National Arts Centre - Centre national des Arts Canada is our stage. Le Canada en scène.

Le Patin Libre

Murmuration

Mar 28, 2025

Aréna Stade-Pierre-Lafontaine 255 Rue Saint-Antoine Gatineau

9 performers on skates in purple costumes move in formation across the ice. — Le Patin Libre, Murmuration © Nora Houguenade

2-lpl-murmuration-credit-nora-houguenade — Le Patin Libre, Murmuration © Nora Houguenade

3-lpl-murmuration-credit-nora-houguenade — Le Patin Libre, Murmuration © Nora Houguenade

4-lpl-murmuration-credit-nora-houguenade — Le Patin Libre, Murmuration © Nora Houguenade

Family programming Dance Contemporary

In-person event
Ages 4+
Approx. 45 minutes

Performance options	Start time	Language	Availability
Friday, March 28, 2025	11:00 am	Without words	Seats available

“Dancers transform into flocks of birds in this dizzying ballet on ice that will take your breath away! ”

Gliding with lightning speed, Le Patin Libre is propelled by rigorous precision and enthusiasm. These iconoclastic skaters astonished and revolutionized the world of dance with their first two on-ice routines, and their innovative vision of the art of skating has launched them onto rinks all over the world.

Their new work investigates the mechanisms that govern how starlings move together in the haunting aerial synchronisations called murmurations. Almost imperceptible micromovements and instinctive changes in direction create a chain reaction that dictates the trajectory of the flock, whose members are constantly on the alert and attuned to those around them. Murmuration transmits the dynamic interactions of a harmonious and exhilarating coexistence. These high-flying skaters will have the whole family’s hearts soaring!

DANCE PARTY ON THE ICE!
Saturday, March 29 after the 1:30 P.M. performance ONLY
Bring your skate to the arena and join Le Patin Libre skating artists on their ice stage after the show! The ice rink is transformed into a dance floor where short playful workshops allow beginners as well as experts, to experience a joyful moment of dance on ice skates.

Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.

Co-Presented with Ville de Gatineau.

This event is sold out

Sorry it’s no longer available.

Adults & chaperones

1 Free adult per 15 students

Free admittance for personal support workers

$ (HST included) for additional chaperons At the discretion of the National Arts Centre

Payment deadlines

3 weeks before the performance

Full payment is required by the payment deadline. The NAC reserves the right to cancel any orders submitted but not paid for by the payment deadline.

Seating

There are no reserved seats for NAC student matinee performances.

Instead of tickets you will receive a letter of admission and groups will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis at the performance.

The letter of admission will be issued upon receipt of full payment.

If you have any questions, please contact us at education@nac-cna.ca

Artists

Featuring Le Patin Libre

Featuring Le Patin Libre

Le Patin Libre was launched in 2005, in Montreal, by a bunch of rebellious high-level figure skaters who wanted to get away from sparkles and stereotypes to create something legtimately artistic and trully cool with their athletic virtuosity. Since 2014, the company tours the international contemporary performing arts network with pieces described as contemporary skating by dance critics. The company turns ice arenas into pop-up theatres, inviting everybody in public infrastructures normally reserved to exclusive sport clubs.

Le Patin Libre constantly invests itself in efforts to make both skating and performing arts accessible to more people. The ice dancing parties, free performances, workshops and winter carnivals organized by the artists of the company play a vital role in keeping LPL rooted into something that goes beyond art and skating.

Le Patin Libre a été fondé en 2005, à Montréal, par un groupe de patineurs artistiques de haut niveau qui, avec un sentiement de rébellion, voulaient s'éloigner des paillettes et des stéréotypes pour créer quelque chose de légitimement artistique et vraiment “cool” avec leur virtuosité athlétique. Depuis 2014, la compagnie parcourt le réseau international des arts de la scène contemporains. Ses pièces sont décrites comme du patinage contemporain, par les critiques de danse. La compagnie transforme les patinoires en théâtres éphémères, invitant des foules diversifiées dans des infrastructures publiques normalement réservées aux clubs sportifs exclusifs.

Le Patin Libre s'investit constamment pour rendre le patinage et les arts de la scène accessibles au plus grand nombre. Ses soirées de danse sur glace, ses spectacles gratuits, ses ateliers et les carnavals d'hiver organisés par les artistes de la compagnie jouent un rôle essentiel pour maintenir l'enracinement de LPL dans quelque chose qui va au-delà de l'art et du patinage.

Close
Choreography Alexandre Hamel

Choreography Alexandre Hamel

Close
Choreography Pascale Jodoin

Choreography Pascale Jodoin

Close
Choreography Samory Ba

Choreography Samory Ba

Close

Choreography Alexandre Hamel, Pascale Jodoin, Samory Ba
With Oktawia Ścibior, David Billiau, Kristýna Mikulášová, Taylor Dilley, Sophie Blomqwist, Garrett Kling, Jennifer Edwards, Isaac Lindy, Maude Poulin, Jacqueline Benson, Haley Alcock, Imogen Croft, Samory Ba, Pascale Jodoin, Alexandre Hamel
Lighting design Yoann Tivoli
Music Philippe Le Bon, Jasmin Boivin
Costumes Charlyne Guay, Pascale Jodoin
Artistic advisor Yaron Lifschitz
Co-production National Creation Fund of the National Arts Centre, Théâtre de la Ville de Paris, CanDance Creation Fund: Danse Danse,  National Arts Centre, Dance House, Fall for Dance North and TO Live, La Rotonde
With support from: Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec, Conseil des arts de Montréal, Dance North Scotland, Le Dôme ice rink (Laon, France), Le Blizz ice rink (Rennes, France), City of Baie-Saint-Paul
Co-presented with Ville de Gatineau

Financial assistance

Arts Alive has limited financial assistance available to support schools who would not otherwise be able to participate in our school programming due to economic barriers. Schools in need may request financial assistance directly through the registration form, to help cover the cost of tickets to student matinees or applicable workshops offered by the NAC. Learn more

Join our email list for the latest updates!

Support Performing Arts Learning and Engagement!

Your donations through the NAC's National Youth and Education Trust help the NAC provide learning and engagement opportunities for all — from young children in the classroom, to artists, to the lifelong learner.

Support the Program

Learning and engagement at Canada’s National Arts Centre is made possible through the support of many generous individuals and organizations from across the country. Arts Alive is generously supported by the Azrieli Foundation, the Government of Nunavut, Canadian North, Calm Air, The River Philip Foundation, The Turnbull Family Community Building Foundation, and The Thomas Sill Foundation. Thank you also to Grant and Alice Burton, Canada Life, A Donor-Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Ottawa, Friends of the NAC Orchestra, Donors to the NAC Foundation's Future Fund, The Janice and Earle O’Born Fund for Artistic Excellence, and the donors and sponsors of the NAC’s National Youth and Education Trust, the primary resource for youth and education funding at the National Arts Centre.

Was this information helpful?