April 17, 2007 -

Season includes the return of the internationally-acclaimed Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, and Akram Khan’s new work with The National Ballet of China

OTTAWA -- Cathy Levy, Dance Producer at the National Arts Centre, today released details of an exciting new season of dance. Major highlights of the season include the return of Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, a new collaboration between the Akram Khan Company and The National Ballet of China (an NAC co-production), a passionate and visually stunning re-telling of Le Songe (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, appearances by internationally-acclaimed Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Belgium’s innovative Rosas (including a rare performance by founding Artistic Director Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker), work by the notoriously controversial Jan Fabre, never-before-seen-in-Ottawa Diavolo Dance Theater, Emanuel Gat Dance, and Black Grace, and NAC co-productions with superb Canadian dance artists Crystal Pite/Kidd Pivot and Tedd Robinson/10 Gates Dancing Inc.

The 2007-2008 Dance season features the biggest names in dance from across Canada and around the world. From opulent and traditional classical ballet to the edgiest frontiers of contemporary dance, this season presents them all. There are 41 performances of 18 separate dance events from 18 different companies (presented in four distinct series). The season includes 3 NAC co-productions, as well as 2 exclusive North American engagements, 4 exclusive Canadian engagements, 1 North American premiere, and 6 Canadian premieres.

The 2007-2008 season is literally a world of dance in Ottawa! Featuring the best dancers, choreographers, and designers from around the world, the line-up includes artists from 13 countries: Belgium, Canada, China, Cuba, France, Germany, Israel, Monaco, New Zealand, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

CANRIL BALLET SERIES

The NAC is delighted to welcome Canril Corporation for the seventh year of their sponsorship agreement. In honour of their generous support and profound commitment to the performing arts, the classical ballet series was re-named for Canril Corporation in 2001. Headquartered in Canada’s Capital, Canril Corporation is a leading commercial property developer. For more than 16 years, Canril has proven its ability to analyze and act on development opportunities of all sizes and levels of complexity.

• Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet: The Passion of Carmen, a new work commissioned by the company
• The National Ballet of Canada: The Merry Widow
• Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: Le Songe (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
• all Canril Ballet Series performances feature live music performed by the National Arts Centre Orchestra

• Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan: Wild Cursive
• Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal: Nefés
• Lizt Alfonso Danza Cuba
• Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal : Ode to Ohad: Arbos, Kaamos + new work, all choreographed by Ohad Naharin

• Diavolo Dance Theater: repertoire by Artistic Director Jacques Heim
• Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève: Compelling Contemporary Choreography : Loin by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Para-Dice by Saburo Teshigawara, Selon désir by Andonis Foniadakis
• Rosas: Fase, four movements to the music of Steve Reich
• Emanuel Gat Dance: The Rite of Spring, Winter Voyage
• Black Grace: MINOI, AMATA, OBJECTS, Fa'a ulutao
• Akram Khan Company + The National Ballet of China (an NAC co-production)

• Crystal Pite/Kidd Pivot: Lost Action (an NAC co-production)
• Tedd Robinson/10 Gates Dancing Inc.: REDD (an NAC co-production)
• Ballet de Lorraine : La Nuit des Interprètes

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

• Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Nutcracker
• Jan Fabre: Angel of Death

Subscription packages to the 2007-2008 Dance season are on sale now. Dance subscribers save up to 20% on regular ticket prices when choosing two or more series and 15% on regular ticket prices when choosing one series. Subscribers may also create their own Designer Series by choosing at least four subscription performances (excluding Special Presentations such as Nutcracker) and save up to 15%. Full-time students save 50% when purchasing subscriptions. Subscribers also save 10% on extra tickets for dance performances throughout the year, as well as 15% on regular price tickets to concerts with the NAC Orchestra, and English Theatre or French Theatre productions. Subscription information is available at the NAC Subscription Office now with extended hours from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00. Visit the Subscription Office located in the Main Foyer beside the Box Office, call 613-947-7000, x 620 or online: www.nac-cna.ca/subscribe.

Photos for all dance events can be viewed and downloaded at: www.nac-cna.ca/media/

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Information:
Gerald Morris
Marketing and Media Relations,
NAC Dance Department
613- 947-7000, ext. 249
gmorris@nac-cna.ca

NAC DANCE 2007-2008
FACTS AT A GLANCE

• A WORLD OF DANCE IN OTTAWA! Only at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa is such a variety and concentration of companies available in one season

• NAMES, NAMES, NAMES: the 2007-2008 Dance season features some of the best-known and most influential companies in the world, including Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, the Akram Khan Company and The National Ballet of China, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Rosas, Jan Fabre, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, The National Ballet of Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Crystal Pite/Kidd Pivot, and Tedd Robinson/10 Gates Dancing Inc.

• The NAC dance season is one of the top in North America, incorporating 18 events: there is something for everyone, aficionado or novice, regardless of taste in dance. The NAC season is an important cross-section of the finest classical and contemporary dance, something to move, excite, and transport audiences

• 2 exclusive North American engagements: Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal

• 4 exclusive Canadian engagements: Diavolo Dance Theater, Emanuel Gat Dance, Black Grace, Akram Khan Company + The National Ballet of China

• The NAC presents the best in Canadian and international dance: 41 performances, 18 events, 18 companies, 13 countries -- Belgium, Canada, China, Cuba, France, Germany, Israel, Monaco, New Zealand, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States

• Numerous premieres: 1 North American premiere (Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo), 6 Canadian premieres (Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal, Diavolo Dance Theater, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Emanuel Gat Dance, Black Grace, Akram Khan Company + The National Ballet of China)

• 2 Special Presentations Nutcracker by Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Angel of Death by Belgium’s notorious Jan Fabre

• NAC strategic goal: emphasize NAC’s national role: 3 NAC co-productions, with Akram Khan and The National Ballet of China, and Canada’s Crystal Pite/Kidd Pivot and Tedd Robinson/10 Gates Dancing Inc. The NAC maintains and strengthens ties to Canadian dance artists and partners with other presenters in coordinating tours

• NAC strategic goals: artistic expansion and innovation and commitment to youth and education: the NAC maintains the tradition of presenting student matinées in Dance and provides workshops for professional, pre-professional and student dancers. In February 2006, the NAC launched the exciting ArtsAlive.ca Dance website aimed at young people and teachers

• The NAC is happy to welcome returning sponsor Canril Corporation for the Canril Ballet Series

• The NAC is seen by dance artists as one of the finest places in the world to perform