East Coast dance artists take centre stage at the National Arts Centre's Atlantic Scene
April 04, 2003 -
OTTAWA (Ontario) -- The National Arts Centre (NAC) today announced the lineup of sensational dance artists who will be part of the Atlantic Scene, the NAC's upcoming East Coast arts and culture festival to take place in the nation's capital from April 22 to May 4.
The Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada
Appearing on Saturday April 26 at 20:00 in the Theatre of the Canadian Museum
of Civilization, The Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada performs Figaro, a
witty, satirical and very high-energy ballet choreographed by company Artistic
Director Igor Dubrovolskiy. Figaro is based on The Marriage of Figaro, the
classic 1784 comic play by French playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de
Beaumarchais. The play cleverly foreshadowed the class conflicts of the coming
French revolution, its rollicking bawdy humour skewering aristocrats, lawyers,
pedants, servants, and prudes alike. The play's servant-master rivalry, which
dates back to Commedia dell'Arte and the ancient Greeks, has brought laughter
to audiences worldwide for over two centuries. The Marriage of Figaro was
banned during the reign of Louis XVI and later served as the basis for Le nozze
di Figaro, Lorenzo da Ponte and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's famous 1786 opera.
Figaro the ballet retains Mozart's delightful opera overture, and features a
glorious all-Mozart score.
Beaumarchais shocked and scandalized theatre-goers of the 18th century with his trilogy of bawdy plays centering on the rascally jack-of-all-trades, Figaro. In the first play (which would later be set to music by Rossini as The Barber of Seville), Count Almaviva pursued the beautiful Rosina, ward of Dr. Bartolo. Although Dr. Bartolo has designs on Rosina himself, he is foiled by Figaro, the barber of the title, who arranges the happy union of the Count and his beloved. In Figaro, however, Count Almaviva and Rosina are no longer a happy couple. Almaviva has his eye on Suzanne, lady-in-waiting to Countess Almaviva and also the fiancee of Figaro, now his valet. Matters are complicated for Figaro by the elderly Marcellina (who is in love with him), Dr. Bartolo (who wants to marry Suzanne), Don Bazile (who lusts after Marcellina), and Cherubino, a youthful page with a burning crush on the Countess. Assignations lead to misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and complications galore as even the Countess herself takes hilarious revenge -- and the tables are turned on just. about everybody.
Based in Moncton, New Brunswick - and making their first appearance outside of Atlantic Canada -- the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada is a high calibre,
professional ballet company comprised of eight dynamic dancers from around the
world. Under the artistic direction of Igor Dubrovolskiy, an international
ballet artist and choreographer from Kiev, Ukraine, the company has adopted a
new narrative style, challenging conventional storytelling through ballet.
Since its inception in June 2001, the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada has
captured the imagination of audiences throughout Atlantic Canada and attracted
the attention of regional and national media.
Figaro is presented in association with the Canadian Museum of
Civilization.Tickets are $20 ($15 for NAC subscribers, $10 for full-time
students with valid ID).
Gwen Noah & Norman Adams + El Viento Flamenco
Appearing on Sunday April 27 at 20:00 in the Studio of the National Arts
Centre, this dynamic double bill is an exciting East Coast evening of live
music and live dance.
Newfoundland-born, Halifax-based dancer and choreographer Gwen Noah is a force to be reckoned with on both the Atlantic and national dance scenes. After
touring internationally with the Julie West Dance Foundation, she created her
own company in 1990. Her work is truly original, reflecting her personal
warmth, courage, and robust physicality. Performing with Noah is Norman Adams,
a musician who has established a potent creative partnership with her through
years of collaboration and performance. Principal cellist with Symphony Nova
Scotia, Adams is fascinated by improvisation that incorporates diverse styles
of music and performance.
Passionate and exhilarating, El Viento Flamenco combines dance, voice, guitar, and percussion -- the four traditional elements of the ancient gypsy art form of flamenco -- to create a show that will leave you breathless! Describing dancer Evelyne Benais, the Halifax Chronicle-Herald says, "Backed up by a dynamic band of two guitarists, a percussionist and soaring singer, she is a technical tour-de-force, a charismatic performer whose energy, artistry and passion make any girl want to get into a red, flared dress and dance her heart out."
The National Arts Centre's Atlantic Scene is the first in a series of biennial regional festivals to take place in the nation's capital which will showcase the best in Canadian arts and culture from coast to coast. Four hundred established and emerging artists from the East Coast will take part in 85 events ranging from theatre, visual arts, film, comedy and literature, to
Celtic, Acadian, pop and classical music - and even culinary arts.
Partners and Sponsors
Partners include the Government of Canada and the Department of Canadian
Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities
Agency, the Governments of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and
Newfoundland and Labrador, as well at Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership.
Media and corporate sponsors include CBC-Radio Canada, Rogers Television 22,
the National Post, Transcontinental Media, the Ottawa Citizen, Le Droit,
Alexander Keith's, Clearwater Fine Foods Inc., Via Rail Canada, Eastlink,
Universal Music, The Shaw Group, Delta Hotels, Ramada Hotel & Suites
Ottawa, The Aristocrat Hotel and EMI Music Canada. Philanthropists Margaret and
David Fountain, The Craig Foundation, The Donald R. Sobey Foundation and Purdy
Crawford have also provided important financial support.
Scene-Select Card & Tickets
Tickets for the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada go on sale at the Canadian
Museum of Civilization and the National Arts Centre box office on March 5,
2003. Tickets for Gwen Noah & Norman Adams + El Viento Flamenco also go on
sale at the National Arts Centre box office on March 5, 2003.
When purchasing your Atlantic Scene tickets at the NAC Box Office, pick up the Scene-Select card. The card gets you: 20% off all Atlantic Scene events, free admission to late-night parties and a free East Coast compilation CD. The
Scene-Select card costs only $20, $15 for NAC subscribers, or $10 for full-time
students with valid ID.
For more ticket information or to view the full Atlantic Scene lineup of
performers, as well as the time and date of shows and activities, please visit
www.atlanticscene.ca.
Venue Information
National Arts Centre
Tickets available in person at the NAC Box Office (Mon. to Sat. 10:00 to
21:00), by phone at Ticketmaster (613) 755-1111, or online at
www.atlanticscene.ca. Late-Night Parties tickets also available one hour before
each event at the door (cash only). Debut Series admission only one hour before
at the door (cash only).
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Tickets for available in person at the NAC Box Office (Mon. to Sat. 10:00 to
21:00) and at the Canadian Museum of Civilization Box Office (Tues. to Sun.,
9:00 to 20:00), by phone at Ticketmaster (613) 755-1111, or online at
www.atlanticscene.ca.
