Concluding a season that has explored the ways artists, audiences, and community share space, Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) is thrilled to announce the details of their second mainstage double bill presentation at the historic Winchester next month. Beginning April 4th, SPRING DOUBLE BILL sees the resident company and guest dancers share the stage in two new enticing works.

For KIOKU NO MA – 記憶の間, long-time company dancer Yuichiro Inoue choreographs his first full piece with members of the ensemble, reflective of his virtuosic career with TDT. Artistic Duo KINAJ (Kin Nguien and AJ Velasco) shares ALIENS, a piece that incorporates their cross-genre practices in street styles and contemporary dance, building upon the ideas and conversations they began during their 2022/23 Pilot Episodes residency at TDT.

“There is a beautiful story of relationships to be found in the making of this Spring Double Bill," comments TDT Artistic Director Andrew Tay. “Yuichiro Inoue, a longstanding TDT company dancer, presents his first major commission with the company KIOKU NO MA, exploring ideas of recollection and recall with three ensemble members with whom he has shared many memories with throughout the years. In ALIENS, choreographic duo KINAJ collaborate with dancers they first formed friendships with, in the Asian Street dance community, drawing from their shared lived experiences as children of immigrants. It's been a privilege nurturing the development of these new works and to witness a level of trust and care only possible through these deep existing connections. I'm excited for audiences to experience their performances alongside each other!”

In KIOKU NO MA – 記憶の間, Inoue explores memory and consciousness through sensorial connections and recollections with three dancers. Rooted in the Japanese terms 記 (Ki) “record” or “write down” and 憶 (Oku) “memory “recollection.” Kioku represents the ability to remember and store memories. The incorporation of Ma (間) emphasizes Japanese aesthetics, highlighting beauty in intervals, pauses, and emptiness, contributing to harmony and balance. Ma refers to intentional use of empty space in design,pauses in time, and intervals between events for enhanced rhythm and reflection. The particle の indicates possession or association between nouns.

A cosmic odyssey developed through conversations with our interstellar ensemble, ALIENS by innovative duo KINAJ explores the metaphysical experience on earth through the eyes of space immigrants. Navigating Disconnection and Connection, we observe the stories of 3 beings who search for their acceptance, visibility, and freedom. Empathy and Communication create space, Cyphers unlock portals for authentic expression and arrays of energy exchange – transcending set movement. ALIENS is a collaborative act of individual and collective exploration, where bodies vocalize a language through space, systems and structures are probed, and individual stories converge.

SPRING DOUBLE BILL runs April 4-6 and 11-13 at the Winchester Street Theatre. Performances start at 7:30pm. TDT believes that cost should not be a barrier to experiencing live performance and is offering tickets on a sliding scale for all of this season’s productions. Ranging from $10 to $45, tickets are available at tdt.org. Audiences can select whichever ticket price option works best for them. A livestream is scheduled for April 12 (tickets $5 - $15), and the recording will remain on demand to ticket holders for 14 days following initial airing. ASL interpretation will be available at the April 11 performance. Running time is 75 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.

ABOUT SPRING DOUBLE BILL:

April 4-6 and 11-13

At the Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester St.

7:30 p.m. performances, with Deaf/ASL interpretation available at the April 11th performance and a livestream available for the April 12th performance.

Duration: 75 minutes (including a 15-minute intermission)

KIOKU NO MA

Choreographed by Yuichiro Inoue

Performed by Peter Kelly, Megumi Kokuba, Roberto Soria

Sound Design by Sarah Shugarman

Costume Design by Valerie Calam

ALIENS

Choreographed by KINAJ (Kin Nguien and AJ Velasco)

Performed by Neil Lordson Tangcuangco, Ayano Okubo, Matthew Morales

Costume Design by Juliette Chan

Artistic Director: Andrew Tay; Rehearsal Director: Rosemary James; Lighting Designer: Gabriel Cropley; Production Manager: Aden Altamirano; Stage Manager: Ciaran Brenneman; Technical Director: Tanya Bregstein.

For tickets visit tdt.org.

Photo: Models of Yuichiro Inoue. © 2024 Design by Driftnote.