Our Story

Decades of Cat’s Corner

Cat’s Corner has many stories embedded in it. We can pull a string and bring to light a series of events, of people, of connections, each different from one another. Each point of view is unique to the person who speaks, remembers, writes, asks their own questions. But there is more. Ubuntu again. I am, because we are.

Certain names that you often hear are those that have made a lasting organizational impact, such as those of the founders, directors, teachers. They deserve to be named. And also. The people, the dancers, the volunteers, the visitors, the ones that left, the ones that are on their way to us: every contribution adds a piece to what Cat’s Corner is today and will become tomorrow. This community is made up of all and every single one of you that steps foot here and shares a dance.

People

Cat’s Corner was founded in 1998 by Fred Ngo, whose vision was:

• To create an organization around which a collective of dancers could gather, learn to speak a common dance language, and build the tools to connect with and participate in a wider community of original and swing dance practitioners;

• To honour the Elders of the dance, and to share and learn from their legacy;

• To put Montreal on the Lindy Hop world map as a vibrant and dynamic community of dancers;

• To  create a home where everyone feels welcome, where we feel invited to return, and where we can develop lasting relationships, with a common interest in social dancing to swing and jazz music.

Those years enabled  the creation of the strong sense of identity and hospitality that Cat’s Corner is known for all around the world. Musical taste was developed by self-taught DJs such as Danny Toye. The Reflective Practice unique to Cat’s Corner started then, thanks to Sylwia Bielec (2005). The Lindy U program took off with Alain Wong and Ann Mony. André Deslauriers, Mira Fisher and others nurtured local interest for dance exchanges, attracting dancers from all over North America. The Elders of the dance visited Montreal on these occasions: Ms. Norma Miller, Ms. Dawn Hampton and Mr. Frankie Manning.

After Fred Ngo left Montreal in 2010, this vision lived on through the work of many more for close to a decade, thanks to the leadership of Debbie Carman, supported by Alain Wong, Owen Hortop, and later, Cara De Granpré (office manager) and Geneviève Raoult (community manager), as well as a team of loyal advisors. This new chapter saw the birth of a legendary event: the Cat’s Corner Exchange, an annual social dance celebration on Halloween weekend. A strong Blues program and community was built (Tanya Teal, Gab Kern, Mireille Schnitzer, …), as well as a Balboa counterpart (first Sylvain Tchang, then Cara De Grandpré and Felix Rioux Sabourin) and finally a Tap program (Pablo Gimeno, Aleix Prats Ferrer, Tanya Rivard and Majiza Philip). A pedagogical change took place in 2013 via Anaïs Sékiné’s doctoral research, to start integrating a more “culturally informed” pedagogy, supported by an Annual Teacher Training event bringing in special guests, such as Angela Andrew (UK) and other dancers, who were mentored by the Elders.

It was also the era of late night dinners in Chinatown, black sesame milkshakes at Big in Japan, “Bohemian Rhapsody” karaoke, and influential creative dance troupes like the Northern Lights, the W Project, the Strutting Trousers, the Cat’s Club Chorus Line, the Bal Gals and so much more.

In 2019, after having already contributed to many facets of Cat’s Corner for a decade, Meghan Gilmore and Anaïs Sékiné partnered to build the next leadership team: starting with building a lively monthly live music programming, a kids’ program, the monthly Social Potlucks, and the first edition of a gem among the gems: the Vernacular Spectacular Festival. But little did they know about the World Pandemic that was about to come. The most major changes that the organization has ever experienced  took place during those five years: surviving the pandemic as an organization in one of the most heavily affected economic sectors, moving twice to neighbourhoods on opposite ends of the city, re-evaluating the entire organization and its educational and cultural purposes, and coming out with a stronger sense of our vision for the future. Cat’s Corner finally became a nonprofit organization with a board of directors and governance structure.

In 2024, a new co-director joined the organization: Hélène Bernardot. There is no doubt that she, too, will bring a fresh perspective.

Places

Cat’s Corner has had many “homes” over the years. Fred had always had the desire to create a space for Montrealers to meet, practice, socialize and learn together.

• Since the fall of 2023, we have been sharing space with the Polish White Eagle Society in the beautiful hall at 1956 Frontenac.

• Post-pandemic, we collaborated with Share the Warmth to use space at the old Grace Church in Point St. Charles (2021-2023).

• For 12 years, we were on the Main at 3451 Boulevard St. Laurent, in a loft-style space (2010-2021).

• Our first brick-walled spaces were on St.Catherine Street West before that, near the McGill metro station.

• We learned the hard way the difficulties of co-existing too close to residential buildings in the Berri-UQAM area.

• The very first studio was at the Vendôme metro station.