Cedar Lake Presents Season at The Joyce, 5/7-12

Returning to The Joyce Theater, May 7-12, with its 16 bravura dancers led by Artistic Director Benoit-Swan Pouffer, Cedar Lake will present a stimulating 2013 season featuring the New York Premiere of Ji?í Kylián's pulse racing and youthful "Indigo Rose," a world premiere by provocative Greek choreographer Andonis Foniadakis and the return of critically acclaimed company favorite "Ten Duets On A Theme Of Rescue" by Crystal Pite.

Under Pouffer's direction, Cedar Lake has become known for commissioning new works by the most provocative of new generation choreographers and modern masters. This artistically charged repertoire showcases the company's voluptuous physicality enhanced by classical technique. Cedar Lake takes audiences on a choreographic journey that challenge and expand the boundaries of dance performance.

"INDIGO ROSE" by Ji?í Kylián

Ji?í Kylián created "Indigo Rose" in 1998 to commemorate the 20th anniversary year of Nederlands Dans Theater 2 (NDT 2). After an absence from choreographing for the "breeding ground" company of Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) and feeling compelled to return to the youthful qualities of its members, he created a dance celebrating the transient nature of youth and human relationships. "Indigo Rose" embodies an unattainable ideal, and in this creation Kylián summons the dancers to seek perfection with fervor while shrewdly understanding its elusiveness.

Ji?í Kylián (born in Prague in 1947) began his dance career at Stuttgarter Ballet and made his debut as a guest choreographer for Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) with the work "Viewers" in 1973. Following its success he created a series of 50 works for NDT.

In 1978 Kylián made his international breakthrough with "Sinfonietta," set to music by his friend Leoš Janá?ek and created specifically for the Spoleto Festival in the United States. In that same year Ji?í Kylián was appointed artistic director of NDT, a post that he held for 25 years and during which he created many of his most renowned works, including "Dream Dances" (1997), "De Kinderspelen" (1999), "Piccolo Mondo" (1999), "Symfonie in D" (2002), "Sechs Tänze" (2004), "Stamping Ground" (2006), "Evening Songs" (2006), "Un Ballo (2009) and "Indigo Rose" (2011).

Kylián has received various awards, including the Edinburgh Festival Critics Award (1996, 1997) and the Joost van den Vondel Award (1997). In 1995 he was made an Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau. In June 2008, during the 6th International Festival of Contemporary Dance at the Venice Biennale, he received the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Upon his NDT farewell in 2009, he was honored with the creation of the "Kylián Fund for Innovative Cooperation". In 2011, he created "Anonymous," a dance and video installation for the opening of the Cadance Festival at Korzo Theater, The Hague. The Czech Ministry of Culture has recognized Ji?í Kylián with the Lifetime Achievement Award for dance and theatre.

NEW WORK by Andonis Foniadakis

Andonis Foniadakis created this full company work for Cedar Lake during a recent residency. This new piece explores the vivid network of actions and reactions that characterize the intersection of public and private personas in urban life. Foniadakis investigates individuality and personal expression within our society, the different aspects of human fragility and the power of human spirit. The choreographer examines these themes, drawing on artists from various disciplines, including visual arts, contemporary music, and theater, to complete the vision of the work.

Julien Tarride, a composer and visual artist, whose work combines performing arts with new technologies such as electronic generated scores and 3D computer-based imagery, created an original score for the work. Tarride is primarily inspired by traditional classical music, but is also influenced by both "French musique concrete" and American repetitive music.

Lighting designer, Clifton Taylor and German born Greek stylist, photographer and fashion designer, Tassos Sofroniou complete the artistic team.

Foniadakis, choreographer and dancer, grew up in the city of Lerapetra on the island of Crete, Greece. He began his dance training at his city's local dance school. He continued his studies at the State Dance School in Athens, and before his graduation he received the prestigious Maria Callas Scholarship to continue his studies at L'Ecole-Atelier Rudra-Béjart Lausanne, in Switzerland.

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