Set to the iconic music from the “Frantic City” album by Canadian punk band Teenage Head, the World Premiere of “Love me out of it” explores Laurence Lemieux’s long relationship to dance through various characters that come to life with every song from this classic 10-track release.  It’s presented by Citadel + Compagnie as part of the 2018/19 Bright Nights season.

1980, the year Frantic City was released is the same year that Lemieux began down her new path as a dancer.  Award-winning Lemieux is a choreographer, presenter, performer, and teacher, as well as Artistic Director of  Citadel + Compagnie. This Dora Award-winner has danced with some of Canada’s most prominent choreographers and has produced more than 30 of her own celebrated choreographic works. A leader both in the dance community and Regent Park, were Citadel + Compagnie is situated, Lemieux is a passionate advocate for the arts and community engagement, and has curated the Bright Nights season to encourage artistic innovation and highlight the intimate nature of The Citadel.

“I had been working on a solo for a while and wanted to give myself the unique challenge of choreographing straight through an entire album,” says Lemieux. “This chronological approach ultimately created a narrative that began to coalesce with my body’s movements. A new character would emerge with each song; textural, emotional expressions of my feelings as I navigated the music. Dancing to Teenage Head’s Frantic City made me fall madly in love with the album. I invite audiences to discover this distinct atmospheric environment and to ‘love me out of this’ musical dance maze.”

Love me out of it opens with the explosive notes of Teenage Head’s rendition of “Wild One”, the 1958 Australian rock ‘n’ roll classic that would go on to be covered by Iggy Pop and Jet. The band was an early pioneer in punk, a genre in its nascent stages when they formed in 1975. Lemieux’s tribute to this influential Canadian group — which continues to tour more than 40 years after their founding — echoes her homage to a lifelong passion for dance. The lively rhythms of the 10-track album will create an intricately melodious labyrinth in a high-octane performance.

Lemieux has danced for some of Canada’s most prominent choreographers, including William Douglas, James Kudelka, Jean-Pierre Perreault, and Margie Gillis, and has produced more than 30 of her own celebrated choreographic works. As a teacher, Lemieux has taught at Ryerson University, York University, Concordia University, L’Université du Québec à Montréal, l’École Supérieure de Ballet Contemporain, and Canada’s National Ballet School. Highly engaged and active in the dance community, Lemieux is a passionate advocate for the arts and has curated Bright Nights specifically to highlight the intimate nature of The Citadel.

With recent controversies rocking the Toronto dance scene for a lack of representation in the wake of the #metoo and #timesup movements, it is vital to celebrate the female artists who create and lead in this city. 

Deeply embedded in Canadian pop culture, Teenage Head is a legendary punk rock band from Hamilton Ontario. Frantic City is their second album and was certified platinum in 1983. Current members Gord Lewis (guitar), Steve Mahon (bassist), Dave Rave (vocals), and Gene Champagne (drums) continue to tour and perform.

Live music will follow every performance of Love me out of it with a different band rocking The Citadel each night. On October 13, special guests Teenage Head will treat audiences to a live one-night-only performance.

Love me out of it onstage October 11 – 13 & 17 – 20 at The Citadel: Ross Centre for Dance (304 Parliament Street, Toronto) Tickets

VIP Tickets for Teenage Head performance Oct 13th, 2018

Facebook Event Page

Following each performance will be a concert by a different local band! Here is the lineup:

October 11: Brenda
www.heybrenda.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/brendabandTO
Instagram: @brendasband

October 12: Frankie the Pig
www.facebook.com/FrankieThePigBand/
Instagram: @frankiethepigband

October 13: Teenage Head* special VIP performance
Ticket link: www.eventbrite.ca/e/vip-night-love-me-out-of-it-tickets-49914522681
www.songkick.com/artists/206433-teenage-head
www.facebook.com/teenagehead/
Instagram: @teenage_head_official

October 17: Cigar Club
m.facebook.com/pages/biz/Cigar-Club-235093213520429/
Instagram: @cigar.club

October 18: Pony
www.ponytheband.ca
www.facebook.com/ponyband
Twitter: @PONYToronto
Instagram: @ponytheband

October 19: Rapport
www.rapport.bandcamp.com/releases
www.facebook.com/rapportmusictoronto/ 
Instagram: @rapport_band
Twitter: @rapport_band

October 20: Peeling
www.peeling.bandcamp.com/
www.buzzrecords.ca/peeling/
www.facebook.com/peelingband/
Instagram: @peeling666

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.