Chantal Caron

Chantal Caron’s artistic approach is deeply rooted in her origins. Born with both feet in the river, she began dancing and building an imaginary world along the shoreline at the age of four. With no dance training available near her village, she began her studies in Montreal at nineteen. A few years later, she deliberately chose to follow the water back home and establish her creative space in the countryside, in her native village. Wanting to offer what she herself lacked as a child, she founded the Chantal Caron Dance School in 1986, now renowned for the rigor of its training for young dancers. In 1992, she founded Productions Caron Danse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and disseminating the art of dance. Productions Caron has stood out in Egypt, Honduras, and Canada. Deeply attuned to the richness and fragility of the St. Lawrence River, along whose banks she lives, Chantal Caron—filmmaker, teacher, producer, entrepreneur, and choreographer—has been honored multiple times for her artistic contributions both professionally and within the community. In 2018, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada “for her artistic creations that highlight natural heritage and her contribution to nurturing the next generation of dancers.” Her works draw inspiration from the living world and take shape through contemporary dance. A Member of the Order of Canada and recipient of the CALQ “Artist of the Year” award in 2023, her short films have been selected and awarded around the globe since 2015.