February 12, 2003 -

OTTAWA -- Les Grands Ballets Canadiens perform Minus One - In the Manner of Ohad Naharin in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre on Friday February 28 at 20:00.

This evening of accelerated energy, passionate dance, and nonstop entertainment combines singing, dancing, cabaret, and hilarious audience participation in a cheeky 8-part programme fashioned exclusively for the company by audacious Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin. Mixing the serious with the surprisingly silly, Minus One confounds conventions - a specialty of Naharin's, a preeminent figure in modern dance who has been Artistic Director of Israel's Batsheva Dance Company since 1990. This bold and thought-provoking artist has been called an "oddball genius". His ability to fuse an unexpected sense of madness with rhythm, sensuality, and fluidity has given the company a distinct and daring artistic quality and his work has been acclaimed by audiences and critics worldwide.

" Les Grands Ballets Canadiens captivate with Ohad Naharin's hybrid of solemnity [and] surprise. Juxtaposing comedy and solemnity ...captivating ...unexpected and thoroughly charming"

Victor Swoboda, The Montreal Gazette, June 1, 2002

Alive with the sweeping spirit, joy, and zest of bodies in motion, Minus One is a dazzling showcase for the technique and professionalism of the dancers of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. Although serious and dedicated artists, in this work they are forbidden to take themselves too seriously - and this commitment to dance as an exuberantly theatrical art form makes Minus One an absolute joy to watch. Seamlessly combining eight large and small ballets into 80 minutes of tantalizing dance, Minus One displays the quirky energy, unexpected choreographic surprises, and rich musicality that are the hallmarks of Ohad Naharin. Minus One includes the full-length interactive ballet Anaphaza, as well as solos, duos, and excerpts from Zachacha, Sabotage Baby, Black Milk, Passomezzo, Queens of Golub, and the marvelously manic Mabul.

Born in Israel, Ohad Naharin began his dance training at the age of 22 with the Batsheva Dance Company, with whom he subsequently performed. He went to the U.S. at the invitation of famed choreographer Martha Graham (who called him a "natural dancer"), enrolled in the Juilliard School's Professional Studies Program, and in 1977, he joined Maurice Béjart's Ballet of the 20th Century. Naharin's choreographic debut in 1980 was greeted with both critical and popular acclaim; Dance Magazine's Richard Philp wrote "Ohad Naharin has a strong sense of style as a dancer and choreographer...(he) is one of those bright young talents well worth watching, with pleasure". Since that auspicious beginning, Naharin has been seen in residencies throughout the U.S. He has received commissions from a host of companies world-wide, and also established the Ohad Naharin Dance Company, which held annual seasons in New York and toured widely throughout the U.S., China, Italy, the Netherlands, and Israel. Naharin's company was hailed as a group which "...stands out from the crowd of performing artists. Their dancing has spirit, joy and zest. (Naharin's) choreography touches the soul, challenges visually and excites the senses" (Attitude). The Ohad Naharin Dance Company held annual seasons in New York City, and toured widely throughout the U.S. They have also toured the People's Republic of China, participated in Italy's Spoleto Festival, and danced in Tel Aviv. The company also performed in the inaugural season of the Holland Dance Festival in The Hague in 1987. In 1990, in the midst of his success, Naharin accepted the invitation of the Batsheva Dance Company to guest as artistic director for five months, from February to June. He staged for the company some of his former works and created Kyr, commissioned for the closing programme of the Israel Festival Jerusalem. In 1990, Naharin was appointed Artistic Director of Israel's Batsheva Dance Company. He has received commissions from the Nederlands Dans Theater, Sydney Dance Company, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Batsheva Dance Company, and the Israel Festival Jerusalem. Additional works were also staged for Bayerisches Staatsballet of Munich, Lyon Opera Ballet, Le Grand Théâtre de Genève, Cullberg Ballet, Ballett Frankfurt, and Finnish National Ballet.

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal performs Minus One -- In the Manner of Ohad Naharin in Southam Hall of the National Arts Centre on Friday, February 28, 2003 at 20:00. Tickets are $46, $44, $35 and $27, and $23.75, 22.75, $18.25 and $14.25 for students (upon presentation of a valid student ID card). Tickets are available at the NAC Box Office (in person) and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at (613) 755-1111; Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC's website at www.nac-cna.ca. Last-minute tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students are $9.50 at the Live Rush Centre in the NAC Foyer after 18:00 on the day of performance only, upon presentation of a valid 'Live Rush' card.

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

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