Rotterdam, 16 November 2007

PRESS RELEASE: ROTTERDAM/ NEW YORK

On Saturday 12 January 2008 at 20:15, Dance Works Rotterdam is presenting the premiere of ‘Rotterdam/ New York’ in the Rotterdamse Schouwburg.  
Performance period: thru May 2008 in various theaters in the Netherlands.

Never have Rotterdam and New York been so close together. They were the starting and finishing points of the famous Holland-America Line and they are both world ports. Dance Works Rotterdam is uniting the cities ‘Rotterdam-New York’ with works by two prominent choreographers: the Dutch premiere of ‘Lareigne’ by Stephen Petronio, artistic director/choreographer of the Stephen Petronio Company in New York City, and the world premiere of ‘Mortal Coil’ by Ton Simons, artistic director/choreographer of Dance Works Rotterdam.

Petronio is the artistic director of his own company in New York and has built up a worldwide reputation as an innovative choreographer. His work combines elements of release technique and contact improvisation with classicism. He works with leading contemporary musicians and designers which, combined with the explosive dynamics and expressiveness of his virtuoso dance style, produces impressive choreographic works that are some of the best on offer in the New York contemporary dance scene. Simons lived and worked in New York for over 20 years before returning to Rotterdam in 1999. The influence of New York has contributed greatly to his unique position in the Dutch dance world. His work is characterized by its stylistic purity, lyrical forms and choreographic skill.

Note for the press
For interviews, more information, photos or press tickets, please contact Jeanine Roersma, tel. 010-436 45 11 or e-mail:  
Also see www.danceworksrotterdam.nl for recent texts about our performances, press releases and downloads of high-resolution photos (www.danceworksrotterdam.nl/eng/press/photos.htm).

Performance dates: here

The press about Petronio’s Lareigne:

‘All the characteristics of Petronio: strict form, a strong construction, powerful, spiralling jumps and turns, phrased in an organically visual way…’ (Daily Telegraph)

‘Their lashing limbs and unfurling torsos expressing infinite possibilities. The beauty of their shapes and the wafting white fabric of the sexy costumes (designed by Manolo) evoke a serene, but perhaps deceptive, coolness.’ (Newsday)

The press about Simons:

‘…the master of dance as clear as it is complex, and as aesthetic as it is cool… … mathematically human and intensely humane.’ (NRC Handelsblad)

‘The clear movements performed by Dance Works Rotterdam deserve big audiences.’ (Financieele Dagblad)

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Rotterdam, 10 January 2007

PRESS RELEASE: DUET GALLERY

World premiere: Wednesday 7, Thursday 8 (premiere), Friday 9 and Saturday 10 February 2007 in the Rotterdamse Schouwburg (small auditorium)
Performance period: thru 26 April 2007 in various theaters in the Netherlands

From Wednesday 7 thru Saturday 10 February 2007 (premiere: Thursday 8 February), Dance Works Rotterdam is presenting ‘Duet Gallery’ in the Rotterdamse Schouwburg. This is followed by a tour in various theaters in the Netherlands (thru 26 April 2007).

DUET GALLERY

As a leading ‘gallery of modern dance’, Dance Works Rotterdam is presenting a program consisting of duets by 4 prominent international choreographers; each with their own identifiable and recognized signature. These duets provide the opportunity of comparing some different developments at the forefront of contemporary international dance:
the drastically contorted classicism of Dana Caspersen (The Forsythe Company, Frankfurt), the physical extremes of Rafael Bonachela (Ballet Rambert, London), the recognizable alienation of Bruno Listopad (the Netherlands/Portugal) and the formal lyricism of artistic director Ton Simons.
The diversity and intimacy of these duets are brought to life by the wonderful dancers of Dance Works Rotterdam.

Note for the press
For interviews, further information, photos or press tickets, please contact Jeanine Roersma, tel. 010-436 45 11 or e-mail:  
Also see www.danceworksrotterdam.nl for recent texts about our performances, press releases and downloads of high-resolution photos (click here).

Performance dates: click here

The press about the 4 duets:
Dana Caspersen : Prelude 17 ‘sharp, individual and effective’
(Berliner Zeitung)

Rafael Bonachela : E2 7 SD ‘self-confident virtuosity; complex and intimate…’ (The Independent)

Bruno Listopad : Corpo Pensante ‘physically balancing on the borderline of human consciousness. Fascinating’
(Trouw)

Ton Simons : Little Ease ‘…the master of dance as clear as it is complex, and as aesthetic as it is cool…
… mathematically human and intensely humane.’
(NRC Handelsblad)

‘Ravishing’ (NRC Handelsblad)

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Rotterdam, 13 September 2006

PRESS RELEASE: Human Figures/ Das Wohltemperierte Clavier

World premiere: Tuesday 10 October 2006 in the Rotterdamse Schouwburg
(main auditorium)
Performance period: through 1 May 2007 in various theaters in the Netherlands

On Tuesday 10 October 2006 at 20.15, Dance Works Rotterdam is performing the premiere of ‘Human Figures/ Das Wohltemperierte Clavier’ in the Rotterdamse Schouwburg. At 19.30, Ton Simons will give an introduction about the creation of this production: Bach/ Simons.

