SAMUEL TÉTREAULT Artistic Director
ISABELLE CHASSE Co-Director
Born in Montreal , Samuel began his artistic development at age 14 at the Montreal National Circus School of Canada where he studied for seven years . There he developed a passion not only for the acrobatics but also for dance and theatre . Upon graduating in 1996 he started his career as a hand-balancer , winning several awards in circus festivals , including a Bronze Lion at the Wuquio Acrobatic Festival in China and a Silver Medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris .
In 2002 , after performing over 1,500 shows with Cirque du Soleil ’ s production Alegria , touring with Cirque Éloize ’ s production Orchestra and appearing in some of the most prestigious cabarets in Germany , Samuel became one of the co-founding artistic directors of Les 7 doigts de la Main .
Since the foundation of the company , Samuel has collaborated as artistic co-director on the creation of most 7 Fingers shows as well as appearing on stage in the productions of Loft , La Vie , the Fibonacci Project and Le Murmure du Coquelicot .
In 2014 , Samuel co-directed Intersection , the opening show of the fifth edition of Montreal ’ s Complètement Cirque Festival ( Canada ) and directed Luces Fugaces , a special creation for the Festival de las Luces in Medellin ( Colombia ).
As current President of En Piste , the National Circus Arts Network of Canada , Samuel is also highly invested in the promotion and development of the contemporary circus arts .
At five , Isabelle drew a picture of a trapeze artist and stated this was what she wanted to be . At 11 , she found an ad in the local newspaper for a circus school and asked her mother if she could go . The determined Quebec-countryside girl was quickly placed into an intensive contortion program at the National Circus School of Montreal . After two years , Isabelle joined Cirque du Soleil as part of a contortion act . The quartet received gold medals at the Festival de Monte Carlo and the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain de Paris , and many other awards ; and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson , Good Morning America and many more .
In 1997 , Isabelle explored solo work and a new apparatus , developing a contortion act on aerial silks for Cirque du Soleil ’ s Quidam . Curious about many art forms , Isabelle participated in films Satie and Suzanne ( Gold Medal , New York Film Festival ; Grammy Nomination ) and Martyrs ( as ‘’ The Creature !’’).
Upon co-founding Les 7 doigts de la Main , she has worked as a performer and co-creator on Loft and La Vie ; assistant director on Psy and Amuse ; and an artistic leader on the Fibonacci Project . In 2015 , she co-directed the acrobatic conception of Moby Dick , directed by Dominic Champagne in Montreal .