Fonds chorégraphique Fernand Nault

Fernand Nault had the chance to learn from “Masters” who were writing the history of dance. For the Quebec of its time, he was the link between tradition and innovation. His Work, of which the universality and contemporaneity remain, embodies a significant page of our socio-cultural history, of the affirmation of our identity. Nault’s ballets tell, among other things, the societal breakup of a historical era.

Fonds chorégraphique Fernand Nault (FCFN) was created in February of 2003 in order to give access, to the Companies and Professional dance Schools, to the works of this appreciated and renowned artist.

The FCFN has for mission to ensure the durability of the choreographic repertoire of Fernand Nault. A duly registered legal entity acquired by assignment of rights, the FCFN also has the mandate to protect the moral rights of its author and the promotion of his repertoire.

To fulfill this mission, Fernand Nault imparted to his trustee, André Laprise, the responsibility of preserving the artistic integrity, the level of excellence and the intention of his work, along with the administrator ship of the FCFN.

The experience acquired by André Laprise at the side of Fernand Nault since 1984, the documentation and the archive videos selected for their analysable material are part of the main reference sources.

To obtain further information on specific works, such as licencing fees, technical needs, required staging time or any other details, you must contact the trustee of the FCFN, André Laprise.

Depending on the situation, André Laprise’s services include:

  • administrator ship and promotion (sales, royalty and licence contracts, fees…);
  • negotiation and execution of any restaging (rehearsals, staging, costumes, sets, accessories, lighting, casting…);
  • any other intervention related to a production;
  • administrator ship of all other matters in relation to Fernand Nault’s repertory.

Repertoire – Price list

Fernand Nault
Choregrapher Emeritus
1920-2006

Born in Montreal, Fernand Nault first studied dance with Maurice Morenoff and then in New York, London, and Paris with renowned masters. From 1944 to 1965, he was a dancer, then a ballet master at The American Ballet Theatre. From 1960 to 1964, he was also director of the company’s school in New York.

In 1965, he joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens as co artistic director and resident choreographer. He helped the company take flight by creating astonishingly diverse works, ranging from classical to neoclassical, including contemporary and theatrical dance. Thus, he added to the repertoire works such as La Fille mal gardée, Danses concertantes, Symphony of Psalms, Liberté tempérée, La Scouine and The Seven Deadly Sins not to mention his famous The Nutcracker presented each year since 1964 and two works of resounding success and international renown: Carmina Burana and Tommy.

Fernand Nault remained resident choreographer of Les Grands ballets Canadiens while serving as choreographer and ballet master at l’École supérieure de danse du Québec. Between 1985 and 1988, at the request of Ludmilla Chiriaeff, he organized several series of performances intended to foster a taste for dance among elementary, secondary schools and cegeps students in the Montreal region.

Fernand Nault has conceived many choreographies for Alberta Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Federation of the Philippines, Chicago Ballet, Danse-Partout, Delta Festival Ballet, Harkness Ballet Company, Joffrey Ballet, Maryland Ballet, National Ballet of Korea, and Washington Ballet. From 1978 to 1981, he was guest choreographer and, from 1981 to 1982, artistic director of The Colorado Ballet. Among other collaborations, Fernand Nault worked with L’Opéra de Montréal for which he choreographed the dance sequences of Aïda and La Veuve joyeuse presented in 1986 and in 1991.

Fernand Nault has received three awards from the Canadian government, the Centennial Medal, in 1967, the Order of Canada, in 1977 and the Governor General’s awards for the performing arts, in 2000. He has been awarded the prize for choreography, in 1976, for his ballet Incohérence at the VII International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. In 1984, he was honoured by the Government of Quebec with the Prix Denise Pelletier, a lifetime achievement award. In 1990, he was accepted as a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Québec and was named Choreographer Emeritus of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.

In 2003, Fernand Nault founded the Fonds chorégraphique Fernand Nault, a trust with mission to ensure the continuity of his choreographic heritage, and to make his repertoire accessible to professional dance companies and schools.


 

André Laprise
Trustee and Official Rehearsal Master,
Fonds chorégraphique Fernand Nault

Born in Eastern Townships, André Laprise graduated from L’École supérieure des Grands Ballets Canadiens. Teacher and choreographer at L’Académie de danse de l’Outaouais since 1979, he was appointed artistic, educational, and administrative director of this institution in 1982. In 1984, he created the Camp d’été qui danse and became assistant of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens Choreographer Emeritus, Fernand Nault.

His career as a dancer, teacher and rehearsal master brought him to work in Canada, United States, Europe and Asia with Atlanta Ballet, Brno National Theatre Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Danse-Partout, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Kansas City Ballet, National Ballet of Korea, Nice Ballet Théâtre, Ottawa Dance Theatre, Slovak National Ballet, Southern Ballet Theatre and Washington Ballet. André Laprise has received several grants from the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec and has also served as a jury member for various dance competitions at the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and the Ottawa Arts Council.

From 1990 to 2006 he has been active as a member of different comities and board member of organizations devoted to training, production, and development of dance like the Regroupement québécois de la danse, the Réseau d’écoles partenaires en danse classique du Québec and the Conseil québécois des ressources humaines en culture. From 2002 to 2011, he was also a member of the Commission des arts, de la culture, des lettres et du patrimoine de Gatineau.

In 2002, the Prix homage de la Ville de Gatineau is presented to André Laprise for his involvement in the artistic and cultural development of the Outaouais region.

In February 2003, André Laprise was appointed Trustee of the Fonds chorégraphique Fernand Nault.

In November 2022, André Laprise received the highest honorary distinction awarded by the City of Gatineau. The Ordre de Gatineau pays tribute to individuals for all of their work, their commitment and their exceptional achievements.

In December 2022, André Laprise received the CALQ Award – Artist of the Year in Outaouais. This award recognizes an artist who stands out for the dynamism of his career and the excellence of his recent achievements.

Fonds chorégraphique Fernand Nault would like to thank for their collaboration and support:

  • Marchand Melançon Forget s.e.n.c.r.l., Advocate
  • Marie-Claude Laprise
  • Marie-Renée Boudreault, CGA, co-trustee
  • Me Louise Giguère, notary
  • Me Mathilde Rompré, Legal councillor
  • Me Catherine Tremblay, Legal councillor
  • Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec
  • Julien Tolsczuk Jalbert, website creator (2005-2014)
  • Pierre-Alexandre Tanguay, website creator (2015)
  • Vincent Warren
  • Vacarm, website creator (2020)
  • Mireille Gauthier, website content integration (2020)
  • Sofia Ababii, administrative support
  • Clara Van Doorn, research agent