Compagnie Virginie Brunelle is a choreographic creation company founded in 2009 that produces and presents original works under the artistic and general direction of the eponymous choreographer. Holding a bachelor’s degree in dance from UQÀM in 2008, Virginie quickly set herself apart in the Montreal dance scene with her distinctive style. The company contributes to the promotion of dance and the appreciation of the arts by the public through about ten works, which have been presented in numerous theaters in Montreal as well as throughout Quebec, Canada, and internationally.
After clearly defining her purpose, Virginie systematically dives into a musical exploration, an essential phase of her creative process. Music becomes her source of inspiration, guiding the choreographic construction in which each idea carries its intention, spatial compositions, and symbolism. Once in the studio, she refines the structure by specifying the dynamics of rhythms, pauses, gesture intensity, delicacy, gaze, and breathing, much like notations of nuances, attacks, and phrasing on a musical score. This precise approach, where each element is meticulously considered, allows Virginie to infuse emotion into each movement, creating a rich and profound artistic experience.
Fresh out of school in 2008, Virginie Brunelle made an immediate impact with Les cuisses à l’écart du cœur, a first work already distinguished with awards. But it was especially with Foutrement (2011) — recipient of the 2017 Audience Choice Award from the CAM touring program — and Complexe des genres (2012), winner of the Aarhus International Choreographic Competition in Denmark, that she established her signature style: a visceral dance language, both raw and sensitive, captivating audiences across Canada and Europe alike. These two landmark works, now emblematic of her artistic universe, launched a series of international tours that firmly established her reputation abroad.
Building on this success, Virginie continued exploring human relationships through the prism of fragility and intensity with PLOMB (2014) and À la douleur que j’ai (2016). In 2018, Éric Gauthier invited her to create a new work for Gauthier Dance/Theaterhaus Stuttgart, resulting in Beating. This collaboration further confirmed her growing presence within the European dance landscape. A year later, she created Les corps avalés, featuring the Molinari Quartet live on stage — a powerful choreographic fresco premiered by Danse Danse to great acclaim.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
In 2022, always eager to explore new forms, Virginie embarked on a large-scale creation with Fables, a work for ten performers and a pianist. Following its premiere in Lugano, Switzerland, the piece led her to the prestigious 2025 Venice Biennale.
Her interest in cinematic imagery also led her to bring her artistic universe to the screen with Réminiscences, a dance short film presented at the Regard Festival in 2021 and later awarded at numerous international festivals.
At the same time, her desire to expand modes of expression brought her toward theatre. Co-directed with Jean-Simon Traversy, their staging of Royal at Duceppe received the award for Best Direction from the Quebec Theatre Critics Association.
In January 2025, she returned to Stuttgart to create High Moon with the Gauthier Dance Juniors, further nurturing a fertile artistic dialogue between Montreal and Europe.
Then, in the fall of 2025, she toured several Quebec cities with Sans quoi nous crèverons, a danced epic for five performers. The work premiered in Montreal in April 2026 at Danse Danse, further expanding her choreographic universe, always imbued with deep humanity.
In 2026, Virginie continued her international collaborations with Well, here we are, a choreographic commission initiated by Dominique Dumais, artistic director of the dance company of the Mainfranken Theater in Würzburg. Bringing together twelve performers, a chamber orchestra, and a choir of twenty-five singers, this large-scale work confirms the growing scope of her artistic vision and her strong interest in interdisciplinary forms.
Driven by an ongoing dialogue between disciplines, she also continues her collaboration with Jean-Simon Traversy on a new co-directed stage production scheduled for 2027 at Duceppe, in co-production with Le Trident in Quebec City.
Karim Aktouf, President
Artist and Engineer
Drawing and 3D Instructor, 3D Consultant
Yiou Huang, Vice president
Senior Product Marketing Manager | AlayaCare Inc.
Maria Normandin, Secretary
Retired from education
Nicole Gruslin, Treasurer
Digital Product Manager (Consultant)
Claudie Brunelle, Administrator
Director, Pension and Benefits | Intact Corporation financière
Virginie Brunelle, Administrator
General and artistic director | Compagnie Virginie Brunelle
