Community Outreach

An Engaged Audience     Student Outreach     Pedagogical Resources     Tour of Dance & Theatre Schools     UQAM Summer Seminar

AN ENGAGED AUDIENCE 

Thanks to an audience characterized by intelligence, open-mindedness and a willingness to explore new frontiers, Festival TransAmériques offers artists invited to the festival a space for free expression and dialogue with a sensitive yet demanding public.

Numerous audience development projects offer privileged access – under conditions adapted to each audience segment – to shows of international calibre that present a new and sometimes radical aesthetic. While aiming to demystify contemporary dance and theatre, these projects encourage a deepening of experience and knowledge, and help facilitate audience appreciation of often unclassifiable works.

Festival TransAmériques works in conjunction with teachers, facilitators and artists, helping to make spectators well-informed citizens attuned to the proposals of artists from all over the world. They become better equipped to appreciate contemporary dance and theatre and the artists who dare, who denounce, testify, magnify, transgress, disrupt and observe our societies in uncompromising fashion.

 These initiatives (get-togethers, debates, discussions, interviews, workshops, supporting material, educational projects, etc.) respond to a demand from teachers and theatre and dance professionals, and also to a pressing need among members of the audience. During each edition of Festival TransAmériques, they allow thousands of spectators to question their own assumptions and perspectives by introducing them to contemporary performing arts.

 

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STUDENT OUTREACH 

Invite your students to discover at the FTA some of the most inspiring artists in the world, and to plunge into theatre and dance universes as they have never seen!

With all these initiatives under the Student Outreach banner, since 2001 the Festival TransAmériques has enjoyed a leading position in terms of artistic mediation, raising awareness about the arts among young audiences.

The Student Outreach program includes a number of educational projects (FTA Excursion + Customized FTA Excursion+ FTA at School + FTA à la carte) that reach out to schools all across Quebec. The success of the program has only reinforced our conviction as to the importance of introducing students to contemporary works that question the human condition and the role of the artist in our societies. The program opens up the imaginations of adolescents, providing them with an opportunity to further develop their critical and aesthetic aptitudes, and also their creativity.

INFORMATION LEAFLET – STUDENT OUTREACH PROGRAMS 2014

Workshop Photos

 

FTA EXCURSION (cultural outing)
Grades 10 and 11
This cultural education project consists of a cultural immersion experience for Grade 10 and 11 high school students across Quebec. Lasting four days (Thursday to Sunday), the excursion combines the pleasure of the performing arts with training of the eyes, ears and minds of the spectator. Students attend five performances, as well as films and meetings with artists, and take part in practical workshops and guided tours that integrate other art forms.

This cultural outing is supervised by two veteran mediators, Fabienne Cabado (dance) and Gilles-Philippe Pelletier (theatre). They demystify contemporary theatre and dance, introducing adolescents to the creative process so that they can appreciate works and discuss them.

By means of diverse pedagogical approaches, the FTA excursion gives teenagers and their teachers the tools for analyzing a performance, thereby refining their perceptions. Well-prepared students do not feel out of their depth when attending performances. On the contrary, they are able to discuss them at length. The various activities awaken their sensitivity and receptiveness, and also raise their criteria of critical and aesthetic judgment, and their openness to the diversity of the performing arts.

DATES
Two FTA cultural excursions in 2014: May 22 to 25 and May 29 to June 1^st – Reserve now!

Participant’s Guide – 2013 FTA Excursion (for reference purposes)

COST
$210 per student, including three nights’ lodging (shared rooms)
Approximately $270 per accompanying adult, including three nights’ lodging (single room)

Costs of participation may vary from one school to another, depending on methods employed to finance the activity.

CUSTOMIZED FTA EXCURSION, create your own excursion of at least 3 shows!
Grade 10 and 11, college & university
By attending to at least three shows, student groups have the opportunity to experience intensively a major festival. Participants are introduced to a wide variety of artistic processes, which encourage a better understanding of the infinite challenges and possibilities of contemporary creation. 

This project gives the teachers the possibility to attend to FTA shows on their own terms with their students; to participate to a practical workshop given by an artist as well as to complementary free activities; to have access to supporting material, and to have the opportunity to meet FTA artists and artisans.  

