Céline Richard Robichon

Céline Richard Robichon is a dancer, educator, choreographer, and artistic director. Originally from Ottawa, she trained in ballet, jazz, and tap before moving to Montréal, where she immersed herself in street dance and discovered the heart of community and the freedom of self-directed movement. Céline currently performs with Tentacle Tribe. Her performance career also includes work with companies like Gadfly and Ebnflõh, as well as commercial projects with Québec artists such as Marie Mai and Eli Rose. She has experience on television and film sets in Toronto with Family Channel and Nickelodeon, and recently worked as a choreographer with film director Jules de Niverville on his short film HUBRIS. Today, Céline’s work is driven by a commitment to creation, inclusive teaching, and fostering a progressive artistic environment. Her recent works include Superheroes Cry Too, a multimedia performance by the FRGMNT collective, co-produced by Danse-Cité (2022), and loop it, created with Speakeasy and Olivier Fairfield, supported by the Ottawa Dance Directive (2023).

Mickeline Couturier has devoted herself to hip hop dance since 2017. She has undergone extensive training with Montréal street dance pioneers like Jigsaw, Spicey, Pax, and Darqk. Especially committed to battles, Mickeline has deepened her connection with the essence of hip hop in this environment. Driven by a desire to connect with others through street dance, she has traveled internationally in recent years to festivals and events in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Germany, and Austria. Her main motivation is to cultivate an authentic relationship with movement and hip hop culture while representing her Montréal community on a global scale.

Gaëlle Fabre, from Montréal, grew up surrounded by music and dance, from school playgrounds to family gatherings. Known as 99, she discovered her passion for dance in 2014 with her group, The Palace, which led her to regional competitions and to joining Gem.In.I. Crew from Montréal-Nord. Her journey spans local battles like Survival of the Illest to international stages, including France’s Battle Bad and Senegal’s Festival Jakarlo. Notable Montréal projects include the TV show Danse directed by Katherine Leblanc, the short film WESTSIDE STORY by Ja James “Jigsaw” Britton Johnson, and the music video Tout Recommencé by Sarahmée. In 2021, she performed in Sacrer with Gem.In.I, and, in 2023, premiered a solo at the event Open Body.

Anthony Palomeque is a hip-hop artist with a unique presence. Introduced to the freedom of movement at a young age, his family celebrated with Latin and hip-hop music. Palomeque is trained in street dance, exploring styles like house, popping and breaking, and has also received training in ballet and contemporary dance. He has performed with renowned Montréal companies such as Ebnflõh, Cirque du Soleil, Les 7 Doigts de la Main, and Tentacle Tribe. Beyond his stage presence, Palomeque actively participates in cyphers and battles, sharing his love for hip-hop culture and his community.

Olivier Fairfield is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has been working in various artistic disciplines such as theatre, dance, film, and the performing arts since 2002. He has toured nationally and internationally with Canadian groups and artists like Timber Timbre, Andy Shauf and Leif Vollebekk, and has contributed to over 100 studio recordings with artists like Lou Doillon, Adam Cohen, and M Ward. As a composer, arranger and producer, he has collaborated on numerous projects, including with his own bands and projects, such as FET.NAT, Last Ex, and H. de Heutz. Currently, he is finalizing the soundtrack for Nouveau Québec and preparing the release of ALBUM S/T with Telephone Explosion Records.

I’ve struggled with self-image, particularly body image, since my teens, which naturally draws me to explore the reality of teens today. This curiosity has led me to examine the environmental and personal factors that prevent them from living fully and authentically. It has become my mission to uncover these obstacles and demonstrate how nature can help teens – and all of us – overcome negative self-image and better care for ourselves.

The performance is shaped by the energy and strength of the street dance artists featured, whose individual styles have deeply inspired the choreography. Their unique movement language brings the piece to life, guiding the sound and scenic elements.

As the performance takes shape, returning to the source becomes essential. My hope is that we’ll recognize how unique we all are and learn to embrace this together.