In the Ballroom: American Contra Dance
Dive into the lively practice of traditional québécois dances!
Join us for five exciting events celebrating québécois dance and music traditions, some of which are rooted in English-speaking communities that have long helped shape our province’s cultural landscape. If you are curious, love living heritage activities, or simply want to move and have fun, come experience the energy of traditional dances and the stories behind them with our Ès TRAD guests!
On January 13, discover the American Contra dance with Tina Anderson (call), Martin Aucoin (violin), and Mathieu Baillargeon (piano).
| Program:
-Short concert
This activity is offered bilingually, in both French and English. Please bring comfortable shoes with with good support and non-adherent soles, as well as a water bottle. |
Book your tickets here!
|
Trouble booking through the embedded form? Click here!
Guests
Credit: Carbo Photo
Tina Anderson grew up in North Carolina and the Appalachians, surrounded with dance and music since her childhood. She moved to Quebec 36 years ago. Tina renewed with her roots during the Quebec City “veillées de danse” in 2013, and goes dancing every week since. She even travels to the USA to live her passion, this time for the American Contra, which she will be delighted to teach you during this workshop.
To learn more about Tina, listen to Ès TRAD’s podcast “Porter la tradition.”
—
Born in Beresford, New-Brunswick, in a family of musicians, Martin Aucoin plays music by ear since in teenage years. He brings together violin, “podorythmie” (feet percussions), and song in various projects, on stage and in the studio. He is a known enthusiast for the “veillées de danse” and trad music jam sessions. Involved in his local musical community, he has also performed at large-scale international events, with long-established musicians. His repertoire is rooted in the traditions of francophones of North-East America and is full of a natural style and a lively “swing.”
—
Mathieu Baillargeon started learning classical piano at three years old. Initiated into the world of traditional music in 2013, he started a musical accompaniement training with Rachel Aucoin, and discovered the diatonic accordion thanks to Sabin Jacques. In 2017, Mathieu performed for the first time of many at the Carrefour mondial de l’accordéon. He then collaborated with many artists (FLIP Fabrique, Les Chauffeurs à pied, etc.) during concerts, “veillées,” and animations throughout the province. In 2018, he co-founded La Déferlance and joined the Board of the Maréemusique organization. He also started regularly giving piano and accordion classes. Since then, Mathieu has taught at events in Canada and the United States (de Souches à Oreilles, Ashokan Northern Week, Danse-Neige, etc.). As well as his many musical projects, Mathieu has a master’s degree in statistics and is in charge of the survey methodology at the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
In the Ballroom—Traditional Music and Dance of a Community is presented in collaboration with the Centre de valorisation du patrimoine vivant Ès TRAD and made possible thanks to financial support from the Gouvernement du Québec and Ville de Québec through their cultural development agreement.