Practical Information
- Dates:
- October 29 and 30, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- 11 hours of training
- Location: PJE \ Prodigium, Montréal
- Cost: $91 (actual cost: $595)
Training Overview
The goal of this workshop is to develop mindful, sensitive, and skilled lifts that support creative expression while ensuring the safety and harmony of aerial performance. It is led by Jean-François Faber, a rigger specializing in human rigging, and Marie-Michelle Faber, a specialist in human performance and aerial movement. Their approaches combine technical expertise, safety, and artistic sensitivity. One embodies the precision of mechanical systems; the other, the poetry of the body in suspension. Together, they offer a complete immersion in which participants serve as technicians, performance partners, and the artist’s unseen guardians.
Through this training, participants will:
- Understand and operate pulley systems (3:1 type and other variations) used in human rigging.
- Develop safety reflexes, load management, and the ability to anticipate movements.
- Read an artist’s rhythm, breathing, and intentions to support their movements with precision and gentleness.
- Collaborate seamlessly with artists, building a bond of trust.
Biographies
Jean-François Faber: Human Rigging Specialist
With 25 years of experience in the field of human rigging, Jean-François Faber is a leading figure in the world of performing arts and the circus. Specializing in the design, installation, and operation of human rigging systems, he masterfully balances technical and artistic demands.
Throughout his career, Jean-François has collaborated with world-renowned artists, contributing to performances that push the boundaries of what is possible. He plays an essential role in bringing complex aerial acts to life. Whether for ambitious, large-scale projects or more intimate productions, his expertise ensures the artists’ safety while showcasing their vision.
Jean-François Faber is much more than a technician: he is the invisible dancer who makes the artist shine on stage.
Photo credit: Mathilde Crépin
Marie-Michelle Faber, Human Performance Specialist
With more than 25 years of experience on the world’s greatest stages, she has transitioned from the spotlight to behind-the-scenes creation, bringing a unique perspective on movement and performance. As an acrobatic designer and aerial movement specialist, she is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible, exploring new ways to tell stories through the body and technology.
While Jean-François Faber ensures safety and technical precision, her expertise focuses on fluidity, aesthetics, and creativity. Together, they weave a dialogue that blends the rigor of rigging systems with the poetic momentum of the performers. Their complementary skills allow them to transform ideas into movement, guiding the performers so that every gesture becomes an emotion shared with the audience.
Photo credit: Luc Vincent-Savard
