Sylvie Desrosiers, B.F.A., C. Ed.
Artistic Director and Choreographer
sylvie.dorsale@gmail.com
“Choreographer Sylvie Desrosiers is a sensitive woman that draws deep into her being for pure and real emotions to create her art.”
- Mélissa Proulx, Voir

Sylvie Desrosiers began her career as a choreographer and teacher under the direction of Peter Boneham at Le Groupe Dance Lab. She was a freelance dancer, teacher and creator in the Ottawa region before serving as director of Le Groupe’s dance school from 1990 to 1994. In the fall of 1995, she joined The School of Dance to establish its Contemporary Dance Programme, where she still serves as Programme director, teaches contemporary dance technique and composition, and is a resident choreographer.
Sylvie has extensive experience designing and delivering movement courses, dance classes, and workshops in schools, colleges, and universities. She has also been a guest choreographer at numerous performing arts institutions. Her contributions to dance education include work with the Ontario Ministry of Education on the development of the Grade 9–12 dance curriculum, as well as active involvement in dance education initiatives with the AFEAO.
As a choreographer, she has presented her work in cities across Canada, including Ottawa, Gatineau, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. In her career spanning over 30 years, with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Ottawa, she has created numerous works, including Submergé de pétales d’acier, a full-length quintet presented in 2019, douce tourmente a duet for performers Marc Boivin and Heidi Strauss presented across Canada, à tire d’aile, flots, glace, épaves, distance and the trilogy Vestibulaire.
With her company, DORSALE danse, she produced the full evening performances of Submergé de pétales d’acier, douce tourmente, TOUT danse, fougue and project Brut. Sylvie was also commissioned for work by artists Amanda Bon, Sarah Hopkin and Lana Morton.
Sylvie is a founding member of Ottawa Dance Directive / Centre de danse contemporaine (ODD). She received the 2011 Prix pour la création artistique from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec for the Outaouais region, and in 2017, she was honored with the Ottawa Arts Council Victor Tolgesy Award.
Choreographic works
(1987-2025)
Projet Gaïa
I lost my resistance
Étude sur l'absence d'une fontaine
Symbiose
distance
Une salamandre
épaves
glace
flots
à tire d'aile
reflet
Marthe et Marie
Sa cousine Jeanne
Ma sœur Andréa
traces #2
traces # 1
Plus qu’un chant de baleine
Clôture
La vie en rose
Jeux truqués
Last call
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2023
2022
2019
2016
2013
2014
2011
2009
2011
2009
2008
2014
2008
2006
2005
2003
2002
2002
2001
2000
1999
2000
1999
1998
2000
1999
1996
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
Choreographer for an immersive art project initiated by Frédérique Drolet – Soprano | Parc régional de Champboisé, Petite-Nation.
Commission - duet for dance artists Amanda Bon and Takako Segawa | ODD Box.
Les Rendez-vous probables | L’Avant-première – residency at Daïmôn media arts centre | outdoor presentation, Gatineau.
Commission - National Arts Centre | outdoor programming around the city of Ottawa.
Festival de danse en milieu scolaire.
Series Dance 10, LabO.
La Nouvelles Scène Gilles Desjardins.
The Citadel (Toronto), CDF (Ottawa), DOTE (Vancouver)
ODD Box (Ottawa).
Série Danse 10, ODD (Ottawa).
Salle Jean Despréz (Gatineau).
Shenkman Arts Centre (Ottawa).
Commission by Lana Morton for a section of the full-length work En Vin
Shenkman Arts Centre (Ottawa).
Salle Jean Despréz (Gatineau).
Dominion Chalmers United Church | Carleton University (Ottawa).
Salle Jean Despréz (Gatineau).
La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins (Ottawa).
CDF, NAC Studio (Ottawa).
Co-production CDF | NAC Studio (Ottawa), DOTE (Vancouver).
CDF, NAC Studio (Ottawa).
La Nouvelle Scène (Ottawa).
Commission - National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa).
La Nouvelle Scène (Ottawa), CDF (Ottawa).
Salle Jean Despréz (Gatineau).
La Nouvelle Scène (Ottawa), Studio 303 (Montréal).
DOTE (Vancouver), Salle Jean Despréz (Gatineau).
CDF (Ottawa), Ffida (Toronto).
La Nouvelle Scène (Ottawa).
Salle Jean Despréz (Gatineau).
Ffida (Toronto), CDF (Ottawa).
Festival international de nouvelle danse FIND (Montréal).
Le Groupe Dance Lab (Ottawa).
CEGEP de l’Outaouais (Hull).
Salle Jean Despréz (Hull), Fringe Festival (Manotick).
National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa).
Arts Court Theatre (Ottawa).
Arts Court Theatre (Ottawa), Tangente (Montreal).
Le Groupe de la Place Royale (Ottawa).
Le Groupe de la Place Royale (Ottawa).
DORSALE Danse
After 20 years of creating, producing and presenting as an independent dance artist, Sylvie Desrosiers founded DORSALE danse. Born from her desire to support the evolution of her work with a better structure, DORSALE danse also allows her to create projects that gather people with similar interest and complementary visions. DORSALE danse promotes innovative dance research, creation, production, presentation and educational initiatives. We bring high quality performances to our audiences, with the goal of increasing the visibility of contemporary dance. DORSALE danse supports dance works that are physical, emotional and that provide significant artistic experiences. The name, Dorsale, translates as dorsal or ridge, words evoking inspiring images of the spine, the earth, the deep sea, and the strength and flexibility of all three.


Photo credits: Michael Slobodian (top of page), Lisa Hebert (left) and Gilles Vézina (right)