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DW168 – MANGA

choreographed by Serge Bennathan
Part of Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps Series

Two beautiful dancers perform expressive new piece inspired by the continuous movement in the wildly popular Japanese comic books called manga.

DanceWorks’ presentation of Serge Bennathan’s Manga has its Toronto premiere November 22-24, 8pm nightly, at the Enwave Theatre.

Using Japanese comic books (called manga) as a springboard, choreographer Serge Bennathan brings us Manga, a subtle yet ferocious new duet for superb dancers Susie Burpee and Linnea Swan. The choreography is inspired by the continuous movement as well as the stillness seen in these simple, yet intense and expressive, drawings.

“Through exaggerated motions, a comic strip comes to life on the stage…. Grey doll girls in their plain tunics, [Susie Burpee and Linnea Swan] they explode into action out of nowhere, larger than life in their thrusting and throwing. Bertrand Chenier’s score provides heroic exclamation points with lots of white space between…. firecracker movers, both of them.” – Vancouver Sun, November, 2007

Serge Bennathan was Artistic Director of Toronto’s Dancemakers from 1990 to 2006, and the French-born choreographer is now based in Vancouver with his own company Les Productions Figlio. Altogether, ten of Bennathan’s works have received Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations. In the spring of 2008, he will be back in Toronto to direct Stravinsky’s Renard for the C.O.C.

“Like the heroes of these comic books, the dancers are not to be afraid of stillness, laughter, or exhaustion; the journey is to drive us to the unveiling of the elegance of the inner dancer, the one that dances in each of us” says Bennathan. Continuing the creation cycle that started with Bennathan’s acclaimed Absences (2006, Dancemakers, Toronto) and Je, Tu, Il ou Elle (2007, Anatomica, Vancouver), Manga explores the triangular relationship of physicality, space and the purity of the piano music by composer Bertrand Chenier (who also created the music for Absences).Lighting is by James Proudfoot; environment by Jay Gower Taylor.

DanceWorks 2007/08 Mainstage Season
DW168: Manga choreographed by Serge Bennathan
Part of Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps Series
November 22 – 24, 8pm nightly
Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Tickets: $27 ($17 students/seniors/CADA/WIFT/SCDS),
For Tickets call the BOX OFFICE: 416-973-4000