Chléa is 17, Hailey 15, and they’re going to have a rather original Christmas: the two dance-loving sisters will play both roles in the famous ballet Nutcracker, but one will be in Montreal and the other in Basel, Switzerland. A dream that nevertheless entails some challenges for the family.

“We’re just the support team. We make sure that they can go to school and do the projects that inspire them,” explains Dave Giguère, father of Chléa and Hailey. In fact, young girls show a strong interest in dancing from a young age. An environment that was completely unknown to both parents, but which quickly became their everyday life. “I’ve never danced before, but my daughters have been dancing since they were two! As soon as we saw that they really liked it, we started taking them to dance classes and shows,” recalls Annie Robitaille. In fact, the family quickly built a tradition: go see Nutcracker yearly.

For several years, the two sisters have been performing this famous piece with the Grands Ballets Canadiens. But this year will be different. Chléa joined a major professional ballet school, Ballettschule Theater Basel, in Basel, Switzerland. “It’s my dream to dance in Europe and start my professional career there,” says the 17-year-old.

Parallel to her training at the École supérieure du ballet du Québec, where she has been since her V^e High school, Chléa decided to audition at several professional dance schools in Europe and it paid off. Last September she moved to Switzerland with her mother. “I didn’t expect Chléa to leave home so early,” says Annie Robitaille.

They have been dancing about 30 hours a week since they were 8 or 9 years old.

It was a bit difficult at first, but she really loves it, she’s happy, and that’s all that matters. “Same emotions on the side of Hailey who has previously shared her room with her big sister. “When I found out that she was leaving, I was very sad, but now it’s better,” says the 15-year-old.

To make it feel ‘at home’, the family installed a camera system that is always connected. “Chléa can see her dogs like this, and if we’re around, we’ll come over and say hello to her,” explains Annie Robitaille, a professor at the University of Ottawa, who manages her time to spend with her she there is daughters “on no longer possible”.

For his part, Dave Giguère also “thanks” the technology that it exists. “This way we can stay together despite the distance,” adds the Google employee in Montreal.

A close-knit family full of projects

When Chléa and Hailey “fell in love” with dance, Dave Giguère and Annie Robitaille immediately set about making their dreams come true. Through their many moves to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, they have always found dance schools where the girls can “grow and improve”. “Since they were 8 or 9 years old, they’ve been dancing about 30 hours a week,” says Mr. Giguère. The fact that her daughters chose art and dance as a profession “was never a problem”. “We never questioned her choice. If they have this job and are happy, all the better! adds M.^me Robaille.

In 2018 and 2019 Chléa took part on 1^D and on the 2nd^e Dance Show Edition revolution, broadcast on TVA. She twice reached the face-to-face stage and received the title of the most promising in the first season. An experience that gave him “visibility”. “It opened doors and contacts for me in the dance world, but now I use it a little less. I left the competitive world for a bit to dive into the professional world,” she says.

Chléa and Hailey both want to pursue a career in dance and have dreams of joining a ballet or contemporary dance company. “Later, when I can no longer dance, I would also like to become a choreographer and also teach dance afterwards,” imagines Chléa, who is also completing her high school via distance learning at the Pensionnat du Saint-Nom-de-Marie, combined with the Superior Ballet School of Quebec (ESBQ). Hailey, on the other hand, tries very hard to do well at school “if it doesn’t work out”. “Maybe I’d like to go to London to dance, or join a company that travels around the world, like the Ballets Jazz de Montréal,” she admits.

Dance is “essential to life” for the two young artists. “Sometimes I’m angry or I feel something, and it allows me to let go of my emotions. Dancing helps me express myself,” says Hailey. For Chléa, dance is also a means of expression. “It lets me feel all kinds of emotions, then I love to immerse myself in characters and have great experiences with other dancers. It gives me a different perspective on the world,” she explains.

In December, after dancing on the stages “Flower Dance” and “Flower Waltz” of the annual show The Nutcracker in Basel, Chléa will go to Israel for five days during the YAGP International Contemporary Youth Ensemble, where she has been invited along with 30 other dancers from around the world, before joining her family in Montreal and seeing Hailey perform the Matryoshka Nutcracker Montreal to be played through December 30th.

The young girl is continuing her education and dancing full-time in Montreal and has no plans to audition anywhere else for the next year.

To see in the video