Human Figures/ Das Wohltemperierte Clavier

For this new work, artistic director Ton Simons has choreographed to sections of Johann Sebastian Bach’s ‘Das Wohltemperierte Clavier’. The brilliant music, Simons’ acknowledged mastery of choreography and the wonderful dancers of Dance Works Rotterdam guarantee an evening of top-level contemporary dance.

The music is performed live by the Portuguese pianist Manuel Araújo. This extremely talented young musician has been awarded many prizes at international piano competitions, including the Interfest Bitola International Piano Competition (Macedonia, 2005) with the national orchestra, and first prize in the Concurso Luso Brasileiro de Piano Maria Campina (Portugal, 2001), which consisted of a tour of Brazil.

Note for the press
For interviews, further information, photos or press tickets, please contact Jeanine Roersma, tel. 010-436 45 11 or e-mail:  
Also see www.danceworksrotterdam.nl for recent texts about our performances, press releases and downloads of high-resolution photos (www.danceworksrotterdam.nl/ned/pers/fotos.htm).

Performance dates: click here

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Rotterdam, 5 January 2006

PRESS RELEASE: Guerin / Listopad

Premiere: Thirsday 9 February 2006 in the Rotterdamse Schouwburg (small auditorium)
Performance period: through 6 May 2006 in various theaters in the Netherlands

On 9 February 2006 in the Rotterdamse Schouwburg, Dance Works Rotterdam will present new work by two young dance makers with international reputations. It is the first time Australian Lucy Guerin has been commissioned to choreograph a work in the Netherlands. Bruno Listopad is a regular guest choreographer with Dance Works Rotterdam. The program is being shown until 6 May 2006 in various theaters in the Netherlands.

Lucy Guerin- First Days

Lucy Guerin lives and works in Melbourne, Australia, where she founded her own production company, Lucy Guerin Inc., in 2002. Her choreographic work is performed at festivals all over the world. She started her professional career as a dancer with the companies of Russel Dumas (Dance Exchange) and Nanette Hassal (Danceworks) in Australia. She then moved to New York, where she danced with innovative companies like Tere O’Connor Dance, the Bebe Miller Company and Sara Rudner.

In ´First Days´, Guerin investigates the memories of her first days in New York, filtered and colored by her experiences in the here and now. In this work, which investigates how patterns and connections are created over time, memory becomes a physical experience.

Bruno Listopad- Anatomic Obliteration

The Portuguese choreographer Bruno Listopad, who is a regular guest with Dance Works Rotterdam, is acclaimed for his very individual movement language. He operates in a field of tension between recognition and alienation, and between conceptual form and human expression. His intriguing works are an important part of the repertoire of Dance Works Rotterdam.

The inspiration for Listopad’s new work comes from the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. She covers herself, the space and sometimes even the people around her with polka dots. In this way, she breaks down the barriers between art and everyday life. In his new work, Listopad also plays with this concept, i.e. that art penetrates everything.

--- END OF RELEASE: PTO ---
Note for the press
For interviews, further information, photos or press tickets, please contact Jeanine Roersma, tel. 010-436 45 11 or e-mail:
Also see www.danceworksrotterdam.nl for recent texts about our performances, press releases and downloads of high-resolution photos.

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Rotterdam, October 5, 2005

PRESS RELEASE: Bonachela/Simons

Premiere: Thursday 3 November 2005 in the Rotterdamse Schouwburg (main auditorium)
Performance period: through 23 January 2006 in various theaters in the Netherlands

In the Rotterdamse Schouwburg on 3 November 2005, Dance Works Rotterdam is presenting the Dutch premiere of the award-winning duet ‘E2 7SD’ by guest choreographer Rafael Bonachela and two new works by artistic director Ton Simons: ‘Four Trios’ and ‘(P)art-Trap/Time Remix’. The program will be performed until 23 January 2006 in various theaters throughout the Netherlands.

