The Joyce Theater Presents CCN - BALLET DE LORRAINE in Joyce Debut

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc. (Linda Shelton, Executive Director) is thrilled to welcome Centre Chorégraphique National - Ballet de Lorraine, one of France's leading contemporary dance companies, in its Joyce debut from February 7 - 12, featuring the New York premiere of the company's latest work, Unknown Pleasures, along with other acclaimed works over two separate programs. Tickets range in price from $10-$46 and can be purchased at www.Joyce.org, or by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street. For more information, please visit www.Joyce.org.

Currently under the artistic direction of Peter Jacobsson, a former principle dancer for Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, Centre Chorégraphique National - Ballet de Lorraine embarks on its first ever U.S tour, starting with this debut engagement at The Joyce Theater. The company brings with them two unique programs featuring three New York premieres.

The company's first program (Program A) features a mixed bill that includes the New York premieres of choreographic duo Cecilia Bengolea and François Chaignaud's Devoted, and Alban Richard's high energy piece HOK solo pour ensemble. The program concludes with a performance of Merce Cunningham's Sounddance, which made its celebrated world premiere in Detroit in 1975. Performances of Program A will take place as follows: February 7 at 7:30pm; February 9 & 10 at 8:00pm; and February 12 at 2:00pm.

Unknown Pleasures is the sole work of Program B. Making its U.S. debut after having its World premiere as part of Dance Umbrella at Sadler Wells Theater in London this past October, Unknown Pleasures was created by five anonymous international choreographers - four women and one man ranging in age from their 30's to their 70's. The work features each of the choreographers' unique creative voices in an evening length work full of invention and surprise. Performance of Program B will take place as follows: February 8 at 7:30pm; and February 11 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm.

Performances of The Joyce Theater's presentation of Centre Chorégraphique National - Ballet de Lorraine will take place February 7 - 12 at The Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street) according to the following schedule:

PROGRAM A

Devoted; HOK solo pour ensemble; Sounddance

February 7 at 7:30pm; February 9 & 10 at 8:00pm; and February 12 at 2:00pm

PROGRAM B

Unknown Pleasures

February 8 at 7:30pm; and February 11 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Curtain Chat, a free post-performance talkback with the artists, will take place on Thursday, February 9. This enlightening discussion is open to all patrons attending that evening's performance. Tickets range in price from $10-$46 and can be purchased at www.Joyce.org, or by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street. For more information, please visit www.Joyce.org.

ABOUT CENTRE CHORÉGRAPHIQUE NATIONAL - BALLET DE LORRAINE

Centre Chorégraphique National - Ballet de Lorraine, was first established in Amien France in 1968. In 1978, it was permanently relocated to Nancy. After acquiring the CCN title in 1999, the CCN - Ballet de Lorraine has dedicated itself to supporting contemporary choreographic creation. As of July 2011 the organization is under the General and Artistic direction of choreographer Petter Jacobsson.

The CCN - Ballet de Lorraine and its company of 26 dancers is one of the most important companies working in Europe, performing contemporary creations while retaining and programming a rich and extensive repertory, spanning our modern history, made up of works by some of our generations most highly regarded choreographers.

The CCN functions as an art center and venue for multiple possibilities in the fields of research, experimentation, and artistic creation. It is a platform open to many different disciplines, a space where the many visions of contemporary dance may meet. In these artistic pursuits, he is joined by Thomas Caley, choreographer and coordinator of research.

ABOUT THE JOYCE THEATER FOUNDATION

The Joyce Theater Foundation ("The Joyce," Executive Director, Linda Shelton), a nonprofit organization, has proudly served the dance community for over three decades. Under the direction of founders Cora Cahan and Eliot Feld, Ballet Tech Foundation acquired and The Joyce renovated the Elgin Theater in Chelsea. Opening as The Joyce Theater in 1982, it was named in honor of Joyce Mertz, beloved daughter of LuEsther T. Mertz. It was LuEsther's clear, undaunted vision and abundant generosity that made it imaginable and ultimately possible to build the theater. Ownership was secured by The Joyce in 2015. The theater is one of the only theaters built by dancers for dance and has provided an intimate and elegant home for over 400 U.S.-based and international companies. The Joyce has also presented dance at Lincoln Center since 2012, and launched Joyce Unleashed in 2014 to feature emerging and experimental artists. To further support the creation of new work, The Joyce maintains longstanding commissioning and residency programs. Local students and teachers (K-12th grade) benefit from its school program, and family and adult audiences get closer to dance with access to artists. The Joyce's annual season of about 48 weeks of dance now includes over 340 performances for audiences in excess of 150,000.

Lead support for The Joyce Theater Foundation has been received from Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust.

Underwriting support for The Joyce's presentation of Ballet de Lorraine provided by Monica B. Volstad. Key support for The Joyce's presentation of French programming provided by The Florence Gould Foundation. Support for The Joyce's presentation of international dance provided by the R. Britton Fisher and Family Gift for International Dance.

The Joyce Theater's Dance Presentation Program is supported by a grant award from the National Endowment for the Arts; and made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; as well as supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council with special thanks to Council Member Corey Johnson. Additional support has been provided by the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Endowment Fund to encourage the performances of out-of-town companies at The Joyce Theater.

Major support has been provided by Ford Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, The Pasculano Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, The SHS Foundation, and The Shubert Foundation. Key support has been provided by First Republic Bank, The Hearst Foundations, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, and The Jerome Robbins Foundation.