Le Patin Libre

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Le Patin Libre is a group of Canadian figure skaters creating ice shows independently. It was founded in 2005 by the figure skater Alexandre Hamel.

Its members declare to be developing a new performance art using ice as a medium. [1]

The group was described as a "Disney on Ice with a bonus hint of imagination, artistic expression and technical mastery (but no means)." [2]

The group is visible in shows often linked to winter festivals, which are a lively tradition in the province of Quebec. [3]

The group expresses itself vehemently through various web pages displaying videos of their performances and claiming their independence and artistic endeavours. [4]

Contents

[edit] History

  • 2005 : The group Le Patin Libre is founded by a relatively unknown figure skater named Alexandre Hamel. The group is hired to present shows in very small local events centered on the presence of an ice surface. [5]
  • January 2006 : The group present its first show in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a suburb of Montreal, Canada. It visits two other cities during this first tour. [6]
  • March 2007 : After a second larger tour including a show at the world-renowned “Carnaval de Québec”[7], the group writes and distributes a manifesto describing its philosophy and its position outside the world of traditional figure skating. The text criticizes the rigidity of the olympic discipline and the lack of inspiration of the show business using its stars. The text is distributed as tracts during illegal performances on public ice rinks of Montreal city. A part of the performance is aired on the news bulletin of a national Canadian network.[8]
  • October 2007 : The group self produce its first event: "The Halloween Party". The small arena rented by the group sells out. The medieval tale The Pied Piper of Hamelin is adapted into an ice show and the event is centered on a participative public allowed to step on the ice with skates. [9]
  • December 2007 : Sylvain Bouillère, a member of the group, creates a Christmas tale on ice during which he plays violin while he performs a choreography on his own music. [10]
  • December 2008 : Numbers created by the troop make an international premiere in England, through a two city tour by Alexandre Hamel.

[edit] Other characteristics

The group is now known for its invention of "tap-skating", a style mixing tap dance and skating. The artists use the sounds of their blades to create music. Without a musical approach, the use of the sounds of blades was also experimented by the internationally acclaimed skating show “Stars On Ice”.

A few skaters of the troop are also practicing extreme skating. [11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ [Official Site]
  2. ^ Article of the daily newspaper "La Presse", March 6th 2007
  3. ^ J. Barry Mittan, Le Patin Libre Skating Troupe, November 2nd 2006 (page consulted on December 28th 2007) < http://www.skatetoday.com/articles0506/110206.htm >
  4. ^ [Official Site]
  5. ^ J. Barry Mittan, Le Patin Libre Skating Troupe, November 2nd 2006 (page consulted on December 28th 2007) < http://www.skatetoday.com/articles0506/110206.htm >
  6. ^ J. Barry Mittan, Le Patin Libre Skating Troupe, November 2nd 2006 (page consulted on December 28th 2007) < http://www.skatetoday.com/articles0506/110206.htm >
  7. ^ Official Site of the "Carnaval de Québec"
  8. ^ Official Site
  9. ^ 24h, « Un Bal masqué hors de l'ordinaire », in "24 Heures", November 2nd 2007, p. 16, Montreal, Canada
  10. ^ « Vive le patin libre - Skaters of the Free World », in "Les Nouvelles Saint-Laurent", December 19th 2007, p. 1 et 19, Montreal, Canada
  11. ^ "YouTube video posted by extreme skaters visited by Alexandre Hamel in July 2007

[edit] External links

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