do the step, then neither can I, because we need each other." —Iliana Quinones, New York
Awards and acknowledgment
SEPTEMBER 2024
Sylvain Émard receives a recognition award from the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership for his contributions to Montréal’s cultural vitality, including Le Grand Continental series presented by the Festival TransAmériques in the Quartier des Spectacles.
NOVEMBER 2018
CINARS International Collaboration Award for the re-creation of Le Grand Continental at Potsdamer Tanztage and Santiago a Mil
OCTOBER 2014
People’s Choice Award in the category "Best Nonprofit Event Concept—Budget Under $250,000", BizBash National Event Style Award, New York, for Le Grand Continental at Celebrity Series of Boston
JUNE 2011
Sylvain Émard is named Personality of the Week by La Presse/Radio-Canada for Le Continental XL.
Videos
Le Super Méga Continental – Les auditions (in French)
Le Super Méga Continental – Les répétitions (in French)
Le Super Méga Continental – Les jeunes (in French)
Le Super Méga Continental – Le spectacle (in French)
Le Grand Continental in New York City
Making of Le Grand Continental in Portland
Making of Le Grand Continental in Vancouver
Calendar
2022
JUNE
- Le Grand Continental: alle tanzen, Vorplatz Festspielhaus,Festspielhaus St.Pölten, Austria (150 amateur dancers)
2021
APRIL
- Le Grand Continental 3.0, Facebook Live
2020
APRIL
- Le Grand Continental – Living room style, Facebook Live
2018
SEPTEMBER
- Le Grand Continental, Zentralplatz Schiffbauergasse, fabrik Potsdam, Germany (65 amateur dancers)
- Le Super Grand Continental, Philadelphia Museum of Art Plaza, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, United States (165 amateur dancers)
JUNE
- Le Grand Continental, Nathan Philips Square, Luminato Festival, Toronto, Canada (230 amateur dancers)
MAY
- Le Grand Continental, Lustgarten and Schiffbauergasse, Potsdamer Tanztage, Postdam, Germany (150 amateur dancers)
JANUARY
- Le Grand Continental, Centro Cultural Chimkowe and Plaza de la Constituciо́n, Santiago a Mil International Festival, Chile (150 amateur dancers)
2017
SEPTEMBER
- Le Super Méga Continental, Place des Festivals, official program of Montréal’s 375th Anniversary Celebrations, Canada (375 amateur dancers)
2016
FEBRUARY
- Le Grand Continental, Civic Square, opening the 30th anniversary edition of the New Zealand Festival, Wellington, New Zealand (150 amateur dancers)
2015
MAY
- Le Grand Continental, Ansan Culture Square, Ansan Street Arts Festival, South Korea (130 amateur dancers)
JANUARY
- Le Grand Continental, PuSh Festival, Vancouver, Canada (70 amateur dancers)
2014
MAY
- Le Grand Continental, Copley Square, as part of the 75th season of Celebrity Series of Boston, United States (110 amateur dancers)
2013
OCTOBRE
- El Gran Continental ¡otra vez!, Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Faro de Oriente, Explanada Delegación Benito Juárez, Mexico City, Mexico (150 amateur dancers)
JUNE
- Le Grand Continental, Canada Dance Festival, Ottawa, Canada (115 amateur dancers)
2012
SEPTEMBER
- Le Grand Continental, Pioneer Courthouse Square, as part of the 15th anniversary of White Bird, Portland, United States (150 amateur dancers)
- Le Grand Continental, Philadelphia Museum of Art Plaza, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, United States (150 amateur dancers)
JUNE
- Le Grand Continental, The Seaport, River To River Festival, copresented by The Joyce Theater, New York, United States (150 amateur dancers)
2011
DÉCEMBER
- ID advertisement created for the 10th anniversary of the TV channel ARTV (versions of 10, 30 and 60 seconds broadcasted until 2016), Montréal, Canada (108 amateur dancers)
OCTOBER
- Excerpt of Le Grand Continental, Piknic Électronik, Montréal, Canada (70 amateur dancers)
MAY
- Le Continental XL, Place des Festivals, Festival TransAmériques, Montréal, Canada (200 amateur dancers)
APRIL
- El Gran Continental, Centro Cultural del Bosque, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, International Dance Day, Mexico City, Mexico (100 amateur dancers)
MARCH
- El Gran Continental, Explanada del Palacio de Bellas Artes and Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Festival de México, Mexico City, Mexico (100 amateur dancers)
2010
JUNE
