(openPR) - Embracing the elements in the Weathering suite

Calgary’s contemporary dance company, M-body, is pleased to present the Weathering suite at the Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (WCD)Studio / Theatre from March 1 - March 3, 2007.

the Weathering suite, choreographed by M-body’s Artistic Director Davida Monk, is a group of dances which flow seamlessly from one to the other as do the elemental phenomena of the ever-changing sky. Structured loosely on the diurnal, annual and life cycles of the natural world and its people, the Weathering suite expresses our most subtle and intimate relationship to our planetary home.

the Weathering suite is an evening length contemporary dance work featuring dancers Davida Monk, Johanna Riley, Erin Cowan, Christina Medina, and Melissa Monteros. The musical score draws from the repertoire of Canadian composers Allan Gordon Bell, R. Murray Schafer, Claude Vivier and Harry Somers. A set designed by Douglas McCullough, costumes design by Engelina Wehnes, and a lighting design by Jean Philippe Trépanier will complete the creative vision.

This is the Manitoba stop of the production currently on tour across Canada. the Weathering suite is presented with the cooperation and support of WCD.

Dates: Thursday March 1st / Friday March 2nd / Saturday March 3rd

Time: All shows 8pm

Location: WCD Studio/Theatre , 2nd floor, 211 Bannatyne Avenue.

Prices: $22 Adult, $18 Senior, $15 Student

Tickets my be purchased through TICKEMASTER or directly from WCD.
(204) 452-0229. Fax: (204) 287-8618.
tickets@winnipegscontemporarydancers.ca
www.winnipegscontemporarydancers.ca
Ticketmaster: 204.780.3333 or www.ticketmaster.ca

BIOGRAPHY - DAVIDA MONK
Artistic Director, Choreographer, & Dancer

Davida Monk began her dance career with Le Groupe de la Place Royale of Ottawa. In addition to dancing and creating work for the company, Monk served as Assistant Artistic Director, and with Artistic Director Peter Boneham, helped to develop Le Groupe Dance Lab. Since 1985 Monk’s works have been seen in Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton, Vancouver and at the Canada Dance Festival. Her work has been presented in Gdansk and Warsaw, and Helsinki.

She has danced the works of more than 20 choreographers including those of Tonya Lockyer, Rachel Browne, Louise Bedard, Serge Bennathan, Tedd Robinson, Benoit LaChambre, Harold Rheaume, Melissa Monteros. Tassy Teekman, Ruth Cansfield and Peter Boneham. Monk’s training began with Peter Boneham. The Mitzvah Technique, a dynamic development of the Alexander Technique, under the direction of Amelia Itcush has had a profound influence on Monk. Training with Richard Bull, Maggie Black,Zena Rommett, Irene Dowd, Min Tanaka, Tonya Lockyer, Richard Armstrong, and Shauna Romano has also influenced Monk’s development as a dance artist.

Monk has taught mostnotably at Le Groupe Dance Lab, the School of Contemporary Dancers (Winnipeg), The Dance Collective, School of the Alberta Ballet, Grant MacEwan College, York University, University of Regina, New Dance Horizons, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, and at the Dance Centre and MainDance in Vancouver. Monk is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Fine Arts Program of Dance at the University of Calgary.

Website

www.m-body.ca/
www.m-body.ca/weather

Previous press quotes about Davida Monk

"Monk’s unleashed intensity, well known to audiences across Canada,was well placed in this elemental work (Four Haiku by Rachel Browne)” - Winnipeg Free Press, 1993

“..perhaps because of the total commitment of Davida Monk... there was genuine emotional tension to this piece (Sometime After by Tassy Teekman) as in no other work all evening.” - The Ottawa Citizen, 1985

“... in Sometime After by Tassy Teekman, Davida Monk, a sensuous and finely-tuned dancer...” - The Globe and Mail, Toronto, 1985

Davida Monk founded M-Body: mind and music in motion in March, 2004 as a not-for-profit company and the natural development of and replacement for Davida Monk Dance. The company’s objectives are to: a) contribute to the cultural vitality of Calgary, Alberta and Canada by supporting the development of and dissemination of contemporary dance through the nurturing of contemporary dance creation and performance, the development of dance artists and other artistic collaborators and the production of home season performances and tours; and b) undertake educational activities in schools, communities and institutions that serve to build connections between the general public and dance, and deepen the appreciation of dance as an art form.

For interviews or further information please contact WCD:

James Botaitis, Communications Coordinator
communications@winnipegscontemporarydancers.ca
(204) 452-0229(x221) Fax: (204) 287-8618
www.winnipegscontemporarydancers.ca