TDT premieres Christopher House's Latest Work in February

Resending since it was originally sent during the holiday period.

***

Toronto Dance Theatre is proud to present the World Premiere of

Pteros Tactics

A major new work by Christopher House

Toronto, January 4, 2010- Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) is proud to present the world premiere of Artistic Director Christopher House's latest work, Pteros Tactics, running Tuesday, February 16 through Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Harbourfront Centre's Fleck Dance Theatre.

Pteros Tactics examines "the instant of desire" as described by Anne Carson in her essay Eros the Bittersweet. Carson describes the arcs and triangulation of desire in richly physical terms, starting from a fragment of poetry by Sappho: "Eros once again limbloosener whirls me sweetbitter, impossible to fight off, creature stealing upŠ"

Inspired by and created in collaboration with TDT's ten extraordinary dancers (Alana Elmer, Syreeta Hector, David Houle, Yuichiro Inoue, Pulga Muchochoma, Kaitlin Standeven, Brodie Stevenson, Nai Shi Wang, Sarah Wasik and Linnea Wong), Pteros Tactics promises to be a vibrant and playful work that examines the space of desire between the lover and beloved. The metaphor of Eros Ballplayer, with his golden sphere, provides the central methodology for House's response to Carson's ideas. 

Pteros Tactics marks the continuation of the successful collaboration between House and Dora-winning composer Phil Strong. Throughout the process, House will also collaborate with Belgian dramaturge Guy Cools; this is their second collaboration, following the success of their work together on Dis/(sol/ve)r. Lighting is by Roelof Peter Snippe, a veteran of more than thirty-five years of collaboration with Toronto Dance Theatre, with scenography by long-time TDT designer Cheryl Lalonde.
 

Before its premiere in Toronto, TDT will participate in a two-week residency with Dance Victoria culminating with a lecture-demonstration at the MacPherson Playhouse in Victoria, BC.

Artistic Director of Toronto Dance Theatre since 1994, Christopher House is one of Canada's most enduringly inventive choreographers, an artist with a voracious appetite for new ideas and in the full maturity of his powers. His playful, intelligent productions speak directly to the audience about the big questions of our lives.
 
Christopher House has transformed TDT into a company known internationally for its fresh, intelligent and provocative dance. He has been Resident Choreographer of TDT since 1981 and has contributed over fifty works to the repertoire including Glass Houses, Four Towers, Early Departures, Vena Cava, Nest and Sly Verb. He has also created choreographies for Portugal's Ballet Gulbenkian, the National Ballet of Canada, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and Ballet British Columbia, and for soloists such as Peggy Baker and Guillaume Côté.  House is also an Associate Dance Artist of Canada's National Arts Centre.
 
Christopher House's recent works include Dis/(sol/ve)r, Chiasmata and Timecode Break for TDT. Timecode Break, a commission from the Canada Dance Festival and a co-production with the National Arts Centre and the Banff Centre for the Arts, went on to top four critics' Top Ten lists for 2006, including being named "Best Canadian work" by The Globe and Mail, and "Best new contemporary dance" by the Toronto Star. In June 2007, it won three Dora Mavor Moore Awards including Outstanding Choreography and Outstanding Production.

"Never underestimate choreographer Christopher House." - The Globe and Mail

Toronto Dance Theatre presents the world premire of

Pteros Tactics

Choreographed by Artistic Director Christopher House

Music and sound by Phil Strong, Lighting design by Roelof Peter Snippe, Scenography by Cheryl Lalonde.

Part of Harbourfront Centre's NextSteps

February 16-20, 2010 at 8pm nightly

at Harbourfront Centre's Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto

Regular Tickets: Adults $25, $32, $38 (Students/Seniors $19, $25, $32)

Box Office: 416-973-4000 OR online at tdt.org

-30-

PLEASE ADD TO LISTINGS UNTIL FEBRUARY 20, 2010.

Media refer: Dianne Weinrib, DW Communications  416-703-5479 dw@dwcommunications.net

-- 

Dianne Weinrib
Director, DW Communications Inc.
Communications for the Arts
54 Wolseley St., Ste. 204
Toronto M5T 1A5
416-703-5479