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Swaying rhythmically, he sips his java brew

Early-risers' dawn dance becoming a common Montreal celebration for sober revellers, bucking traditional nightlife norms.

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3 min read

Swaying rhythmically, he sips his java brew

In the wee hours of Montreal, it's not just the night owls dancing the night away. It's the early risers, the sober crowd, and those seeking a different rhythm. For the past few months, the scene has been shifting, and it all began with a unique idea...

Lisa Rey, a 27-year-old entrepreneur, and Bassil Sawaya, a 31-year-old electronic music-mixing engineer, have a shared love for the nightlife, but an even deeper love for their beds. When they stumbled upon dance mornings in Los Angeles and Amsterdam, they knew Montreal needed its own share of the day-to-night magic.

Last February, Lisa took to Instagram to explain her newfound disappointment with nightclubs and her desire for day parties sans alcohol. Hundreds of messages poured in, including from entrepreneurs eager to open their doors for her. Two weeks later, the Cass Cafe hosted the first "Croissound" event.

"The line was monstrous!" Lisa remembers. "People waited two hours in the snow. They came in with blue lips."

Since then, the monthly gatherings have been drawing crowds. Participants are happy to dance to the sound of electronic music mixed by Bassil and other DJs, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. At the LE NINETY + Camas, where today's event is taking place, Cedric Comte, co-founder of the establishment, tells me that he is happy to be associated with an event that is not centered on alcohol: "Our generation drinks less, and I find that beautiful to see."

Marisela Guglietta, 42, and Amy Sulbaran, 35, are here because they don't drink anymore and sometimes feel uncomfortable around drunk people... As if they're not in the same dimension as them.

As I sway and chat with the early birds, I meet Manon St-Laurent, 53, who traveled from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield to Montreal, charmed by Croissound's popular reputation: "I like dancing when there's a crowd. We're living the same thing at the same time, it creates a whole energy!"

Mathilde and Delphine Trépanier come to dance between mother and daughter! "It's a perfect activity for the little old ones," says the 23-year-old woman tenderly looking at her 54-year-old mother, who doesn't mind at all...

I couldn't help but notice how the event brings together different generations. Lisa was the first surprised: "We have our community of 25-35 year-olds, but there are also quite a few people over 50. There were two grandmothers glued to the DJ last time! I loved it!"

As 11 a.m. approaches, the line stretches out to about 150 meters... Clearly, people are thirsty for something new.

On my side, I don't dare order a drink for fear of bothering people with coffee breath. At the same time, is it any worse than the old beer and cheap shooter breaths that bars have accustomed us to?

Croissound is more than just a dance in the day. It's an audiovisual revelation that appeals to the Instagram generation, a chance for everyone to join in the fun, and a unique blend of Montreal's vibrant coffee culture and daytime socializing. The next Croissound event will be on May 4th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central.

  1. Lisa Rey and Bassil Sawaya, inspired by dance mornings in Los Angeles and Amsterdam, wanted to bring the day-to-night magic to Montreal.
  2. The first "Croissound" event took place at the Cass Cafe last February, drawing a crowd with waiting times of up to two hours.
  3. Cedric Comte, co-founder of LE NINETY + Camas, supported the event as it focused on joyous gatherings without focusing on alcohol.
  4. Marisela Guglietta and Amy Sulbaran attend Croissound because they don't drink alcohol and feel more comfortable around sober people.
  5. Manon St-Laurent traveled from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield to attend Croissound, enjoying the energetic atmosphere created by the crowds.
  6. Mathilde and Delphine Trépanier dance together at Croissound, making it a unique intergenerational activity.
  7. The Croissound event attracts participants from different age groups, offering an audiovisual experience appealing to Montrealers who seek something new in their lifestyle, fashion and beauty, food and drink, home and garden, relationships, pets, travel, cars, and shopping.
Early risers and sober celebrators in Montreal have adopted the tradition of morning dancing, stretching their nights into early dawn for the past few months.
Rising with the sun and dancing: A practice increasingly observed by those preferring a sober celebration, now common in Montreal during the past few months.
Rising early in the morning usually signifies a late night. For several months, this has been the routine for numerous early-to-bed, sober celebration enthusiasts in Montreal.

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