Depending on the schedule, activities of this project can take place on two or three days, including during the weekend.

$75 per student, including three pieces*, one workshop and complementary pedagogical activities
* Selection according to the availabilities

 

FTA AT SCHOOL / Preparatory  workshop in class + show
Grade 10 and 11 & college students in Greater Montreal
For a richer, more dynamic festival experience, invite an artist or a cultural mediator to visit your class before the show so that your students are well prepared for what they are going to see. You can also invite a member of the festival team to talk about the FTA’s history and mission.

Supporting material about the piece is provided to the teachers.

$ 30 per student, including the workshop and the show

 

FTA À LA CARTE / SCHOOL GROUP DISCOUNTS
High school, college & university   
As a school group of at least 15 students, you enjoy a special rate at the Festival TransAmériques. As of now, we can share with the teachers the information about the shows presented in the upcoming edition of the Festival and indicate them which representation is followed by a get-together with the artists.

Supporting material about the piece is provided to the teachers.

$ 20 per student *

Reservations now available!
* Limited number of places

 

TESTIMONIALS FROM TEACHERS

" When students are plunged during four days into an artistic universe as the one of the Festival TransAmériques and attend to high quality productions, they open themselves to new artistic forms which enrich the content of the school program. The diversity of artistic genres and topics was the major asset. Nonetheless, the bold nature of the mises-en –scène have strongly impressed the students, which had almost never happened to them before. " Paméla Vallée / École secondaire Cité-des-Jeunes, Vaudreuil-Dorion, FTA 2012

“Travelling, meeting others, discovering other approaches and other visions, coming to grips with the captivating discomfort of artistic daring, appreciating the blending of disciplines, and then returning home and noticing how the students travelled a distance far greater than the distance to Montreal, an inspiring path defined in terms of open minds, extensive questioning and especially a great desire to get back on the road.” Caroline Paré / Collège de Champigny, Sainte-Foy, FTA 2011

“The discussions (both verbal and written) that we had with the students were impressive. They all said that they loved the experience and that they will keep the beautiful images and great ideas in mind for upcoming productions.” Nancy Gagnon / Polyvalente Paspébiac, FTA 2009-2011

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PEDAGOGICAL RESOURCES

High schools, colleges, universities, dance and theatre schools

SUPPORTING MATERIAL
Would you like to discuss with your students the artistic approach of certain artists presenting their work at Festival TransAmériques? The FTA can provide extensive documentation for most of the shows in a teaching guide adapted to your needs.

FREE ACTIVITIES ENRICH YOUR TEACHING
Satellite Activities
From get-togethers with artists and discussions at the FTA Quartier général to exhibits in galleries and outdoor shows, the FTA presents many cultural activities free of charge, enhancing your teaching and stimulating the minds and creativity of your students.

Photos – Get-together with the Artists 2012

Photos : Julie Gauthier

 

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TOUR OF DANCE AND THEATRE SCHOOLS 

Colleges, universities and drama & dance schools

In March and April the Festival TransAmériques team will be visiting a number of dance and theatre schools in Greater Montreal, leading information sessions on the works presented this year at the FTA. Plays and dance pieces as well as current trends and issues will be discussed, accompanied by video excerpts.

It is also an opportunity for students to purchase tickets at a discount rate. This service is offered exclusively to theatre and dance students!

Would you like to have the FTA come visit your school? Give us a call ! 

 

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UQAM SUMMER SEMINAR

Graduate & Undergraduate University Students / UQAM Students & Independent Student  

An initiative of Josette Féral, a professor in the Theatre Department at UQAM since 1981, this summer seminar examines major trends in contemporary performing arts by focusing on shows presented at Festival TransAmériques. The seminar will include about ten theatre and dance pieces, as well as get-togethers and lectures organized by the festival. Students are invited to analyze form and content, draw out sense and meaning and contextualize these works.

This course is available to UQAM students and independent students. It is a valuable tool for comprehending the issues and practices of contemporary dance and theatre.

 

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Amélie Côté
Audience Development Coordinator
amelie.cote @ fta.qc.ca
514-842-0704 ext. 26