Canadian Stage to Present OLDER & RECKLESS, 11/6-9
Celebrating the 15th anniversary of MOonhORsE Dance Theatre's Older & Reckless, Canadian Stage presents the acclaimed performance series for a limited run from Nov. 6 to 9 at the Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs (26 Berkeley St.). Conceived and curated by MOonhORsE artistic director, Claudia Moore, tickets are selling fast for this unique dance project, an up-close and personal look at the work of older dance artists.
"By creating a space for mature artists to share their artistry with audiences, Claudia has attacked the misconceptions around older dancers," said Matthew Jocelyn, artistic & general director, Canadian Stage. "In Older & Reckless, we're gifted with a glimpse of these artists' strength, emotion and physicality. We're honoured to be able to share the experience of some of the country's most talented dance artists here at Canadian Stage as part of this project's 15 year milestone - the result is magically ageless."
Older & Reckless is an intimate performance featuring work from older artists who continue to grow more reckless as time goes by. Presented as a series of short works accompanied by live music, this production offers a rare opportunity to see works from some of Canada's most celebrated choreographers including Susie Burpee, Bill Coleman, Robert Desrosiers, and Esmeralda Enrique, as well as American dance icon Douglas Dunn. Moore developed the idea for Older & Reckless as a way to celebrate the artistry of the aging dancer and presented the first edition in 2000. Today the series is performed three times a year, and has been presented 32 times featuring more than 100 artists and choreographers, even spawning a sister project called Old & Young and Reckless Together, joining the talents of emerging and established dancers. "When we started, Older & Reckless was planned as a one-off performance, a showcase for older artists to practice and perform. It's a testament to the exquisite artistry of the mature performer and to the audience's enthusiasm in the series that we're still here 15 years later, and I'm thrilled to see how it's grown," said Moore. "In the beginning I didn't realize that there were so many seasoned artists looking to continue performing, and that audiences would be so hungry for the opportunity to see how these older dancers have evolved. To experience their work an intimate setting has a profound impact." In the latest iteration of this series, for the first time Moore has brought together dance and live music - in a program that marries the two art forms for a truly exhilarating experience. Featuring a range of styles from contemporary to Bach, each of the five works are accompanied by live musicians on stage including, Carina Reeves, Eve Egoyan, Anne Bourne, Tamar Ilana, Nicolás Hernández and Steven Taylor. Audience engagement is also an essential part of Older & Reckless, with multiple opportunities for audiences to get firsthand experience at each show. Most performances will include a pre-show talk with artists and choreographers, to introduce the ideas and work that will be performed. Audiences are also invited to participate in a pre-show warm-up where they have the opportunity to explore their own movement and physical connection to dance. Finally, each night guests are invited to stay for a post-show party at the Berkeley Street Theatre lobby, for a chance to talk with the artists about work, process, and whatever else comes up. Older & Reckless will be on stage at Canadian Stage's Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs (26 Berkeley St.). Performances run Nov. 6 to 9; Thursday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. performance on Friday and matinees on Friday and Sunday at 1 p.m. The performance runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets from $30 to $45 are available online, by phone at 416.368.3110 or in person at the box office. For details visit www.canadianstage.com. Additional programming includes a workshop series with choreographer Douglas Dunn and musician, Steven Taylor on Nov. 1 and 2 at Dancemakers Centre for Creation in the Distillery District (9 Trinity Street, Studios 313 & 314). The second Older & Reckless event in the 15th anniversary season will feature duets in March 2015 at Dancemakers Centre for Creation.
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