TORONTO, February 27, 2004 - York University celebrates dance with The Independent Project, an inter-generational showcase featuring both established and emerging artists. The grace and physicality of the dancers will be spotlighted March 3-5 in Strate Studio, Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts, York University.

“The dancers are the magic,” says artistic director Darcey Callison who is a York dance professor.

The creative team of choreographers and dancers, who are an exciting and award-winning group of artists, includes Peggy Baker, the grande dame of modern Canadian dance who keeps the dance world evolving and full of vitality.

Stretching in unison, the dancers will present works individually, in pairs and in ensemble scenarios.

A true story, choreographed by Peggy Baker, and Savanna, choreographed by Molissa Fenley, will be performed by Peggy Baker who has been a vibrant presence in the world of contemporary dance for the past three decades.

A founding member of Toronto's Dancemakers (1974), Baker toured internationally with Lar Lubovitch's celebrated New York company throughout the 1980s, and joined Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mark Morris for the inaugural season of their White Oak Dance Project.

More recently, she toured Canada and France in the work of Montreal's Paul-Andre Fortier, and danced in Doug Varone's chamber concert, Short Fictions, at Jacob's Pillow.

Artist-in-Residence at Canada's National Ballet School, Baker is the recipient of an Order of Ontario, an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for outstanding performance.

The Female Warrior will be presented by York alumnus William Lau, a leading exponent of classical Chinese dance. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Montreal, he has also trained in western classical ballet. A disciple of Master artists Shen Xiaomei and Song Changrong, he now specializes in Dan (female roles) in the Peking opera.

York alumna Emily Cheung, who has danced with Lau for a number of years, will entertain and enrich the audience with the Flying Apasaras, choreographed by Master Dai.

So often in vagueness, choreographed by Sylvain Émard, and comme deux solitudes, choreographed by Lesandra Dodson, will be danced by the cutting-edge duo of Heidi Strauss and Darryl Tracy of Four Chambers Dance Projects which they co-founded in 1999. Both are independent dancers and choreographers who are actively involved in the dance community, and are on the faculty of the Toronto Dance Theatre.

The Bach Dual, choreographed by Susan Cash, and Chak!, choreographed by Andrea Nann who is an alumna of York’s dance department, will be performed by The York Dance Ensemble which is York University's spirited young repertory touring company, under the artistic direction of Susan Cash.

The Independent Project begins at 7:30 p.m. on March 3 and continues on March 4 at 7:30 p.m. and March 5 at 5:00 p.m. On March 4, there will be a pre-performance talk between Peggy Baker and Carol Anderson who has earned national recognition as a choreographer, performer, dance writer, consultant and educator. The talk will start at 5:00 p.m. Free admission to the performances and the talk.

For more information, call 416-650-8030.

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Media Contact:

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