Anik Bissonnette, Order of Canada, l'Ordre du Quebec was born on 9 February 1962 and is a Canadian ballet dancer.
19 Facts About Anik Bissonnette
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Anik Bissonnette began her professional ballet career with the Ballet de Montreal Eddy Toussaint in the 1980s and became a principal dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in 1990.
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Anik Bissonnette then pursued jazz and dance at the Ecole de Danse Eddy Toussaint.
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In 1979, at the age of 17, Anik Bissonnette joined Toussaint's troupe, Le Ballet de Montreal Eddy Toussaint.
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Anik Bissonnette originated numerous leading roles in Toussaint's choreographies, including Rose La Tulipe, Un Simple Moment, Requiem de Mozart, New World Symphony, and Bonjour Brel.
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Under Toussaint's artistic direction, Anik Bissonnette formed a partnership with Louis Robitaille.
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Anik Bissonnette starred in several televised productions with Le Ballet de Montreal Eddy Toussaint and appeared in Night Magic, a film directed by Lewis Furey.
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Anik Bissonnette first danced the role of Giselle in Odesa, Ukraine, USSR in 1988.
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Anik Bissonnette portrayed Juliet in Nicholas Beriozoff's Romeo and Juliet and the title role in Cinderella.
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In 1989, Anik Bissonnette joined Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal and was named principal dancer the following year.
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Anik Bissonnette performed leading roles in The Nutcracker, Coppelia, La Fille Mal Gardee, Les Sylphides, Giselle, and Swan Lake.
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Anik Bissonnette played dramatic principal roles in Antony Tudor's Jardin aux Lilas, Pillar of Fire as well as Jose Limon's Moor's Pavane.
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Anik Bissonnette collaborated with Montreal choreographer Ginette Laurin and emerging choreographers such as Kevin O'Day, Gioconda Barbuto, Septim Webre, Didy Veldman, and Stijn Celis.
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Anik Bissonnette frequently performed at gala events worldwide, including in Melbourne, Athens, Prague, Budapest, Thessaloniki, Montreal, New York City, Toronto, Vienna, Spoleto, Helsinki, and Bratislava.
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Anik Bissonnette performed in Vienna for the closing of Tanz fur Europa.
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In 2015, Anik Bissonnette became executive director of Ecole Superieure de ballet du Quebec.
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Alongside her stage career, Anik Bissonnette serves as the Artistic Director of the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur and is the President of the Regroupement quebecois de la danse.
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Anik Bissonnette was in a relationship with Louis Robitaille for nearly 20 years before they separated in 2001.
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Anik Bissonnette has one daughter, who attended l'Ecole superieure de danse.