Circassian Prize of CALQ Awards Granted to Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard
**Artistic Innovation Shines at Montreal's Complètement Cirque Festival**
Montreal's vibrant circus scene was once again in the spotlight during the recent edition of the Complètement Cirque festival. Among the highlights was the debut of SCUSE, a groundbreaking circus documentary created by Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard, which won the inaugural Propulsion Prize.
## SCUSE: A Circus Documentary like No Other
SCUSE, a blend of documentary elements, physical performance, and aerial acrobatics, tells a compelling narrative that challenges social gender relations between adolescence and adulthood. The work, praised for its innovative approach to circus documentary, unique hoop use, and powerful dramaturgy, invites the audience to reflect on self-constitution.
## Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard: A Multidisciplinary Artist
Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard, the creative force behind SCUSE, brings a unique perspective to the world of circus arts. With a background in both circus and cinema, she combines abstract circus gestures with realistic, socially engaged storytelling. Her films have been selected and awarded at over 90 international festivals, and she has collaborated with notable companies like La Soirée (Australia) and Palazzo (Germany).
## Recognition for SCUSE
The recognition for SCUSE has been significant. The work received the IMPACT grant from the Conseil des arts de Montréal and was nominated for the Prix Propulsion d'En Piste. It was also selected to represent Quebec at the CIRCa festival in France. Most recently, Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard was awarded the Prix du CALQ for her work on SCUSE, highlighting its innovative approach to circus and documentary storytelling.
## Supporting Circus Arts: La compagnie des autres
La compagnie des autres, a relatively new collective founded in 2020, aims to support, encourage, and promote circus arts in a spirit of mutual knowledge and skill-sharing. The Conseil des arts de Montréal praised their work, which was recognised as breathing life into the circus community.
Meanwhile, the Copenhagen Collective presented their new show, "The Genesis", at the 16th edition of the Montreal Complètement Cirque festival. No new information about the Propulsion Prize or La compagnie des autres was provided.
Elsewhere, Marinvest Energy announced plans to build a gas pipeline that will cross Quebec and a liquefaction plant in Baie-Comeau.
[1] Source: La Presse [2] Source: Montreal Gazette [3] Source: CBC News [4] Source: CALQ
At the Complètement Cirque festival, SCUSE, a groundbreaking circus documentary, received recognition for its unique approach to arts and storytelling. Created by Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard, a multidisciplinary artist with a background in both circus and cinema, the documentary offers a compelling narrative that intertwines documentary elements, physical performance, and aerial acrobatics, touching upon social gender relations.
