A native of Montréal, Anik began her dance training at the age of 12 at
L'École de danse Eddy Toussaint to join, five years later, Le Ballet de
Montréal Eddy Toussaint.
Principal dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal since
1990, Anik Bissonnette has won, since her beginnings, favour with
audiences. She also received praise from the critics, who constantly
stress her mastery of classical technique and her musical sensitivity. Her
career is paved with awards and recognitions: in 1985, she received the
award for best individual performance at the Internationale de danse
Porsche du Canada, and was recognized "Personality of the Week" by the
Montréal daily La Presse. In 1988, the jury of the Salon de la Femme de
Montréal proclaimed her "Personality of the Year, Youth Section". In 1995,
Anik Bissonnette was named Officer of the Order of Canada.
Her career has been closely linked with that of Louis Robitaille, her
favorite partner. The pair participated in 1986/87 to the 10th anniversary
gala of the Spoleto Festival (in Charleston, Spoleto and Melbourne)
organized by the celebrated composer Gian-Carlo Menotti. They starred in
Giselle in Odessa, Ukraine, in 1988. The following year, at the
Ballets du Capitol in Toulouse, Anik danced with Laurent Hilaire in
Swan Lake (Jean Garcia) and in Romeo and Juliet (Nicholas
Beriozoff).
Since 1990, Anik Bissonnette and Louis Robitaille have participated to
the famous Le Gala des Étoiles, where they have mostly danced specially
commissioned works by French choreographer Myriam Naisy. In May 1991, Anik
was chosen by Millicent Hodson and Kenneth Archer to recreate the title
role of La Chatte, considered one of Balanchine's masterpieces. The
following year, she once again danced Swan Lake for Les Ballets du
Capitol, this time with Eric Vu An.
In 1995 Anik Bissonnette was named Officier of the Order of Canada and,
in 1996, Chevalier de l’Ordre du Québec.
During the past seasons, Anik Bissonnette stood out in Giselle (Coralli
and Perrot) and The Nutcracker (Fernand Nault), as well as in
important works such as Balanchine's Allegro Brillante and
Stravinsky Violin Concerto, James Kudelka's Désir, William
Forsythe's i and Jirí Kylián's Stepping Stones.
Anik Bissonnette