- Le Très Grand Continental, Place Émilie-Gamelin, Festival TransAmériques, Montréal, Canada (100 amateur dancers)
2009
MAY
- Le Grand Continental, Émery Street, Festival TransAmériques, Montréal, Canada (60 amateur dancers)
Credits
Le Super Méga Continental (2017)
- CHOREOGRAPHY Sylvain Émard
- MUSIC Martin Tétreault and Poirier
- LIGHTING DESIGN Bruno Rafie
- REHEARSAL COACH AND PROFESSIONAL DANCER Nathalie Blanchet
- PROFESSIONAL DANCERS Maryse Carrier, Claudia Chan Tak, Stéphane Deligny, Mark Eden-Towle, Geneviève Gauvreau, Audrée Juteau, Nicolas Patry, Amélie Rajotte, David Rancourt, Julie Siméon, Catherine Viau, Daniel Villeneuve
- PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Pierre Koch
- TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Karine Gauthier
- PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Mélanie Primeau
- REHEARSAL STAGE MANAGER Marie-Frédérique Gravel
- A Sylvain Émard Danse and Festival TransAmériques co-production, co-presented by Quartier des spectacles
Calendar
2022
JUNE
- Le Grand Continental: alle tanzen, Vorplatz Festspielhaus,Festspielhaus St.Pölten, Austria (150 amateur dancers)
2021
APRIL
- Le Grand Continental 3.0, Facebook Live
2020
APRIL
- Le Grand Continental – Living room style, Facebook Live
2018
SEPTEMBER
- Le Grand Continental, Zentralplatz Schiffbauergasse, fabrik Potsdam, Germany (65 amateur dancers)
- Le Super Grand Continental, Philadelphia Museum of Art Plaza, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, United States (165 amateur dancers)
JUNE
- Le Grand Continental, Nathan Philips Square, Luminato Festival, Toronto, Canada (230 amateur dancers)
MAY
- Le Grand Continental, Lustgarten and Schiffbauergasse, Potsdamer Tanztage, Postdam, Germany (150 amateur dancers)
JANUARY
- Le Grand Continental, Centro Cultural Chimkowe and Plaza de la Constituciо́n, Santiago a Mil International Festival, Chile (150 amateur dancers)
2017
SEPTEMBER
- Le Super Méga Continental, Place des Festivals, official program of Montréal’s 375th Anniversary Celebrations, Canada (375 amateur dancers)
2016
FEBRUARY
- Le Grand Continental, Civic Square, opening the 30th anniversary edition of the New Zealand Festival, Wellington, New Zealand (150 amateur dancers)
2015
MAY
- Le Grand Continental, Ansan Culture Square, Ansan Street Arts Festival, South Korea (130 amateur dancers)
JANUARY
- Le Grand Continental, PuSh Festival, Vancouver, Canada (70 amateur dancers)
2014
MAY
- Le Grand Continental, Copley Square, as part of the 75th season of Celebrity Series of Boston, United States (110 amateur dancers)
2013
OCTOBRE
- El Gran Continental ¡otra vez!, Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Faro de Oriente, Explanada Delegación Benito Juárez, Mexico City, Mexico (150 amateur dancers)
JUNE
- Le Grand Continental, Canada Dance Festival, Ottawa, Canada (115 amateur dancers)
2012
SEPTEMBER
- Le Grand Continental, Pioneer Courthouse Square, as part of the 15th anniversary of White Bird, Portland, United States (150 amateur dancers)
- Le Grand Continental, Philadelphia Museum of Art Plaza, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, United States (150 amateur dancers)
JUNE
- Le Grand Continental, The Seaport, River To River Festival, copresented by The Joyce Theater, New York, United States (150 amateur dancers)
2011
DÉCEMBER
- ID advertisement created for the 10th anniversary of the TV channel ARTV (versions of 10, 30 and 60 seconds broadcasted until 2016), Montréal, Canada (108 amateur dancers)
OCTOBER
- Excerpt of Le Grand Continental, Piknic Électronik, Montréal, Canada (70 amateur dancers)
MAY
- Le Continental XL, Place des Festivals, Festival TransAmériques, Montréal, Canada (200 amateur dancers)
APRIL
- El Gran Continental, Centro Cultural del Bosque, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, International Dance Day, Mexico City, Mexico (100 amateur dancers)
MARCH
- El Gran Continental, Explanada del Palacio de Bellas Artes and Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Festival de México, Mexico City, Mexico (100 amateur dancers)
2010
JUNE
- Le Très Grand Continental, Place Émilie-Gamelin, Festival TransAmériques, Montréal, Canada (100 amateur dancers)
2009
MAY
- Le Grand Continental, Émery Street, Festival TransAmériques, Montréal, Canada (60 amateur dancers)
