York Dance Ensemble Premieres Works by Stellar Group of Choreographers

TORONTO, March 21, 2000 -- The York Dance Ensemble (YDE), York University's repertory company, presents its 12th showcase concert on April 1 and 2 at the Betty Oliphant Theatre with a program packed with new works by some of Toronto's hottest choreographers.

Under the artistic direction of Holly Small, the YDE show features premieres by outstanding local choreographers Denise Duric, Colleen Friedman and Dora Award winner Peter Chin. All three are York University Fine Arts alumni.

"Each of these choreographers brings a unique energy and style to challenge the dancers," says Small. "The three works, so totally different in every way, range from offbeat through a sensual naturalism to mythically archetypal."

Denise Duric's commissioned piece, Promenade, is a luscious, dreamy duet. Duric, the co-founder of Pedestrian Waltz, the collective known for its creative use of non-traditional venues, has created a work to challenge the ensemble's young dancers.

Peter Chin credits a first year assignment of "casting a spell" by York U. visual arts professor, Vera Frenkel, as a major stimulus for all his further creative endeavors. Chin 's dance for YDE, Wola Wo, is a mysterious and evocative quintet which explores the dream imagery of five dancers using innovative movement vocabulary and text spoken in secret languages that the dancers have invented themselves.

In contrast, Colleen Friedman's Off-key is a wacky work with a circus-like atmosphere in which three odd little dolls come to life and cavort in a decidedly off-key manner.

A special addition to the Ensemble this season is assistant director, Alex Cilic, who is premiering Take Five, a dance inspired by her mentor and teacher, the famed jazz dancer Luigi. The music by the ever-popular jazz legend Dave Brubeck will be performed live by students from York's music department.

Independent choreographer and York dance professor, Darcey Callison, is contributing a remount of Ever Falling Home, a magnificent piece for 21 dancers. This dramatic work evokes images of women in wartime. It examines issues of community, alienation, support, resistance, surrender and loss.

Back by popular demand is Holly Small's work Time and Again set to a selection of Chopin's 24 Preludes. The piece showcases the entire 16 member ensemble in a collection of solos, duets, trios and group dances. The movement is fluid and precise, sometimes tender, other times fierce, attempting to explore the full range of expression of these young dancers.

The York Dance Ensemble is a dynamic young company featuring outstanding performers and choreographers from York University's Dance Department. Since its creation in 1988, the YDE has worked with many noted Canadian and international choreographers including Karin Greenhead, Bill Coleman, Phyllis Lamhut, FranÁoise Sullivan and Carol Anderson.

The YDE appears at the Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis St. for two performances only on Sat. April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sun. April 2 at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $12; students and seniors, $8. To reserve tickets, phone (416) 870-8000 (TicketMaster). For program information, phone the Dance Department Hotline (416) 650-8030.

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For further information please contact:

Carol Bishop
Communications, Faculty of Fine Arts
York University
(416) 736-2100 ext. 20421
email: cbishop@yorku.ca