Anik Bissonnette

Anik Bissonnette (born February 9, 1962, Montreal) is a Canadian ballet dancer and principal dancer, since 1990, with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. Her father, Jean Bissonnette, was famous as a television director with Télévision de Radio-Canada.

Anik Bissonnette began her training at the École de danse Eddy Toussaint, primarily under Camilla Malashenko. In 1979, she joined Mr. Toussaint's troupe, Le Ballet de Montréal Eddy Toussaint. Her extraordinary physical attributes – long arms, elegant hyperextended legs and high arches, combined with her feline agility and beautiful face – set her apart from the other dancers and garnered her leading roles right from the start.

She created many leading roles in Mr. Toussaint’s choreographies, including "Rose La tulipe" (1979), "Un simple moment" (1981), "Requiem de Mozart" (1986), "New World Symphony" (1987), and "Bonjour Brel" (1988).

Under Mr. Toussaint artistic direction, Ms. Bissonnette formed a memorable partnership with Louis Robitaille. She starred in many televised productions with Le Ballet de Montréal Eddy Toussaint and performed in "Night Magic", a film directed by Lewis Furey. Her participation in the 1984 Helsinki Ballet Competition netted Mr. Toussaint first prize for his choreography in "Un simple moment".

She danced the role of "Giselle" for the first time in Odessa, Russia, in 1988. The following year, she was invited to Toulouse, where she danced the part of "Odette/Odile" in "Swan Lake" with Laurent Hilaire, principal dancer with the Opéra de Paris. In 1991, she resumed the role, partnered by Éric Vu An, another Paris Opera étoile. She also danced the role of "Juliet" in Nicholas Beriozoff’s "Romeo and Juliet", as well as "Cinderella" in the work of the same name.

In 1989, Ms. Bissonnete joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montréal and was named principal dancer the following year, thus gaining access to roles that showcased the full range of her enormous talent. Leading roles in great classics like "The Nutcracker", "Coppelia", "La fille mal gardée", "Les Sylphides", "Giselle" and "Swan Lake" allowed audiences to appreciate her versatility. She performed the dramatic principal roles in Antony Tudor’s "Jardin aux lilas" and "Pillar of Fire" and in José Limon’s "Moor’s Pavane". With her flawless technique, she has also performed in some 10 ballets by George Balanchine.

Throughout her career with Les Grands, Ms. Bissonnette has been fortunate to work with some of the greatest choreographers today, including James Kudelka, William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Ohad Naharin, Nacho Duato, Nils Christe, Susan Toumine and Hans van Manen. Montréal choreographer Ginette Laurin an a number of up-and-coming choreographer (including Kevin O’Day, Gioconda Barbuto, Septim Webre, Didy Veldman and Stijn Celis) have also had the pleasure of working with her. In 2001, she created the role of "Lisa" in Kim Brandstrup’s "La Dame de pique".

Ms. Bissonnette performs regularly in galas around the world: Melbourne, Athens, Prague, Budapest, Thessaloniki, Montréal, New York City, Toronto, Vienne, Spoleto (Italy), Helsinki, Bratislav and many more. In 2005, she was invited by Carla Fracci of Rome’s teatro dell’Opera to revive the ballet "La Chatte", which Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal had staged for her in 1990. She performed recently in Vienna for the closing of Tanz für Europa.

In tandem with her stage career, Ms. Bissonnette is Artistic Director of the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur and President of the Regroupement québécois de la danse. In 1995, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1996, she was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec. She is married to Louis Robitaille, a ballet dancer with whom she danced.

Ms Bissonnette has a daughter who currently attends l'Ecole Superieure de Ballet Contemporain de Montreal. One of the five most prestigeous dance academies in Canada.

Awards and honours

1985 : Best individual Performance at the International de Danse Porsche du Canada.

1985 : Named Personality of the week by Montréal daily newspaper La Presse.

1988 : Named personality of the year, Youth section by the Salon de la Femme de Montréal

1990 : Prix des Biches (awarded on the Radio-Canada television show La Bande des Six)

1995 : Named Officer of the Order of Canada

1996 : Named Chevalier de l’Ordre du Québec

2005 : Awarded the Prix du public at the Budapest Ballet Gala

2007 : Awarded the Prix du public at the Budapest Ballet Gala

External links

* [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0012087 Anik Bissonnette] at The Canadian Encyclopedia

* [http://www.danceinternational.org/archive/fall2006.html Anik Bissonnette is loved (when she retire...)]