Results tagged “premieredancetheatre”

Dancemakers just closed its latest show last night at Harbourfront's Premiere Dance Theatre. Called Double Bill # 1, the show consisted of two pieces danced by the company choreographed by different artists. Though quite different, both pieces explored the repetition of physical actions and the idea of "covers." The music was provided entirely by local curiosity The Reveries, a group that exclusively covers love ballads. The twist is that they play the covers with cellphone speakers in their mouths, each playing back the music of one of the other musicians. The result is hauntingly beautiful. The music was not performed live, instead, the dancers would choose which songs they would dance to by putting their CDs into the stereo they had on stage with them. This notion of "covers" was also carried over to the dance. In the first piece, "It Was a Nice Party" (choreographed by Ame Henderson), the dancers move around the stage in a way that at first seems random and violent, though somehow reminiscent of a party. At their own pace, the audience discovers that they are actually copying the physical actions of a group of revelers in a wild party scene from Fellini's La Dolce Vita (it is eventually projected behind them). The result is energetic, funny and completely delightful.

Photo by EIFF.

Remember the New World Stage Festival? Well, it's still happening!

This week's biggest opening was surely Mabou Mines DollHouse, which kicked off the 2007 New World Stage International Performance (the reboot of the old World Stage Festival) over at the Premiere Dance Theatre. The New York-based company's interpretation of Ibsen's A Doll House is bizarre and at times confusing. It is also as vital and thrilling a piece of theatre as you are likely to see this year. Torontoist urges you with all its mightiness to see this show (which has a rather brief run) if at all possible. The tickets are expensive, but there are afforable rush seats available.

The big news this week in theatre (well, other than that) was the announcement of the newly revamped New World Stage International Performance line-up for 2007. World Stage disappeared from the radar for a while when Ontario decided DuMaurier wasn't allowed to sponsor it anymore - the last time it was here it existed on a much smaller scale, consisting of solo shows. But now, it's back and bigger than ever with 17 full productions taking over the Premiere Dance Theatre and the newly re-named Enwave Theatre (formerly the Harbourfront Centre Theatre, formerly the DuMaurier Centre Theatre...) as well as various other locations in and around Harbourfront Centre. Here's a rundown of the most exciting-sounding shows on the bill:

If film buffs get the TIFF, art buffs get the Queen West Art Crawl, and hockey buffs get the NHL playoffs, then literary types get the IFOA. This year's fest packs in dozens of authors and into 10 days worth of readings, panel discussions, interviews and parties. Yes, once in a while literary types put down their books and drink.

Have you spent the winter locked in your apartment, watching depressing documentaries about The State of The World? Do you worry that your contemporary soul will be overtaken by the rush of technology? Can't seem to connect with your loved ones anymore? Having trouble expressing your individuality within The Group? Has the Tero Saarinen Company ever got a North American Tour program for you? (Yes.)

Canadians know that we have to pack in all our activities before the weather gets too cold for us to leave our houses, which is why this weekend is just jam-packed with stuff to do.