Citadel + Compagnie (C+C) presents Alone Together, a double bill of richly complex and provocative new solos by esteemed School of Toronto Dance Theatre alumni Naishi Wang and Jane-Alison McKinney, April 11—14, 2018 at The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance. Starting the evening, Wang will share his first-ever independent choreographic work with the world premiere of Taking Breath. Next, McKinney will reveal the anticipated Toronto premiere of her 2017 solo, There she was. Through propulsive, kinetic movement, each will incite reflection; one by overcoming chaos, and the other, with a reminder to breathe.

“In our Bright Nights series, we are committed to bringing emerging choreographic talent to the forefront by offering a stage to Canada’s most innovative young artists,” says Citadel + Compagnie Artistic Director Laurence Lemieux. “In Alone Together, we invite audiences to discover two of Toronto’s most promising creators whose work we have been following for more than 10 years. To see Wang and McKinney’s evolution as choreographers has been inspirational. Each embraces risk, and finds a unique way to transpose their feelings and experiences of the world around them into groundbreaking expression that we can all find pieces of ourselves in.”

Wang was born in Changchun, China, where he received his professional dance training from JiLin College of Art and the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy. In 2004, he came to Canada to continue his studies with The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, and was, shortly thereafter, selected to join the company, during which time he was named, “the troupe’s most expressive mover” by Toronto Star critic Michael Crabb. Wang was nominated for the Dora Mavor Moore Award for ‘Outstanding Performance’ in Different Animals by Hanna Kiel in 2013, and won in 2017 for ‘Outstanding Ensemble’ in what it’s like by adelheid dance company director Heidi Strauss. He enjoys collaborating with artists and companies in Canada, Germany, and China.

In Taking Breath, Wang will explore the power and preciousness of breath. An expression of every living being, to inhale and exhale holds the promise of communication and connection. Praised for his uncanny ability to “arouse emotions” (Campadidanza), Wang’s solo offers fluid, undulating movement infused with an irrepressible spirit seeking to connect.

A fellow graduate of The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, McKinney is originally from New Brunswick. She received a Metcalf Foundation Internship in Artistic Direction with adelheid under the mentorship of Heidi Strauss in Toronto in 2016. Current Artistic Director of Wild Rabbit Dance Projects, McKinney’s work has been presented in national festivals such as Nextfest Arts Company, Dance Matters, Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival, Expanse/Chinook Series, and The SummerWorks Performance Festival.

Originally presented in Edmonton in 2017 at the Expanse/Chinook Series and remounted for the Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival, There she was represents McKinney’s surrender to disorder. Clad in all black, balancing precariously on towering stiletto heels, she uses vocalized phrases and frenetic, dynamic gestures to expose gripping moments of escape and solitude among havoc.

About Citadel + Compagnie (citadelcie.com)

Citadel + Compagnie, formerly Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie, was founded by Bill Coleman and Laurence Lemieux in 2000. This Toronto-based professional dance company creates, produces and presents works on local, national and international scales from its home base in a former Salvation Army Citadel in the Regent Park neighborhood of Toronto.

Named in honour of its cherished home at The Citadel, C+C has evolved from a husband-and-wife run company to a distinguished organization with a renewed mandate of fostering cultural participation and nurturing creative excellence. C+C encourages artistic risk and innovation through its performing arts series, Bright Nights, and tours accessible works of contemporary dance across Canada. By demonstrating fearless artistic leadership backed by strong community engagement, C+C has established itself as one of the leading companies of its kind in Canada.

After nine years as artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada (1996-2005), James Kudelka was named C+C’s resident choreographer in 2008. With C+C, he has revisited some of his greatest works and developed challenging new contemporary creations. Kudelka’s presence at C+C has elevated the company’s profile, and offered audiences a new platform to experience the work of one of the country’s finest choreographers.

Alone Together
April 11-14, 2018, 8pm
Ticket prices: Adults: $25 Seniors/Students/Artists: $20
The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance
304 Parliament Street, Toronto
citadelcie.com or ph: 416-364-8011 (ext. 1)

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca