Paul-André Fortier entered the world of dance in the 1970’s via one of Quebec and Canada's most innovative choreographic companies, Le Groupe Nouvelle Aire. While at the company, he worked with some of the most distinguished artists in his field.
Even before Fortier became known for his choreography, he had already earned a reputation as a dancer for his elegant, refined and commanding stage presence. He was a part of every major project of the era; those of his mentors, and those of his peers (Edouard Lock and Daniel Léveillé, among others). In 1979 he created his own company, which later became Fortier Danse-Création. He also co-founded the company Montréal Danse in 1986 with Daniel Jackson. He was a professor at UQAM’s dance department for ten years.
Fortier’s career as choreographer is significant in its impact on the arts. He is the forerunner of a danced theatricality, which exposes the tension in today’s world. He has created an unapologetic, determined and precise vocabulary that has inspired a whole generation of choreographers who are unafraid to take risks.
Fortier himself always chooses to take these risks. In the late 1980’s he embarked, with remarkable aplomb, on a solo adventure with a trilogy of pieces (Les Males Heures, 1989; La Tentation de la transparence, 1991; Bras de plomb, 1993), accompanied twice by artist Betty Goodwin. Following this definitive partnership, Paul-André Fortier would pursue collaborations with other artists: visual artist Pierre Bruneau, composer Alain Thibault, and video artists Patrick Masbourian and Takao Minami.
Although Fortier is up-to-date with all new developments in the art scene, particularly with the use of multimedia and new technology, he does not blindly follow current trends, including that of, “everything technological”. Instead, he decides what will add to the symbolic and aesthetic scope in his most recent projects, notably Tensions (2001), Lumière (2004) and Solo 1x60 - Un jardin d’objets (2006).
Fortier regrouped in 2006 with Solo 30x30, a minimalist dance piece removed from the fantasy world of the stage and resolutely grounded in urban décor. He performed this thirty-minute piece for thirty days running in Ottawa, Montréal, Yamaguchi, Japan, Nancy and Lyon (France), Newcastle and London, (U.K.), and Bolzano and Rome (Italy).
As a guest of the Ballet de Lorraine in Nancy in 2008, Paul-André Fortier created Spirale, a piece for fifteen dancers. He then went on to present his latest creation, Cabane, at the Festival TransAmériques. Halfway between in situ and installation performance, Cabane brings Fortier together with visual artist/musician/writer Rober Racine around a modular shed.
Paul-André Fortier’s creative work is recognized internationally and it is distinguished by Fortier’s search for renewal and a desire to surpass himself. Fortier describes himself as, “a man who dances,” and constantly challenges himself to meet the highest of artistic standards.
Paul-André Fortier was the recipient of the prestigious Jean A. Chalmers award for choreography, as well as the Dora Mavor Moore Award. From 2003 to 2007 Fortier was the resident choreographer at the Cinquième Salle at Place des Arts in Montreal. He is also a member of the Sponsorship Committee at the Grand Théâtre de Lorient (France), which was created at the Theatre’s inauguration in June 2003. To date he has worked on over forty choreographic works in thirty years, which have been presented in ten different countries. In 2010, he was appointed the Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France.
