TOHU: Montreal's Circus Arts Centre - Tourisme Montréal Blog

TOHU is a non-profit organization that was born ten years ago, an initiative of different institutions from the Montreal circus arts scene, including En Piste (the National Association of Circus Arts), the National Circus School and Cirque du Soleil.

Read the full story to know how you could catch tomorrow’s next Cirque du Soleil.

In 2004, TOHU was created, an exceptional complex dedicated to research and creation that also acts as a museum, a theatre and an environmental centre. TOHU’s mission is to turn Montreal into the world’s capital of circus arts by letting local artists express themselves and inviting internationally acclaimed companies to perform within its walls. Its mission is also to participate in the revitalization of Montreal’s Saint-Michel neighbourhood, socially and environmentally, bringing residents together and encouraging them to be active in the economic and cultural life of their city. Those who work at TOHU, for instance, are selected according to their postal code, in order to make sure they live in the area.

At TOHU, the National Circus School holds creative workshops and invites people to learn more about the circus world, while ongoing exhibitions are presented, such as Terra Cirqua: The Fabulous Story of the Circus, which deals with the circus’ quest for balance, a philosophical question that explores the relationship between the body and the image.

TOHU also hosts incredible performances from the best circus companies around the world. This season, you’ll be able to catch Un loup pour l’homme, a minimalist French-Quebecois co-production about intimacy and fragility. In December, the Teatr Licede (Slava Polumine’s production company from Russia) will present Semianyki, a flamboyant cabaret filled with kitsch imagery and humour, while the Montreal-based company Les 7 doigts de la main will return in 2010 with their new creation called Psy.

Check out the TOHU WEBSITE for full details about the centre’s upcoming exhibitions, performances and other activities. Getting there might be a little tricky – you’ll have to go to the Jarry metro station and take the 193 East bus, or go to the Iberville metro station and use the 94 North bus. For more info, consult the complete schedules and plans on the MONTREAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SOCIETY’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE. Of course, you can always simplify matters by catching a cab from Jarry metro station – it shouldn’t set you back more than $15.

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