Festival encore

HISTORY

1995-1997

Founded by Claire Mayer, the Encore International Dance Festival has its beginnings in Drummondville, a collaboration with the CEGEP and the Drummondville Cultural Centre.

1998-2002

The Festival grows rapidly and this evolution requires more appropriate logistics and infrastructure. And so, after three years, the Festival leaves Drummondville and settles in Trois-Rivières. Soon after its arrival, the Festival is officially accredited by the Trois-Rivières Cultural Development Corporation. The level of participation increases dramatically.

2003-2004

A milestone in the history of the Festival. In order to accommodate an ever growing number of participants, the Festival evolves from a three day duration to a 10 day event. The number of weekend activities is doubled and a seminar for dance teachers is added during the week days.

The Festival wins "Grand Prix du Tourisme".

2005-2006-2007

For the 11th Edition the Festival deviates from its “convention” format conceived primarily for the dance milieu and becomes a “major event” by opening its doors to the public at large. To achieve this goal, the Festival's activities are concentrated into one long weekend. The Festival is honoured by the City of Trois-Rivières with a “Special Mention” during the 2006 Grands Prix du Tourisme.

In 2008, the new concept attracts close to 38,000 visitors, 60% coming from outside the Mauricie region. Two hundred professional artists of international calibre are invited and the Festival's in-hall presentations attract more than 3000 spectators. The Festival moves up to a second level and is consecrated ‘”exciting and unique major event”. The outdoor animations and shows are exceptional and record crowds are thrilled by the many breathtaking performances. The Festival is nominated in the “Cultural Enterprise of the Year” category at the Gala Radisson.

2008-2009-2010

The next edition of the Encore International Dance Festival, to be held from June 5th to June 13th 2009, will celebrate the 375th anniversary of the City of Trois-Rivières as well as the 15th anniversary of the Festival. For the occasion organizers plan to invite the most popular artists from the first 14 years of the Festival. A major event will also be added to the schedule, a mega-production consisting of a dance interpretation of Beethoven's 9th Symphony accompanied by the Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Jacques Lacombe. The production will bring together on the same stage a choir of some 120 singers, 4 soloists and 54 of our best Canadian dancers and classic and contemporary companies. This evening will be capped off with a Latin style party which will close this 375th Special Edition.