Jean-Marc Généreux
Quick Facts
Biography
Jean-Marc Généreux (/ʒɑ̃-maʁk ʒeneʁø/; born December 25, 1962) is a French Canadian ballroom dance champion, choreographer and television personality from Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. He is most prominently known for his roles as judge and choreographer on the American and Canadian versions of So You Think You Can Dance, and the French version of the hit television series: Dancing with the Stars.
Biography
Généreux met his partner and wife, France Mousseau, when they went to elementary school together. At a young age, he joined the dance school "École de Danse Loisirs Galaxia Inc." in Longueuil, Quebec, and was partnered with France's younger cousin, Chantal Marshall (née Grenon). While Marshall considered ballroom dancing as simply a sport or pastime and Généreux had greater dance aspirations, Marshall switched partners with Mousseau, who attended the same dance school. Généreux and Mousseau competed successfully as amateurs starting in 1977, and then professionally in 1986, in the Latin and 10-dance dancesport divisions, and retired in 1998.
They have been featured dancers on the PBS series Championship Ballroom Dancing and most recently, were guest choreographers on the Fox dance competition-reality show So You Think You Can Dance. They were also featured dancers on the big screen in the film Dance with Me, starring Vanessa L. Williams. Also, Généreux played a "Smarmy Old Man" in the ballroom dance film Shall We Dance, starring Jennifer Lopez.
Along with dancer/choreographer Tré Armstrong, Généreux has appeared as a Permanent Judge on CTV's So You Think You Can Dance Canada for the first four seasons. In 2010, he appeared in an episode in the tenth season of Degrassi as a Ballroom instructor for a remedial gym class. As of February 2011, he also appears as the Head Judge on TF1's Danse avec les stars, the French version of Dancing With The Stars
On the August 8, 2011, broadcast of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Généreux announced the creation of his new dance shoe company, JMG Dance.
Marriage and children
Généreux married his dance partner, France Mousseau, and they had their first child, Jean-Francis, in 1996, and their second, Francesca, in 1999. Their daughter, Francesca, suffers from Rett Syndrome; Généreux and his wife work with others to raise awareness and money around this rare neurological condition. On Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance, Généreux choreographed a Viennese waltz for Kherington Payne and Stephen "Twitch" Boss, a dance that he openly dedicated to daughter Francesca. Généreux also revealed in the second season auditions of So You Think You Can Dance Canada that his son had a vanishing twin. The couple now resides in Boucherville, Quebec where France stays permanently with the kids, unless she is needed to appear on one of the TV shows of which Jean-Marc is a part. The couple also design and make ballroom costumes for professional dancers.
Awards
Amateur titles
- Canadian Province of Quebec Champions in Social Dancing, 1977 - 1979
- Canadian Basic and Standard Champions, International Style, 1980 - 1981
- 5-time Undefeated Canadian Latin and 10-dance Champions, 1982 - 1987
- 5-time Undefeated North American Latin and 10-dance Champions
- 3-time Peter Allan Award Latin Champions, England
- 4-time Latin Champions and Grand Champions, United States Ballroom Championships
- Winners, British Youth Latin American Championship, Blackpool
Professional titles
- 10-time Undefeated Canadian Latin Champions, 1987 - 1998
- 4-time Undefeated North American Champions
- 2-time Asian-Pacific Champions
- 2-time Winners, Challenge of the Continent
- Winners, Ohio Star Ball Open Latin Championship
- 3rd place, Overall Title, World 10-dance Championships
- Winners, Latin Title, World 10-dance Championships
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Dance With Me | Professional Latin Dance Finalist | joined France Mousseau |
2004 | Shall We Dance? | Smarmy Old Man | |
2011 | Funkytown | Choreographer | |
2013 | La boîte à musique des Enfoirés | Himself | TV Movie |
Television
[Tessa and Scott] Himself Episodes 1 and 5
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006-10 | So You Think You Can Dance | Himself - Choreographer and Judge | 14 episodes |
2008-11 | So You Think You Can Dance Canada | Himself - Choreographer and Judge | Permanent judge |
2010 | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Mr. Menard | Episode 10.15 and 10.16 "My Body Is A Cage: Part 1 & 2" |
2011 | Le Grand Journal (Canal+) | Himself | Interview |
2011–present | Danse avec les stars | Himself - Judge | Permanent Judge |
2013–present | Le grand saut | Himself - Judge |