SIGN UP ON MINDBODY

Activities and special eventsYouth scheduleAdult schedule

New Ballet Divertimento project

Profile

«passion, excellence, innovation . . . and fun»

The Ballet Divertimento School supports the aspirations of passionate dance students from the first plié to master class. In an ambience of enjoyment and excellence, children, teens and adults cultivate a love of dance, whether the aim is a professional career or way to stay fit.

A non-profit organization founded in 1991 by Susan Alexander, the School offers ballet classes year ‘round from beginner to professional levels, for all ages from three years to adult. It also offers courses in modern-contemporary dance and Force & Flex for adults.

Dance-Study programs provide professional training for middle school, high school and college students. This approach enables young people to pursue dance training while continuing their studies, and to maximize academic and artistic performance.

Located in the heart of Montreal’s downtown core, the School occupies a building dedicated to and adapted for dance. The faculty of more than 20 expert and experienced professionals who teach classes on a regular basis is supplemented by occasional guest teachers. Close to 800 students attend each year in an open and creative environment.

A source of inspiration

The Ballet Divertimento School continues to be guided in spirit by the late Brydon Paige, artistic director from 1996 to 2007. Born in Vancouver, he first danced with Les Ballets Chiriaeff, the precursor of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Over a career that spanned more than four decades, Brydon Paige created works for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, National Ballet of Guatemala, Banff Centre and National Ballet of Portugal. One of his original works, The Wizard of Oz, was created for Ballet Divertimento and today remains a keystone of the School’s repertoire.

Direction

ouidance-suzanne-bio

Susan Alexander, General Director

Born in New Brunswick, Susan Alexander studied arts and commerce at Concordia University in Montreal. Dance was always a passion, and she studied ballet with such notable teachers as Sheila Ross and Rudolf Kharatian. Since founding the Ballet Divertimento School in 1991, she has devoted herself entirely to guiding its development, including the development of projects such as the Dance-Study program. Her mission is to increase the range of courses and training available to aspiring dancers and to provide them with a fertile environment in which to germinate their talent. In 2002 Ms. Alexander co-founded with Alexandra Wells of the Julliard School the critically acclaimed Springboard Montréal Danse project  held each summer at the School.

ouidance-Christine-bio

Christine Cyr, Artistic and educational director

After graduating from the National Ballet School in 1981, Christine Cyr continued her studies under master teachers of the Paris Opera Ballet. Upon returning to Canada, she danced as a soloist for the Anna Wyman Dance Theatre in Vancouver and for the Atlantic Ballet Company in Halifax. From 1989 on, she worked training young dancers as a Guest Teacher for many schools and workshops. In 2008, she joined the staff of the École supérieure de ballet du Québec (ESBQ). During this time she rewrote the texts for the course of study of the college program and also redesigned for the ESBQ and the Pensionnat du Saint-Nom-de-Marie the annual reports which are submitted to the Minister of Education. In 2010, she accepted a position in the dance program of Collège Sainte-Anne. Following her studies in history at the University of Montréal, she obtained her Masters in Art Education (specializing in dance) at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Since 2000, she has held the position of President of the board of PPS Dance. Since 2015, she has been Artistic and Educational Director of Ballet Divertimento Montréal.

ouidance-owen-bio

Owen Montague, Co-Artistic Director, Senior teacher

In addition to the National Ballet of Canada, Owen Montague had an international career as principal dancer with such prestigious companies as Netherlands Dance TheatreAterballetoBallet BC and Alberta Ballet. He has received many awards including two bronze medals at the first International Ballet competition in Jackson Mississippi, USA and a silver medal at the International Ballet Competition in Moscow, USSR. Owen Montague also received a bursary from the Canada Arts Council and the Peter Dwyer Scholarship. For the last 15 years, Owen has worked as an independent artist and has explored his interest in choreography, photography and costume design for motion and artistic production. He returns to Canada after 6 years as an associate professor of the department of dance and music, at the Kobe Jogakuin College of Japan. Today, Owen Montague is Senior Professor of the Professional Program and Choreographer in Residence at Ballet Divertimento in Montreal.

