Introducing North-America’s first dance festival solely dedicated to contemporary dance for young audiences!

Spearheaded by the Sursaut Dance Company, FUDGE | Festival universel de danse géniale pour enfants (Universal Festival of Amazing Dance for Children) emerged from a desire to introduce young audiences to bold, fresh choreographies by local, national, and international artists. Committed to making the community’s heart beat to the rhythm of dance, this unique cultural happening offers a rich and varied program for the whole family.

This must-see biennial event is a highlight of the Canadian dance scene and a structuring initiative for the development of the dance community. Held in Sherbrooke, the Festival will help decentralize arts and culture, as well as contribute to the vitality of the discipline throughout Quebec.

***Visit the festival website >>

 

Mission and values

FUDGE strives to highlight the unique nature of contemporary dance for young audiences by offering a platform for its expression. The event will amplify the reach of international productions and facilitate networking between artists of all horizons, using the universal language of dance to bridge cultures.

We recognize that the lands on which the Festival will take place are part of the unceded traditional territory of the Abenaki and Wabanaki Confederacy.

 

Sustainability

In a shared resolve to reduce this international event’s environmental footprint, the festival team devised an environmental sustainability policy—a starting point for putting our values into action and rethinking our impact on future generations. This strong environmental commitment reflects the Sursaut Dance Company’s intention to be a source of inspiration in the dance community. As the FUDGE Festival is targeted at young audiences, we prioritize the well-being of children in all we do.

 

A word from the Artistic Director

We first had the idea of creating an international dance festival for youth and families in 1996. After many years of artistic practice and numerous encounters with young people, this idea grew into a tangible commitment to creating an event solely dedicated to dance for young audiences.

The FUDGE Festival is the result of the Sursaut Dance Company’s deep commitment to children and their families. We coined its amusing acronym to reflect accessibility and inclusion. FUDGE will give artists and youth the opportunity to connect through a one-of-a-kind cultural experience. Before passing on the torch after 35 years as the company’s artistic director, I will leave the FUDGE Festival as my legacy in the field of youth-focused dance creation.

 

Francine Châteauvert
Artistic Director
Sursaut Dance Company