Around 90% of the members of the C4pitals troupe have been dancing at the same F4ctory studio in Sainte-Catherine since the age of three. Even if they are part of other groups, C4pitals is their gathering point, their family. This is perhaps one of the ingredients which allowed the troupe of 27 dancers to reach the final of What Talent!. Not to mention the hard work, which is more than ever part of their daily lives in preparation for the final stage, which will be broadcast on November 11.
How did you react when you found out you were making the final?
Camille Robert, 23 years old : “We really didn’t expect it. We worked hard on our number, but the competition was fierce in the semi-final. There was a chance we wouldn’t get through. We were all very angry, in a bit of shock, and we couldn’t wait for what happened next.”
At the start of the competition, did you think you would make it to the final?
Zoé Campeau, 18 years old: “We never thought we would get this far. For us, an amateur dance troupe, it’s an experience that we dreamed of having access to. It was unexpected. We are very proud to have made it this far.”
Catherine Beauregard, one of the three coaches: “Our objective was also to give them an audition experience. And one thing led to another, it evolved into something bigger!”
After the semi-final performance. (Photo: courtesy – Bertrand Exertier)
In the semi-final, judge Serge Denoncourt was a little critical, saying he wanted to be more surprised by C4pitals. How did you receive this comment?
Jade Mecoli, 27 years old : “We took it well. It’s fun to receive constructive comments, it gives things to work on for the final. We focused on that for the next issue.”
Exactly, is it possible to know a little more about this final issue?
Catherine Beauregard : “All we can say is that our objective is to respond directly to Serge’s comment. We put more surprises in our act.
“And what we also liked about the semi-final was also the comments from Rachid Badouri and Marie-Mai, who really saw the level of difficulty, with the chairs. They understood the risk we took.”
The originality of the choreographies was highlighted on a few occasions. Where does this inspiration come from?
Catherine Beauregard : “We are a team of three coaches: Valentina Mantas, Marie-Neika Aubas and me. We each have our strengths and our strategies. So, we consult each other and it is from our three heads that we develop a number.
After exploring the world of an orchestra and its conductor during a previous stage, the troupe offered a number with a different atmosphere. (Photo: Bertrand Exertier)
How are the practices going for the final?
Camille Robert : “It’s getting more and more intense, we’re more focused than ever. As long as we’re in the final, we want to give everything, do the best number, make it our best performance on stage. We don’t waste a minute. We have practices, 2h30, 3h, 4h… When I talk about intensity, it’s the injuries, the bruises.”
Catherine Beauregard : “With fatigue, the number of practices is exponential, but it’s worth it!”
How have you evolved over the course of this experience?
The three dancers: “We learned to work together, as a group, learned to work at home too. It’s also a lot about work ethic, professionalism, our autonomy. Have a little more critical thinking about your own dance. And be more rigorous too. We have been in this process for several months, but we must continue.
Catherine Beauregard : “They are not professional dancers, who dedicate themselves to it full time: they have a job, go to school, practice in the evenings and on weekends. It was to get them to think like a professional dancer, to increase the level of ethics, of rigor, to cross the barrier to progress in a very rapid context.
If C4pitals wins and gets its hands on $100,000, the troupe would like to improve their skills and advance their careers, in particular by seeking additional training outside.
The finale will be broadcast live on November 11. It is the public who will decide the big winner.
Another candidate from the South Shore made it to the final, the Chateauguois dancer Lil Zak.
