Stage Door News
Toronto: Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents “WinterSong” December 13-15
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Celebrating 36 years of illuminating the solstice through dance, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents WINTERSONG—dances for a sacred season.
Featuring a World Premiere by Justin Rapaport, plus works by Hanna Kiel, Colin Connor, Carol Anderson and Rodney Diverlus. WINTERSONG warms the hearts of family audiences with a breathtaking tapestry of seasonal dance inspired by the world’s rich solstice traditions.
A LAMENTABLE MILESTONE…
After some 700 performances spanning four decades this will be CCDT’s final production in ‘The Fleck’ which is slated to close March, 2025.
Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, 207 Queen’s Quay West—Third Floor
· Friday, December 13 – 8:00pm
· Saturday, December 14 – 8:00pm
· Sunday, December 15 – 2:00pm
Tickets: $24.50 - $45.00
Box Office: 416-973-4000 - harbourfrontcentre.com
Programme and Information: www.ccdt.org
Programme Notes:
• Scintilla (World Premiere)—Choreography by Justin Rapaport
Music by Flawed Mangoes, Lloyd Vaan, Alvedon and Ludwig van Beethoven, performed by Paavali Jumppanen
"Winter solstice, endless night… so easy to lose oneself in that darkness. But within such obscurity, the shimmering moon still rises to penetrate that void, the dormant beacon we all share within, waiting to be reawakened." - Justin Rapaport
Justin is a dynamic freelance artist who has worked with Ballet BC, Kidd Pivot, Anne Plamondon and PARA.MAR Dance Theater. A graduate of the Juilliard School, his choreography has been featured by Peter London Global Dance Theater, HD Theatre, Boykin Dance Projects and many more. Justin’s work was recognized at the 2021 Copenhagen International Choreographic Competition, where he received the Danish Dance Theater Award.
• sagittarius, meet capricorn (2021)—Choreography by Rodney Diverlus
Music by Clifford Brown & Theon Cross
“I draw inspiration from the celestial wonders associated with the solstice, most fantastical of all for me, Sagittarius’ meeting with and passing of the “baton” to Capricorn. I use jazz, swing/lindy hop, and contemporary movement woven in new palettes that explore rhythm and groove.” —Rodney Diverlus
Rodney Diverlus is a Haitian-Canadian movement artist who has performed internationally with Calgary’s Decidedly Jazz Danceworks where they developed their movement aesthetic, fusing jazz and contemporary dance. Now a fresh and fast-rising young choreographer, Rodney has recently debuted world premieres with Toronto Dance Theatre, Tapestry Opera, and Toronto Metropolitan University and is the recipient of the 2019 Canadian Stage Award for Direction. They are a co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Canada.
• A Sonata of Shadows (2023)—Choreography by Hanna Kiel
Music by Adam Campbell
“This composition delves into the aftermath of the solstice, examining its connection to our lives and the lessons we derive from it. There are moments when it feels like this darkness will never dissipate. However, as in the natural cycle, daylight inevitably returns. This piece explores the profound nuances of these dark moments, delving into the feeling that they might persist indefinitely.” —Hanna Kiel
Hanna Kiel is a Dora award winner, a founder and artistic director of Human Body Expression, and a resident choreographer at Canada’s Ballet Jorgen.
• Against the Dark (2010) - Choreography by Colin Connor
Music by Matthew Setzer and Kirk Elliott
Colin Connor’s work draws from a large range of influences, all used to bring attention back to the communicative power of the human body. With over fifty commissions, from creations for Richmond Ballet and Limón Dance Company to a full-evening Contemporary/Flamenco collaboration with over 100 performances, he has had works presented at venues across America and Europe. Of this work Colin writes…The ones who put light in the sky are the ones who can fly. If our future is to have light, it is for our young artists to fly, for them, solstice by solstice, to bring light. Colin is the former Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company and has contributed seven works to CCDT repertoire.
• Nowell Sing We (1988)—Choreography by Carol Anderson
Music by Kirk Elliott
Driven by the celebratory briskness of medieval carols arranged by Kirk Elliott, Nowell Sing We sets two-dimensional imagery – familiar from medieval art – into motion. Since its creation in 1988 for the inaugural WinterSong, every CCDT company member has danced in this piece.
A founding member and Artistic Director of Dancemakers, Carol Anderson subsequently went on to create ten works for CCDT as the company’s most prolific guest artist. She is a celebrated writer on the subject of Canadian dance and recipient of the Dance Ontario Award.
Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre is a Toronto based repertory company of exceptional next-generation artists founded in 1980 by Artistic Director Deborah Lundmark and Managing Director Michael deConinck Smith. Highlights include appearances at Toronto’s Princess of Wales and Royal Alexandra Theatres, five invitations to the Canada Dance Festival and tours to Singapore, Malaysia, China, Scotland and NYC. CCDT has been featured at Fall For Dance North, Toronto’s premiere international dance festival, and Harbourfront Centre’s inaugural International Junior Festival.