E2 7SD – Rafael Bonachela

‘E2 7SD’ is composed as a performance and sound sculpture of an emotionally charged landscape. The dancers let the audience share in their energy, beauty and white-hot intensity in the commonplace, as well as in the dangerous or the desperate.
For this duet, Rafael Bonachela (Associate Choreographer with the renowned Rambert Dance Company) received the prestigious award The Place Prize 2004, both from the international jury of experts and the audience jury. His choreographic work covers both the artistic and the commercial circuit, with commissions from various international dance companies, multinationals, and pop stars like Kylie Minogue and Primal Scream.

Four Trios - Ton Simons

‘Four Trios’ is danced to Johann Sebastian Bach’s arrangement of Antonio Vivaldi’s violin concerto. In the two Allegros, the multitude of brilliant musical ideas is answered by choreographic modules which reflect them. For the Adagio, Simons chose to use a contrasting approach, in which simplicity and lyricism prevail. The live video recording provides the opportunity to see the piece from more than just one angle.

(P)art-Trap/Time Remix - Ton Simons

In ‘(P)art-Trap/Time Remix’, a succession of rapidly changing movements is accompanied by contrasting fragments of music and spoken text. Simons’ line of approach for this piece was music as a contextual ‘trap’ for choreography.
Simons is known for his masterly command of pure dance. His highly acclaimed interplay of clear lines and spatial patterns is executed with passion by the technically brilliant dancers of his company.

Note for the press
For interviews, more information, photos or press cards, please contact Jeanine Roersma, tel. 010-436 45 11 or e-mail: .
Also see www.danceworksrotterdam.nl for recent texts about our performances, press releases and downloads of high-resolution photos (www.danceworksrotterdam.nl/eng/press/photos.htm).

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2004/2005 - 6

Amsterdam, January 25, 2005

Press release: Stichting Dansersfonds '79 is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a jubilee book and a guest teaching post.

Press release: Ton Simons, Nancy Euverink, Marisa Lopez receive awards from Stichting Dansersfonds '79.

Choreographer Ton Simons and dancers Nancy Euverink and Marisa Lopez were the recipients of the annual awards from the Stichting Dansersfonds '79, handed out by Alexandra Radius on the afternoon of Tuesday 25 January in Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam. These are regarded as the highest Dutch awards in the field of dance and this was the 25th time they have been awarded.

The Stichting Danserfonds '79 gives encouragement to talented young Dutch dancers and honors those who have given their services to the art of dance. Another goal of the Dansersfonds is to help dancers make the change to another area of work on ending their dancing career.

De Prijzen van Verdienste 2004 (The Merit Awards 2004) were awarded to Ton Simons, artistic director of Dance Works Rotterdam and to Nancy Euverink, dancer with Nederlands Dans Theater. This award comes with an amount of € 2500. De Speciale Prijs 2004 (The Special Award 2004), which comes with an amount of € 2000, was awarded to Marisa Lopez, second soloist with Het Nationale Ballet.

This year’s award winners were selected by a jury consisting of dance critics Ine Rietstap and Jan Baart, Marian Sarstädt (former artistic director of Nederlands Dans Theater), Alexandra Radius (former prima ballerina with Het Nationale Ballet), Han Ebbelaar (former first soloist with Het Nationale Ballet) and Karin Schnabel (freelance teacher and former first soloist with Het Nationale Ballet).

The annual grants for the encouragement of talented young dancers were awarded to Jamy Schinkelshoek from the dancers’ course of the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague, Bastiaan Stoop from the Nationale Balletacademie in Amsterdam and Inge Marije Lammertink and Merlijn Verhorst from the preparatory course of the same ballet academy.

For the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Stichting Dansersfonds '79, the book Springlevend!, by publicist Jessica Voeten, has been published. This publication deals with many aspects of Dutch post-war dance history and the unique personalities involved. Jessica Voeten also writes about the life and work of Alexandra Radius and Han Ebbelaar, the initiators of the Dansersfonds.

Also for the occasion of its 25th anniversary, Dansersfonds '79 are providing an international guest teaching post.
Katia Zvelebilova, a teacher at the renowned National Ballet School of Canada, will be coming to Holland to give classes at the Nationale Balletacademie, the Rotterdamse Dansacademie and the dancers’ course of the Haagse Koninklijk Conservatorium.

