- Le Patin Libre
Le Patin Libre is a group of Canadian
figure skaters creating ice shows independently. It was founded in 2005 by the figure skaterAlexandre Hamel .Its members declare to be developing a new performance art using ice as a medium. [ [http://www.lepatinlibre.com Official Site] ]
The group was described as a "
Disney on Ice with a bonus hint of imagination, artistic expression and technical mastery (but no means)." [ [http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070306/CPACTUEL/703060757/1015/CPACTUEL Article of the daily newspaper "La Presse"] , March 6th 2007]The group is visible in shows often linked to winter festivals, which are a lively tradition in the province of
Quebec . [ J. Barry Mittan, Le Patin Libre Skating Troupe, November 2nd 2006 (page consulted on December 28th 2007) < http://www.skatetoday.com/articles0506/110206.htm > ]The group expresses itself vehemently through various web pages displaying videos of their performances and claiming their independence and artistic endeavours. [ [http://www.lepatinlibre.com Official Site] ]
History
* 2005 : The group Le Patin Libre is founded by a relatively unknown figure skater named
Alexandre Hamel . The group is hired to present shows in very small local events centered on the presence of an ice surface. [ J. Barry Mittan, Le Patin Libre Skating Troupe, November 2nd 2006 (page consulted on December 28th 2007) < http://www.skatetoday.com/articles0506/110206.htm > ]* January 2006 : The group present its first show in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a suburb of
Montreal ,Canada . It visits two other cities during this first tour. [ J. Barry Mittan, Le Patin Libre Skating Troupe, November 2nd 2006 (page consulted on December 28th 2007) < http://www.skatetoday.com/articles0506/110206.htm > ]* March 2007 : After a second larger tour including a show at the world-renowned “
Carnaval de Québec ” [ [http://www.carnaval.qc.ca Official Site of the "Carnaval de Québec"] ] , the group writes and distributes a manifesto describing its philosophy and its position outside the world of traditionalfigure skating . The text criticizes the rigidity of the olympic discipline and the lack of inspiration of the show business using its stars. The text is distributed as tracts during illegal performances on public ice rinks of Montreal city. A part of the performance is aired on the news bulletin of a national Canadian network. [ [http://www.lepatinlibre.com Official Site] ]* October 2007 : The group self produce its first event: "The Halloween Party". The small arena rented by the group sells out. The medieval tale
The Pied Piper of Hamelin is adapted into an ice show and the event is centered on a participative public allowed to step on the ice with skates. [ 24h, « Un Bal masqué hors de l'ordinaire », in "24 Heures", November 2nd 2007, p. 16, Montreal, Canada ]* December 2007 :
Sylvain Bouillère , a member of the group, creates a Christmas tale on ice during which he plays violin while he performs a choreography on his own music. [ « Vive le patin libre - Skaters of the Free World », in "Les Nouvelles Saint-Laurent", December 19th 2007, p. 1 et 19, Montreal, Canada ]* December 2008 : Numbers created by the troop make an international premiere in
England , through a two city tour by Alexandre Hamel.Other characteristics
The group is now known for its invention of "tap-skating", a style mixing
tap dance and skating. The artists use the sounds of their blades to create music. Without a musical approach, the use of the sounds of blades was also experimented by the internationally acclaimed skating show “Stars On Ice ”.A few skaters of the troop are also practicing
extreme skating . [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w32FwjvSCOg "YouTube video posted by extreme skaters visited by Alexandre Hamel in July 2007] ]References
*1. [http://www.lepatinlibre.com Official Site]
*2. Silvia Galipeau, « Patineurs Rebelles », in "La Presse", March 6th 2007, p. 1, 2 et 3 of the “Actuel” cahier., Montreal, Canada
*3. J. Barry Mittan, Le Patin Libre Skating Troupe, November 2nd 2006 (page consulted on December 28th 2007) < http://www.skatetoday.com/articles0506/110206.htm >
*4. "Le Patin Libre", « Le Patin Libre Manifesto », distributed as tracts now available in various private and public archives, launched on March 11th 2007, Montreal, Canada.
*5. « Vive le patin libre - Skaters of the Free World », in "Les Nouvelles Saint-Laurent", December 19th 2007, p. 1 et 19, Montreal, Canada
*6. 24h, « Un Bal masqué hors de l'ordinaire », in "24 Heures", November 2nd 2007, p. 16, Montreal, Canada
*7. [http://www.carnaval.qc.ca Official Site of the "Carnaval de Québec"]
*8. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a12UNN4rmY4 Recording of a TV appearance of "Tap skating", TVA network, February 9th 2007, Canada]
*9. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w32FwjvSCOg "YouTube video posted by extreme skaters visited by Alexandre Hamel in July 2007]
*10 [http://www.starsonice.com Official Site of the "Stars On Ice" ice show]External links
* [http://www.lepatinlibre.com Official Site]
* [http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070306/CPACTUEL/703060757/1015/CPACTUEL Article of the daily newspaper "La Presse"] , March 6th 2007
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