Creation Destruction

All the Hope in the World

As the sun sets over the Esplanade Tranquille, eleven magnificent dancers and a dozen outstanding musicians interact with nebulas of light. A monumental work of stark virtuosity, Creation Destruction combines a call to environmental action with a profound metaphysical experience. An explosion of sensations in the very heart of the city, it will make you feel in every fibre of your being that we are just as capable of creation as we are of destruction.

To compose the music, choreographer Dana Gingras called on four members of legendary Montreal band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, who are joined by an ensemble of musicians. The dancing pixels of the captivating, shape-shifting video installation were produced by UK collective United Visual Artists. In this time of unbridled capitalism and climate emergency, Creation Destruction stimulates our collective intelligence through a sensory overflow, reminding us that creativity is always a source of hope.

Guest artist Lara Kramer will perform an Offering Invitation before the show.

Produced by Animals of Distinction
Choreographed and directed by Dana Gingras
Visual concept and Scenography United Visual Artists
Music composed by Thierry Amar + Timothy Herzog + Efrim Manuel Menuck + Sophie Trudeau – Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Created with and performed by Robert Abubo + Amara Barner + Charles Brecard + Jaleesa Coligny + Léna Demnati + Stacey Désilier + Roxanne Dupuis + Jimmy Gonzalez + Caroline Gravel + Koliane Rochon-Prom Tep + Lexi Vajda
Additional music for strings and voices Craig Pedersen
Music Direction Guido del Fabro
Music performed by Timothy Herzog + Efrim Manuel Menuck + Sophie Trudeau + Joseph Yarmush + David Cronkite + Eugénie Jobin Tremblay + Vincent Kim + Frédérique Roy + Jérémie Cloutier + Yubin Kim + JC Lizotte + Jean René + Lana Tomlin
Rehearsal Director and Assistant to the Choreographer Sarah Williams
Dramaturgy Kathy Casey + Ruth Little
Lighting Design Mikko Hynninen
Costume Design Rémi van Bochove
Sound Radwan Ghazi Moumneh
Video Manager Jon Skerritt
Lighting Manager JF Piché
Producer and Agent Sarah Rogers
Production Manager Brenda Recinos Ramirez
Stage Manager and Production Assistant Kunal Ranchod

Developed with support of National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund, Canada Council for the Arts New Chapter program + The Secretariat for Relations with English-speaking Quebecers 

Creative residencies Place des Arts + Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal + Conseil des Arts de Montréal + Agora de la Danse + Stable + Compagnie Marie Chouinard

Presented by Hydro-Québec with the support of Quartier des spectacles Partnership

Premiered at Luminato, Toronto, on June 15, 2022

Thank you Justin Evans + Beryl and Lionel Gingras + Suzanne Hawkes + Marie Brassard + Karine Denault + Rory Seydel + Yannick Grandmont + Pascal Huot + Sonya Stefan + Tegan Lance + Pat Belisle + Dave Bourdage + Annie-Kim Déry + Suzanne Laverdière + Francine Bernier + Cathy Levy + Clothilde Cardinal + Pierre Desmarais + Caroline Orht + Josephine Ridge + Naomi Campbell + Caren Campbell

A special thank you to Amber Barton + Béatrice Larrivée + Simon Portigal + Sovann Rochon-Prom Tep + Esther Rousseau-Morin + Louise Michel Jackson + Victor Dumont + Justin de Luna + Mark Medrano and Charlie Tremblay-Abubo who were an integral part of the creation process.

Written by Nayla Naoufal
Translated by David Dalgleish