Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet presents Orbo Novo in the NAC Theatre March 3 and 4, 2011.

The company currently setting the American dance world alight makes their NAC debut collaborating with one of contemporary dance’s most renowned artists, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

Under the charismatic leadership of Benoit-Swan Pouffer, and thanks to the exquisite skill and individual styles of its dancers, Cedar Lake has quickly become known in America for innovation and excellence in contemporary dance. Founded in 2003 by Nancy Laurie, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet has distinguished itself through both its exceptionally talented corps of fifteen dancers and its concurrent emphasis on acquiring and commissioning new works by the world’s most sought-after emerging choreographers.

Exploiting the company’s talents, Cherkaoui summons his blend of expressive movement, music and theatre to explore the fundamental duality of self. Orbo Novo explores a construct of the mind and is inspired by Jill Bolte Taylor’s My Stroke of Insight, a book in which she expresses her experience of having a stroke.

Performed to an original score by Polish composer Szymon Brzóska recorded by the Mosaic String Quartet, Orbo Novo (New World) lives up to its meaning, mapping a new emotional world as the dancers create a memorable portrait of the tensions between the rational and sensual mind, between control and the loss of it, and between solitude and society.

"Orbo Novo... an achingly beautiful impression of the elegance and freedom that bodies – and brain cells – can produce when in perfect alignment with one another." Tresca Weinstein, Dance Magazine

ORBO NOVO
Choreography: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Lighting Design: Jim French
Scenic Design: Alexander Dodge
Costume Design: Isabelle Lhoas
Composer: Szymon Brzóska

CEDAR LAKE CONTEMPORARY BALLET PUBLIC CLASS Taught by Benoit-Swan Pouffer, Artistic Director of Cedar Lake Class for advanced and pre-professional/professional ballet and contemporary dancers Friday March 4, 2011 10:00 to 11:30 am Location: Rehearsal Hall A, National Arts Centre, 53 Elgin Street, Ottawa (Enter by Stage Door) Cost: FREE thanks to the support of the Embassy of the United States of America BALLET TEACHERS AND DANCE STUDIOS: You are invited to select your top THREE students for the opportunity to take this class by Artistic Director of Cedar Lake. Registrations will be accepted through your recommendation only. Adult professional and pre-professional dancers can register themselves. Maximum 25 participants in the class; Register by contacting Renata Soutter, Dance Outreach Coordinator at (613) 947-7000 ext. 588 or soutter@magma.ca.

Orbo Novo is performed in the Theatre of the National Arts Centre on Thursday, March 3 and Friday March 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $37.67, $46.28, and $50.58 for adults and $20.18, $24.49, and $26.64 for students (upon presentation of a valid student ID card).

Duration: 77 minutes (no intermission)

Groups of 10 or more save 15% to 20% off regular ticket prices; to reserve your seats, call 613-947-7000, ext. 634 or e-mail grp@nac-cna.ca.

Tickets are available for purchase:

• In person at the NAC Box Office
• At all Ticketmaster outlets
• By telephone from Ticketmaster, 1-888-991-2787 (ARTS) new!  
• Online through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC’s website (www.nac-cna.ca)
• A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster

This production is eligible for the Live Rush program. Full-time students aged 13-29 with a valid Live Rush membership may buy up to two tickets per performance at the discounted price of only $12 per ticket. Live Rush tickets are available from 10 a.m. on the day before the performance until 6 p.m. on the day of the performance. This includes all available seats, including the best seats in the house. Check out liverush.ca for information on the Live Rush program.

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For more information, please call:
Eleri Evans
Marketing and Communications Officer, Dance
National Arts Centre
613-947-7000 ext. 379; e-mail: eevans@nac-cna.ca
or visit the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca