DanceHouse continues to bring cutting edge, creative dance companies to the stage as it opens the 2025-2026 season with Daniel Léveillé’s Amour, acide at noix (Love, Acid and Nuts), co-presented with Queer Arts Festival.
Photo: Julie Artacho
The acclaimed Montréal choreographer, dance teacher, and artistic director of Daniel Léveillé Danse, Amour, acide at noix (Love, Acid and Nuts) debuted in 2001 and still resonates decades later. Against the graceful strains of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons begin, in contrast the heavy footfalls of four dancers; Lou Amsellem, Marco Arzenton, Marco Curci and Jimmy Gonzalez enter the darkened stage. Performing completely in the nude, their lithe bodies become the instruments of Léveillé’s choreography set to Four Seasons, pop-rock, murmuring voices and even birdsong. Like any costume, the surprise of nudity soon gives way as the work’s movements draw your full attention. Representing loneliness, connections, commitment and support in solo, duo and group vignettes. The strength of the dancers’ bodies make smooth transitions between the movements – sometimes slow and supple, following natural lines of the body, while other aerobatic, athletic twists and lifts end in heavy landings to punctuate the moves.
From the bare stage the four bare bodies, highlighted by Marc Parent’s light design, grasped the audience’s attention throughout the hour-long performance leaving us wanting more.
Next up, DanceHouse presents Birdy by Hung Dance from Taiwan on November 28 & 29, 2025 at Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street. Visit dancehouse.ca for more information and tickets.