Mickaël Spinnhirny Appointed Dance Programming Advisor at SPEC du Haut-Richelieu

SPEC du Haut-Richelieu and CAPAS are pleased to announce the appointment of Mickaël Spinnhirny as Dance Programming Advisor. His mandate will officially begin in the summer of 2025.

This announcement marks a natural progression: since 2019, Mickaël has worked closely with SPEC by leading the Rendez-vous artistiques—meaningful moments of engagement that precede performances and create a true dialogue between the works and their audiences. These encounters have helped foster a strong connection with local spectators, who year after year have shown curiosity, engagement, and loyalty to the discipline.

Building on this already established relationship of trust, this new mandate aims to further the momentum initiated by SPEC to make dance a cornerstone of its programming. Mickaël Spinnhirny will take on the artistic direction of the Maestria Danse series: selecting works, coordinating the calendar, writing content, leading audience engagement activities, and representing the field. He will be supported by the entire CAPAS team—including editorial, graphic design, audience engagement, administration, and strategic services—mobilized to offer SPEC a tailored turnkey service designed to amplify the impact of dance with its audiences.

“This mandate is a wonderful opportunity for me to contribute differently to the dance ecosystem by building on the strength of proximity and the richness of regional contexts,” says Mickaël. “I look forward to working with the teams at SPEC and CAPAS to shape a season that reflects the diversity of today’s artistic practices while offering clear points of reference for local audiences.”

“I also want to recognize the exceptional work of Evelyne Boudreau, who led this programming with intelligence, heart, and vision for many years. It’s a true privilege to follow in the footsteps of such dedication, and I approach this new chapter with great humility and enthusiasm,” he adds.

Through this alliance with CAPAS, SPEC du Haut-Richelieu affirms its strong commitment to offering ambitious dance programming rooted in contemporary realities. Together, we will continue the work already begun to make dance an essential part of the cultural experience in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

Call for Artists, Companies, and Agents

Each year, a seasonal theme will be developed to guide programming choices grounded in artistic coherence. This approach reflects a desire for openness and dialogue with the field—to build a dance season that is strong, sensitive, and representative of the many voices shaping it. Artists, companies, and agents are encouraged to share their projects and contact Mickaël at: mika@capas.ca

About SPEC

La SPEC du Haut-Richelieu is a multidisciplinary performing arts presenter that offers over 300 performances annually, nearly a third of which are dedicated to young audiences. The organization devotes significant resources to holding 1,000 artistic outreach activities each year. Approximately 175,000 people attend events at the Théâtre des Deux Rives, the Cabaret-Théâtre du Vieux-Saint-Jean, and the Emma-Albani hall at the Pôle culturel de Chambly.