Julie Burelle appointed inaugural chair of Concordia’s School of Performance

Julie Burelle has been appointed the inaugural chair of Concordia’s new School of Performance, the first interdisciplinary hub of its kind in Quebec bringing together the university’s departments of Contemporary Dance, Music and Theatre. 

A performance studies scholar and dramaturg, Burelle joins Concordia from the University of California San Diego, where she was a faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Dance and an affiliate in Native American and Indigenous Studies. She also served as Acting and Associate Provost of John Muir College and held several leadership roles across the university. 

Burelle is the author of Encounters on Contested Lands: Indigenous Performances of Sovereignty and Nationhood in Québec (Northwestern University Press, 2019) and co-author of Xajoj Tun: Le Rabinal Achi d’Ondinnok: Entretiens, réflexions, analyses (Presses de l’Université Laval, 2021). Her award-winning research is published by leading journals and focuses on Indigenous performance, dramaturgy and performance as sites of cultural, social and political engagement.

As chair, Burelle will lead the School of Performance as it builds on Concordia’s interdisciplinary approach to performance training, research-creation and artistic collaboration.

“Julie Burelle brings to the School of Performance exceptional expertise in dramaturgy and research-creation. Her experience and vision strongly align with the interdisciplinary spirit at the heart of this new school and with our commitment to advancing artistic innovation,” highlights Annie Gérin, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts.

“I am honored to return to Montreal to join the world-class Faculty of Fine Arts at Concordia. I am excited to work with colleagues, students and community partners to establish the School of Performance as a vital force within Montreal's artistic and scholarly ecosystem and a key player in shaping national and international conversations about performance,” said Burelle. 

“Building on Concordia's collaborative culture and extraordinary expertise, I see the School as an interdisciplinary hub that supports innovative research-creation, encourages bold exploration, and prepares students to shape the future of performing arts.”

Learn more about Concordia’s School of Performance.