Alice Bourgasser was trained at National Choreographic Center of Roubaix (France) as an interpreter and contemporary dance teacher, between 2013 and 2016. Graduated in dance from the University of Lille 3 and from the « Pôle Supérieur de Musique et de Danse du Nord Pas-de-Calais », she moves to Montreal in 2016 to start a master thesis in dance at UQAM (Quebec University in Montreal). Her research master’s degree focuses on Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers’ dancing, lindy-hop pioneer dancers. Since 2016, Alice is practicing and teaching both contemporary and vernacular jazz (mostly solo jazz and lindy-hop) in Montreal. She started the swing contest circuit since 2017 and won several medals in both lindy-hop (3rd strictly all star ILHC 2023, Canadian Champion 2023, 1st advanced luck of the draw Savoy Cup 2022) and solo jazz (2nd all star solo jazz ILHC 2023, 3rd all star solo jazz ILHC 2022, 2nd advanced division at Stompology 2023). She started to teach internationally since 2019 in France, UK, Canada and the US. In 2021, Alice has been accepted for a doctorate in the study and practice of the arts (DEPA) in UQAM. She currently continues her journey of understanding African-American jazz culture through a research-creation project. 

Michel Campeau studied broadcasting at the Cité Collégiale in Ottawa. At the same time, he discovered vernacular jazz dances in a local scene and gradually migrated towards a career as a dancer. Since 2018, he has taught, coached and performed vernacular jazz dances full-time, particularly solo jazz and lindy-hop. In 2023, he won with his partner Alice Bourgasser the title of Canadian Champion as well as 3rd place strictly all star at the international lindy-hop championships (ILHC). He travels to several continents (Europe, America, Asia) to teach and perform these dances. At the same time, he developed his career as an interdisciplinary artist by participating in different productions in the music and circus world (Camping, 2021).

Solo jazz : Freedom in improvisation is the goal 

Thanks to the different cultural insights provided by the pioneering african-american artists of the vernacular jazz scene, we understand today that the soul of the jazz solo does not reside in the simple execution of the figures on the canvas. How to go beyond the framework of execution to free your body to jazz music? Together, we will open different anatomical and rhythmic doors allowing us to deepen the exploration of movement in connection with jazz music. Allow yourself to dance holistically with instinct as your exploratory guide.

Lindy-hop : Confort and fun are the goals

We have observed that adopting a relaxed connection allows us to open more to the music and to our partner. How to lower the energy level required of your partner, to be able to play together more? Through different games and connection exercises, we will try together to develop listening to music and to our partner. The goal is to create a pleasant and fun dialogue in social dancing !