Alex Ursuliak, Artistic Consultant

Canadian-born Alex Ursuliak began his dance career after graduating from the Pedagogical Institute Theatre of Kiev in Ukraine. He worked for the National Ballet of Canada and the Stuttgart Ballet as both dancer and ballet master, and was director of the Ballet School of the Vienna State Opera and the John Cranko School in Stuttgart. He was also a visiting professor at some of the biggest companies in this and many other countries. A prolific choreographer, Alex Ursuliak has created and staged important works worldwide and coached many leading contemporary artists: Natalya Makarova, Martine Van Hamel, Veronica Tennant, Rudolf Nureyev and Erik Bruhn.

Administration

Teaching Faculty

Kristen Céré

Modern Dance – Ballet

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Era (Iryna) Chorna

Ballet

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Christine Cyr

Christine Cyr

Ballet

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Zack Tang

Modern dance

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Nina Galea

Nina Galea

Improvisation

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Sylviane Junod

Force & Flex

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Carole Lanctôt

Ballet

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Liliana Pérez Jaramillo

Ballet

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Eric J. Miles

Modern Dance

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Owen Montague

Ballet

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Marisa Pauloni

Ballet

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Accompanists

Charles Dallaire

Pianist

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Tom Mennier

Pianist

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Monica Han

Pianist

Ballet Divertimento bouton read bio

Facilities

To make a reservation, write to danse@balletdivertimento.com

Located near McGill University and the Quartier des spectacles, the Ballet Divertimento School occupies a building built in 1960 at the corner of Durocher and Milton streets. Major renovations were undertaken to install fully equipped dance studios.

The studios are open and airy with large windows that let in natural light. For the dancers’ safety and comfort, all are equipped with resilient sprung floors.

The School facilities include changing rooms for men and women. Lockers are available to store personal belongings. For added security, it is recommended that people using them bring a padlock. (Ballet Divertimento is not responsible for lost or stolen items.)

Studio 1

Studio 2

Studio 3

Installation 

Studios are equipped with

Ballet Divertimento Installations icône planchers résilients

Resilient sprung floors

Designed by Jacques Morin
for exceptional comfort

Ballet Divertimento Installations icône système de son

Sound system

(CD/Cassette/mP3)

Ballet Divertimento Installations icône piano

Piano

KAWAI brand

Ballet Divertimento Installations icône miroirs

Mirrors

Ballet Divertimento Installations icône barres

Dance barres

Ballet Divertimento Installations icône vidéo

Video

DVD or VHS

(on request)

Ballet Divertimento Installations icône télévision

TV

(on request)

Ballet Divertimento Installations icône air climatisé

Air conditioning

(studios 2, 3 and 5)

Contact us

Ballet Divertimento - Nous joindre

Ballet Divertimento

Address

YMCA 1435 Drummond street 2nd floor

Montreal, (Quebec)

H3G 1W4

Metro Peel/Exit Stanley street

Contact

T • (514) 285-2157

dance@balletdivertimento.com

Hours of Operation

Monday

1pm • 8:00pm

Tuesday

1pm • 8:00pm

Wednesday

1pm • 8:00pm

Thursday

1pm • 8:00pm

Friday

1pm • 4:30pm

Saturday

8:30am • 3:00pm

Sunday

CLOSED

The School is closed

Thanksgiving:
October 9, 2023

Holiday break:
December 24, 2023 to January 7, 2024

Easter holiday:
March 30, 2024 to April 1, 2024

OUR UPCOMING WORKSHOPS !

 

  • T-shirts available here
  • 21 and 22 decembre --- Sylviane Junod & Yseult Léger --- intensive ballet workshop for adults
  • Registrations open for winter workshops here

NOS PROCHAINS ATELIERS !

 

  • T-shirts en vente ici
  • 21 et 22 décembre 2024 --- Sylviane Junod & Yseult Léger --- stage de ballet intensif pour adulte
  • Inscriptions pour les sessions d’hiver en cours sur Mindbody