Joy as an act of resistance — a powerful force takes shape on stage.
V!TAL emerges as a manifesto, visceral and necessary. On stage, six performers and two musicians join forces in a vibrant space where movement and sound respond to each other in real time. Blending street and contemporary dance, the performers’ bodies, carried by a live musical score, shape a fertile tension between struggle and celebration.
Breath and exhilaration become a driving force for collective renewal, amplified by the musicians who shape the energy on stage. Together, they remind us that joy is not an escape, but a force for social transformation. Here, rhythm confronts chaos, pleasure confronts fear, gesture confronts collapse.
Ismaël Mouaraki is a choreographer and the founder of Destins Croisés, where he has been developing a distinctive choreographic voice since 2003, rooted in the discovery of others and the exploration of the human condition. His creations, including Loops (2008), Slam en/Corps (2009), RéfleXction (2010), Lien(s) (2016), oZe (2019), and Phenomena (2019), explore themes of polarity, control, and the place of the individual within the collective. In 2023, his work Le sacre de Lila (2022) received the award for Best Choreographic Work at the Prix de la Danse de Montréal. In 2019, he was also a co-recipient of the Prix Envol in recognition of his contribution to cultural diversity.
September 23 - 24 - 25, 2026 – 7 PM
September 26, 2026 – 4 PM
Duration : 60 minutes
Meet the artists, September 24, after the performance.
The Making Of: Interactive activity, on September 26, after the performance.
Choreography & Artistic Direction
Ismaël Mouaraki
Choreography developed in collaboration with the performers
Performers
Yassine Khyar, Étienne Léonard-Benoit, Erismel Mejias, Laura Perron, Marie-Maxime Ross, Zack Van Gils
Composer & Musician (synthesizer, vocals, guitar, and bass)
Olivier Landry-Gagnon
Musician (drums)
Olivier Cousineau
Rehearsal Director & Artistic Advisor
Annie Gagnon
Costume & Set Design
Marilène Bastien
Lighting Design & Technical Direction
Tiffanie Boffa
Touring & Distribution
Maison Verso
Co-production
Agora de la danse
Creative Residencies
Agora de la danse, Maison de la culture Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Production & Tour Management
Matéo Chauchat
Support
Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Conseil des arts de Montréal
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Geneviève Boulet for the generosity of her guidance, the insightfulness of her perspective, and her invaluable commitment.
Photo Credits
V!TAL | Destins Croisés | Ismaël Mouaraki | © Sylvie-Ann Paré
Portrait © Sylvie-Ann Paré
Destins Croisés
