THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE UNVEILS SPECTACULAR 2014-15 DANCE SEASON
Photo: Vollmond, Cie Pina Bausch
March 18, 2014 – OTTAWA (Canada) – The National Arts Centre today unveiled details of its spectacular 2014-15 Dance season that celebrates artistic excellence with a dynamic lineup of innovative voices, featuring some of the biggest names from across Canada and around the world. From traditionally sumptuous classical ballet to the most expressive frontiers of contemporary dance, the 2014-15 season includes 30 choreographic voices that represent a vast range of ideas, styles, contexts and cultural influences.
Crafted by Cathy Levy, the highly esteemed Executive Producer of Dance at the NAC, the
2014-15 season features 20 dance events, two world premieres, six Canadian premieres and six exclusive Canadian engagements. The season also features four NAC co-productions, including three works by NAC Associate Dance Artists, highlighting NAC Dance’s commitment to the creation of new Canadian work.
RETURN VISITS
Highlights include a return visit by the legendary Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch with the Canadian premiere of Vollmond; the triumphant return of Miami City Ballet (under the Artistic Directorship of former prima ballerina Lourdes López); Ballet de l’Opéra de Lyon and Ottawa favourite Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. The season also includes the third edition of NAC Dance’s Face 2 Face contemporary dance series, which showcases innovative dancers and choreographers who are making waves on the international scene. Also returning to the NAC stages are Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe, the Kodo Drummers—as well as Canadian dancer and choreographer Tedd Robinson. Alberta Ballet returns with its bejewelled The Nutcracker, and The National Ballet of Canada makes its annual visit an extraordinary six performances of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This visually stunning pop extravaganza is wildly inventive and outrageously entertaining, sure to be one of the don’t-miss highlights of the season. Choreographed by master dancemaker Christopher Wheeldon, this co-production with The Royal Ballet has been a smash hit in London, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.
NAC DEBUTS
NAC Dance strives to showcase the best in dance from around the world, and is delighted to feature the NAC debuts of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, L.A. Dance Project, Israel’s L-E-V, Sweden’s Pontus Lidberg Dance, and Vancouver’s Josh Martin and Amber Funk Barton. Four Face 2 Face artists are also making their NAC debuts: Qudus Onikeku, Faustin Linyekula, Jennifer Dallas and Bienvenue Bazié.
CHOREOGRAPHERS
Dynamic work – never before seen in Ottawa – will be presented by renowned international choreographers Richard Alston, Pina Bausch, Alejandro Cerrudo, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, William Forsythe, Emanuel Gat, Benjamin Millepied, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, and Lila York, as well as by Canada’s Louise Lecavalier, Marie Chouinard, Tedd Robinson, Amber Funk Barton, and Josh Martin. New choreographic voices include Sharon Eyal, Pontus Lidberg, and Faustin Linyekula.