Ethel Bruneau Dance School

438-877-6107

1564 Herron Road

Dorval, Quebec

H9S 1B7

at  Georgiana Cretu Business Center

 

Ethel Bruneau, now 72 years old, was born in Harlem. Ethel Bruneau began her life of tap at only 3 years of age. Her parents saw her talent and enrolled her in the Mary Bruce's school of dance, a very prominent dancing school in Harlem. Ethel Bruneau got a chance to come to Montreal in 1953 when she had a three week dancing gig with none other than the great Cab Calloway. She loved Montreal so much she decided to make it her new home. Ethel Bruneau made her career here in Montreal, where she has danced her way to a happy life. She wakes up in the morning to dance, and even with some hip pain once in awhile she says dancing puts joy in her life and she goes to bed happy. She has also put joy into the life of the hundreds of students who learned the art of tap in her dancing studio as well.

 

Today we present an outstanding woman who exemplifies the accomplishments of women through the enhancements of their local communities. Ethel Bruneau, is not only the pride of Montreal she is a legend in the world of dance worldwide.

Every year, the award is presented to an individual who has made a "significant contribution to African-Canadian artistic and cultural life in Canada."

In 2009, the Martin Luther King Award was presented to Montreal's own Ethel Bruneau by the Black Theater Workshop at it's Vision Celebration.

Why choose Ethel Bruneau? The answer is just like Martin Luther King Jr., she too had a dream. Furthermore, she fulfilled her dream of teaching tap in Montreal for over 50 years.

Early life of Ethel Bruneau

Ethel Bruneau, now 74 years old, was born in Harlem. Ethel Bruneau began her life of tap at only 3-years-of-age. Her parents saw her talent and enrolled her in the Mary Brice's school of dance, a very prominent dancing school in Harlem. Ethel Bruneau had the opportunity to dance with the world famous Gregory Hines.

She says that, "the only boy I liked to hold hands with was Gregory," though she could have held hands with any of the boys for the purpose of dancing at the school.

Ethel Bruneau got a chance to come to Montreal in 1953, when she had a three week dancing gig with none other than the great Cab Calloway. She loved Montreal so much she decided to make it her new home.

"When you walked down Ste. Catherine, it was Las Vegas! Nobody slept in Montreal. This city was open 24 hours a day," said Bruneau.

Ethel Bruneau remains in Montreal to bless us with her talent

Ethel Bruneau made her career here in Montreal, where she has danced her way to a happy life. She wakes up in the morning to dance, and even with some hip pain once in awhile, she says dancing puts joy in her life and she goes to bed happy. She has also put joy into the life of the hundreds of students who learned the art of tap in her dancing studio as well.