Lyon Opera Ballet Comes To The Joyce

The Joyce Theater is proud to present Lyon Opera Ballet, appearing on its stage for the first time in over fifteen years, from March 9 - 14. The company, under the artistic direction of Yorgos Loukos, will present works by Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe and Maguy Marin. Tickets for Lyon Opera Ballet at The Joyce start at $10 and can be purchased through JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or online at www.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.

A world-renowned contemporary ballet company, Lyon Opera Ballet has received accolades for its experimental, adventurous repertoire that showcases the works of some of the most talented choreographers on the scene today. For its Joyce season, the company presents an eclectic program, epitomizing its commitment to innovation, that includes the following highly acclaimed works: Beach Birds, Merce Cunningham's delicate and mesmerizing take on our winged friends; Duo, William Forsythe's 1996 pas de deux for two women, based on the workings of a clock; and finally Grosse Fugue, Maguy Marin's provocative work that features four women who follow the movements of Beethoven's string quartet while evoking the musicians' passionate bow strokes.

ABOUT LYON OPERA BALLET
International in scope, contemporary by concept, Lyon Opera Ballet is preceded internationally by its reputation as the embodiment of a contemporary dance troupe that dares to take creative risk. Since its inception in 1969 as an autonomous dance company, Lyon Opera Ballet has embraced the creativity of contemporary choreographers like Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe, Jirí Kylián, Trisha Brown, Maguy Marin and Ralph Lemon. Following the impetus of its original directors, the company, continuing to focus on the creation of new works, counts an impressive 42 world premieres in its diverse repertoire.

The heart of Lyon Opera Ballet rests with its dancers. Hailing from eleven different nations, the thirty-two dancers of this esteemed ballet company are renowned for their seemingly unlimited capacity to interpret a wide range of styles. Under the careful direction of Director Yorgos Loukos, these classically trained dancers continue to gracefully master the intense demands of a contemporary repertoire. The company is not only known as Lyon's best cultural ambassador, but also for being the most travelled dance company in Europe.

Lyon Opera Ballet can be seen at The Joyce Theater for one week from March 9 - 14. Performances are Tuesday at 7:30pm, Thursday - Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm & 7:30pm. Dance Chat, a free post-performance talkback with the artists, will take place on Thursday, March 11, and is open to all attending that evening's performance. Tickets start at $10 (for the front row) and range up to $59 (top price for Joyce Members is $44). Please note: Ticket prices are subject to change. Tickets and subscriptions can be purchased by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or online at www.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.
Leadership support for The Joyce Theater's 2009-2010 season has been received from the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.

This presentation is supported by The R. Britton Fisher and Family Gift for International Dance. Special support has also been provided by the Grand Marnier Foundation.

Lead support to celebrate Cultural Heritage through dance provided by American Express.

Additional support for this engagement was provided with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts; the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency; and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; and with private funds from the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Endowment Fund to encourage the performances of out-of-town companies at The Joyce Theater. Special support provided by the Office of State Senator Thomas K. Duane.

Major support for The Joyce has been provided by Bloomberg, The Boeing Company, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, First Republic Bank, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation and The Shubert Foundation.

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