TORONTO, November 12, 2003 -- Third-year dance majors at York University, working under the direction of choreographers Carol Anderson and Eddison B. Lindsay, will present fresh new choreography during York Dances!, a highly entertaining celebration of dance running November 26 through 29.

From classical to contemporary and beyond, the participating artists will engage the imagination through 15 original dance narratives. They are choreographed to a wide range of rhythms, from James Brown to Bach, from Celtic music to pop.

For the young choreographers, it is a wonderful opportunity to mould movement to dancers, while the performers have the chance to collaborate in a premiere, putting their energy, emotion and athleticism into the creation of a brand new role.

Each choreographer involved has a distinct personal style, which will allow the audience to enjoy a varied and unique dance experience.

Candice Spykers’ new work, for example, draws inspiration from Annie Proulx's The Shipping News. This dance is based on the idea that, like the two ends of a fisherman's rope, we too are closely tied to certain people in our lives.

Sonia Tarnowecky’s work is a distinct combination of ballet, modern, jazz/hip-hop, folk dance, and Spanish dance which energizes the stage and creates subtle seduction.

Bethany Lifeso's piece combines text and weather sound effects with the music of Beethoven to create an eerie, yet familiar environment. Dancing through a storm, both literally and emotionally, two pairs of dancers create, challenge and ultimately destroy trusting relationships with each other, leaving one partner still and abandoned as the other walks away.

These, and a dozen other works, will be showcased in two separate series running on alternate nights. Series A plays Nov. 26 and is repeated on Nov. 28, while Series B runs Nov. 27 and again Nov. 29. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. in Burton Auditorium, York University, 4700 Keele Street. Admission is $8 at the door. For more information, call 416 650-8030.

York’s Dance Department has long been a seedbed of outstanding choreographic talent. Its distinguished alumni include Tedd Senmon Robinson; Debra Brown, resident choreographer of Cirque du Soleil; Christopher House, artistic director of Toronto Dance Theatre; and independent choreographers/dancers Denise Fujiwara, Yvonne Ng and Andrea Nann.

– 30 –

Media Contact:

Mary-Lou Schagena
Communications, Faculty of Fine Arts
York University
416 736-2100 ext. 20421
schagena@yorku.ca