Mélanie Demers Appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the PRIX DE LA DANSE DE MONTRÉAL

Montréal, September 23, 2025 — The PRIX DE LA DANSE DE MONTRÉAL (PDM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mélanie Demers as Chair of its Board of Directors. A leading figure in contemporary dance for over twenty years, Mélanie Demers succeeds Marie Chouinard — founder of the PDM — on the eve of the fifteenth edition of the awards ceremony. This appointment extends the PDM’s deep commitment to artists and the choreographic community, while bringing a breath of renewal.

An Engaged Leadership, a Compelling Vision

Choreographer, director, and artistic director of the company MAYDAY, Mélanie Demers has left a mark on the artistic landscape at home and abroad with powerful works such as Confession publique, Animal triste, La goddam voie lactée, and, more recently, l’amour ou rien. She has twice received the CALQ Prize for Best Choreographic Work, the GRAND PRIX DE LA DANSE DE MONTRÉAL in 2021, and the National Arts Centre (NAC) Prize in 2024 as part of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards. In 2025, she was awarded the Molson Prize in the arts category by the Canada Council for the Arts. Her choreographic language — visceral, hybrid, and unrestrained — explores the tensions between the poetic and the political, the intimate and the collective. With her international reach, social engagement, and ability to renew forms, she stands as an essential figure of Quebec’s cultural landscape.

Mélanie Demers’s appointment marks a new chapter in the history of the PDM. More than a symbolic passing of the torch, it is a reaffirmation of dance as a vital force in Quebec’s cultural identity — a space of dialogue, memory, and subversion. Through her unapologetic artistic voice and critical stance, Mélanie Demers reminds us that art cannot be separated from the world around it. Her arrival as Chair reflects a desire for openness, attentiveness, and reinvention in a time when dance and art play an essential role in social cohesion.

“I embrace this presidency with both enthusiasm and humility, as someone who wishes to make dance shine in all its plurality and complexity. It is about positioning Montreal as the capital of dance and celebrating the artists who bring it to life. The Montreal scene is vibrant — I want the PRIX to be just as alive.”

 — Mélanie Demers, Chair of the PRIX DE LA DANSE DE MONTRÉAL

Passing the Torch

Founder Marie Chouinard steps down as Chair after more than a decade of passionate commitment and artistic leadership. She leaves behind a respected, well-established organization that has given contemporary dance unprecedented visibility and recognition. Her sensitivity, her ability to bring people together, and her determination to amplify the multiple voices of dance have deeply shaped the DNA of the PDM. She will remain an Honorary Member of the Board of Directors, ensuring a smooth transition.

“It is with profound joy that I welcome Mélanie as the new Chair. She embodies a strong artistic voice and a political sensibility that are essential to our time. I am convinced that her boldness and lucidity will guide the PRIX toward new horizons, without ever losing sight of their unifying core.”

 — Marie Chouinard, Founder and Honorary Member

A Board of Directors Balancing Continuity and Renewal

This transition also brings several changes within the Board of Directors. The PDM warmly thank Christel Durand, who served as Secretary, as well as board members Lucie Vigneault and 7Starr, for their dedication, attentiveness, and meaningful contributions. Their ideas, presence, and commitment have shaped recent years and strengthened the PDM’s community and institutional roots.

The Board is pleased to welcome Cloé Pluquet as Secretary and Sylviane Martineau as a new board member.

The PDM also highlight the renewed presence of committed members continuing their mandates: Yves Rockray (Treasurer), Marie-Christine Cojocaru (Board Member), and Pierre Desmarais (Board Member). Their constant support and rigor are essential pillars ensuring a smooth transition and long-term stability.

A New Digital Momentum

Alongside this transition, the PRIX DE LA DANSE DE MONTRÉAL is unveiling a redesigned website. Created to showcase awarded artists and PDM partners, the site continues to serve as a living archive of past ceremonies and as a platform to elevate dance. This renewal was carried out by CAPAS.