DanceWorks Launches 37th Season with FTFP's WITH A TRACE, Now thru Sept 21

DanceWorks, Toronto's longest-running contemporary dance series now in its 37th season, launches its 2013-14 Mainstage Series presenting with a trace from firstthingsfirst productions (ftfp), a mixed program of two solos and a duet by acclaimed choreographers Peggy Baker, Valerie Calamand Mélanie Demers. Performed by ftfp's Co-Artistic Directors Kate Holden and Kate Franklin, along with Marc Boivin, with a trace runs today, September 19 to Saturday, September 21 at Harbourfront Centre's Enwave Theatre.

For several decades, DanceWorks and Harbourfront Centre have been working collaboratively to cultivate, redefine and showcase compelling dance performance in Canada. During the past eight years, Harbourfront Centre's NextSteps has flourished into one of Canada's largest and most renowned dance seasons, and DanceWorks remains a key creative partner within the season each year. The 2013/14 NextSteps lineup features five DanceWorks presentations, including the highly anticipatedwith a trace by firstthingsfirst productions, which launches both NextSteps and DanceWorks 2013/14 seasons simultaneously.

Exploring the nature of personal history and relationships - and how we constantly redefine our identity through our interactions and experiences - with a trace is comprised of three separate works by three outstanding contemporary Canadian choreographers. The pieces range from the world premiere of WOULD by Montreal's provocative Demers, to Brahms Waltzes created by Peggy Baker in 1992 and Calam's fierce and dichotomous Gotta Go Church.

"with a trace by firstthingsfirst productions is a fitting season opener for the 2013-14 DanceWorks series," says curator Mimi Beck. "The works are fresh, vital and varied, blending Canada's up-and-coming generation of dance artists with seasoned veterans. New to the DanceWorks series are choreographers Val Calam and Mélanie Demers, while Peggy Baker's iconic Brahms Waltzes steps out to a re-invented score. with a trace brings three top-notch interpreters to the Enwave Theatre stage, sharing dances that must be danced!"

Brahms Waltzes Choreographed by Peggy Baker; re-imagined by Kate Holden
Kate Holden re-imagines Brahms Waltzes, a solo choreographed by Baker in 1992 and shared with Holden in The Choreographer's Trust Program in 2002. The original work provides a starting point for examining memory, experience and the traces we carry. Holden's interpretation of Brahms Waltzes is accompanied by a re-worked musical score by electronic composer, Joshua Van Tassel.

Gotta Go Church Choreographed by Valerie Calam
A solo choreographed by Valerie Calam, Gotta Go Church has been re-crafted for the exquisite Kate Franklin. The work - a wild oscillation between physical states - deals with indecision, paradox, dichotomy and the splitting of a whole into exactly two non-overlapping parts. The music drives the piece through its juxtaposition of heavy metal and gospel.

WOULD Choreographed by Mélanie Demers
WOULD is an exciting world premiere from Montréal-based choreographer Mélanie Demers, who has created the work for dancers Kate Holden and Marc Boivin (president of the Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault and the Regroupement québécois de la danse). An exploration of the nature of possibility, potential, horizons and projections, WOULD is a collision of words and movement that creates a world in between what is and what could be, featuring a musical score composed by Van Tassel.

Peggy Baker is recipient of the Governor General's Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, the 2006 Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts, five Dora Mavor Moore Awards, and Honorary Doctorates from York University and the University of Calgary. Valerie Calam is a dancer/choreographer whose Company Vice Versa has created commissioned works for Toronto Dance Theatre, Ryerson University and Alias Dance Project, and who won the 2011 K.M. Hunter Artist Award in dance in addition to being nominated for four Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Mélanie Demers is a Montreal-based choreographer and the Artistic Director of Mayday Dance Company whose socially engaged work has been presented in some thirty cities across Europe, America, Africa and Asia.

firstthingsfirst productions was formed in 2005 by powerhouse dancers Kate Franklin and Kate Holden to commission new contemporary dance work. Through its commissions, ftfp has built up a body of work that is thoughtful, transparent and honest. Powerful in its ability to communicate and clear in its kinetic language, ftfp's repertoire is engaging and inspiring.

Kate Franklin spent the first decade of her career based in Toronto, where she performed with companies such as Kaeja d'Dance, Zata Omm Dance Projects, ProArte Danza, and TILT sound + motion, and with such outstanding choreographers as Matjash Mrozewski, Kate Alton and DA Hoskins. Although now living in Vancouver and actively contributing to that city's dance scene, Franklin continues as Co-Artistic Director of ftfp and is a core member of Dusk Dances.

Kate Holden has interpreted the works of many esteemed Canadian choreographers, including Peggy Baker, Roberto Campanella, Robert Desrosiers, David Earle, Sylvain Émard, Sasha Ivanochko, James Kudelka, Laurence Lemieux, Emily Molnar, Andrea Nann and Yvonne Ng. An award-winning dancer, Kate spent five seasons as a company member of Dancemakers under the artistic direction of Michael Trent and was a dancer with the Danny Grossman Dance Company for two seasons.

Marc Boivin began his dance career at Le Groupe de la Place Royale in Ottawa under the directorship of Peter Boneham and in 1985 joined Ginette Laurin and her newly-formed company O Vertigo Danse. Since 1991, he has worked as an independent dancer, performing mainly for Louise Bédard, Sylvain Émard, Jean-Pierre Perreault, and Tedd Robinson. He has been president of the Fondation Jean-Pierre Perreault since 2006, and president of the RQD (Regroupement québécois de la danse) since October 2010.

DanceWorks presents firstthingsfirst productions in with a trace
part of Harbourfront Centre's NextSteps
Choreographed by: Peggy Baker, Valerie Calam and Mélanie Demers
Performers: Kate Franklin, Kate Holden and Marc Boivin
Thursday, September 19 to Saturday, September 21, 2013, 8PM
Harbourfront Centre's Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West
Tickets: $18.75 -$37.25
Harbourfront Centre Box Office: 416-973-4000
OR online at www.danceworks.ca
& http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/nextsteps/

DanceWorks presents Toronto's longest running contemporary dance series - now in its 37th season - highlighting professional dance artists whose work originates from diverse sources and who are making a significant contribution to the field. The dances presented will bring fresh takes from unique viewpoints on universal issues. The 2013-14 season offers choreography with a bite - works that will resonate and linger long after the performances are over.

NextSteps, Harbourfront Centre's national dance series, brings the very best in Canadian dance from across the country - and around the world - to Toronto's finest venues and theatres. The 2013-14 season, running September to June, features emerging and established companies, each one showcasing the vibrant spectrum of dance within our country. Step forward. Join the dance.

Harbourfront Centre, on Toronto's waterfront, is an innovative not-for-profit cultural organization that creates events and activities of excellence that enliven, educate and entertain a diverse public.

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