Editorial note:
For further information about Dansersfonds ’79, please contact:
Erica Bilder, publicity Guest Programming Het Muziektheater, Waterlooplein 22 Amsterdam, tel. 020 - 551 81 89 mobile 06-15685232 e-mail: ericab@het-muziektheater.nl

For further information about Ton Simons and Dance Works Rotterdam, please contact:
Jeanine Roersma, coordinator Marketing & Public Relations Dance Works Rotterdam, , 010-436 45 11

Click here for the jury’s report on Ton Simons
Click here to download a photo (high res.) of Ton Simons

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Rotterdam, Augustus 27, 2004

PRESS RELEASE: PREMIERE OF NEW WORK AND REPRISE BY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TON SIMONS

Premiere: Thursday September, 30, Rotterdamse Schouwburg, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Touring period: until December 4, 2004 in several Dutch theaters

Sleepless Nights (1991, reprise) - Ton Simons

In ‘Sleepless Nights’, a rich variety of dance material is combined in collage form with pop music from the fifties (Phil Spector: The Crystals, The Ronettes, Ike & Tina Turner), New York avant-garde (Glenn Branca) and classical music (W.A. Mozart). Putting this classic alongside a new work illustrates the development of Simons’ choreographic skill. Simons is renowned for his mastery of pure dance, and his acclaimed interplay of clear lines and spatial patterns is performed with passion by the dancers of his company.

NRC Handelsblad 11-02-1991, Ine Rietstap about ‘Sleepless Nights’:
‘Sleepless Nights is a beautifully composed work. It is rich in imaginative and exciting movement. It has a fascinating mix of extrovert, agitated nervousness and introvert, almost serene calm. Eagerly, Simons lets himself be carried away by the steady beat and rhythmic structures of the music of Glenn Branca and Phil Spector, yet to the same music he repeatedly uses slow-moving dancers who, like higher powers, seem to control the surrounding commotion and put it into perspective. A taut, austere interplay of lines fits well with the pure beauty of Mozart’s Adagio from the String Quartet KV516, which concludes Sleepless Nights.’

Blue Dance (world premiere) - Ton Simons

‘Blue Dance’ is a lyrical dance, set in a cool, ink-blue environment which plays with human perception of movement and color. In this new work, Simons provides the audience with an experience of how extreme changes in lighting ‘color’ the perception of the dancing.

Not for publication
The touring list can be found on the back of this press release.
Photos on high resolution (JPEG 600 dpi) can be found on: http://www.danceworksrotterdam.nl/eng/press/photos.php

For more information, photos, interviews and press tickets upon request, please contact: Jeanine Roersma (Marketing / Public Relations) at Dance Works Rotterdam by e-mail or phone +31 (0)10-436 45 11.

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Rotterdam, April 2003,

DANCE WORKS ROTTERDAM NOMINATED FOR THE DUTCH COMPANY LOGO AWARD 2003

Dance Works Rotterdam has been nominated for the biennial Dutch Company Logo Award 2003, an initiative by the Grafische Cultuurstichting in conjunction with the Gerrit Jan Thiemefonds, and with the cooperation of ModoVanGelder. The jury nominated twenty-one entries out of a total of 168. Out of the nominated entries, there are sixteen logos from small organizations, four from large/aggregate organizations and, for the first time, one trademark.

The BNO (Association of Dutch Designers) lends their support in the form of a recommendation to graphic designers to compete for the award. All the printed matter surrounding the award is provided by Flevodruk Harderwijk. Previous winners of the Dutch Company Logo Award include: Bloem Zetten en Lithograferen (design: UNA), Het Nationale Toneel (design: Catherine van der Eerden, from Studio Dumbar) and Hazazah (design: Koeweiden Postma Associates).

The winners will be announced at the award ceremony during the Accolade 2003, on 14 May, in the RAI, Amsterdam. More information at: www.grafischecultuur.nl

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Rotterdam, March 2003,

DANCE WORKS ROTTERDAM SELECTED FOR THE DUTCH DESIGN AWARDS 2003

Dance Works Rotterdam has been selected for the Dutch Design Awards 2003, for Corporate design. From the selection, a number of designs from each category are nominated for the Dutch Design Awards. The complete selection, of which Dance Works Rotterdam is a part, including the nominations, will be on display to the public in the Pakhuis Afrika, Amsterdam, during the whole of May, after the adjudication takes place. The exhibition will go on tour to Milan and New York in the course of 2003 and 2004.

The initiative was taken jointly by the professional sector (The Association of Dutch Designers BNO) and the patrons (Designlink). Through the independent Foundation of Dutch Design Awards, they want to bring Dutch design to the attention of patrons and the public at large, thereby increasing awareness, use and recognition of design and designers. On 8 May 2003, the Dutch Design Awards will be presented for the first time, in the Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam, for the following categories: Corporate design, Graphic design, Packaging design, Illustrational design, New media, Consumer products, Professional products, Office products, Retail products, Products for the public space, Food products, Sales environment, Interior design, Fashion products, Public space, and Exhibitions and trade fairs. A special Design for All award will be presented to the design which best contributes to a society which is accessible to the greatest possible number of users.

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