CRAFTY HAPPENING: Dance Marathon (February 4-7)

Photo Credit: Nancy Paiva

BLUEMOUTH INC. - DANCE MARATHON

February 4–7, 7:00 p.m.
Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West (map)
Tickets: $30.00 (Special pricing available for Students/Seniors)
Box Office/Info: 416-973-4000 or www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage

Harbourfront Centre's highly praised World Stage 08:09 season continues with Dance Marathon, an original new work from the critically acclaimed and award-winning collective bluemouth inc. With elements of live music, multimedia, integrated live video, choreography and more, this stunning new work of participatory theatre is inspired by the physically gruelling endurance contests of the 1920s and 1930s. Dance Marathon is part of Fresh Ground new works, Harbourfront Centre’s national commissioning programme.

Single tickets and specially priced packages for Dance Marathon and all World Stage performances are on sale through the Harbourfront Centre box office at 416-973-4000, or through www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage

It is well known that the dance marathons of the 1920s and 1930s were part legitimate competition and part contrived deception, as the organizers of these events would plant hired professional dancers as spurious competitors in order to control the outcome of the event. Under the pretext that Dance Marathon is a veritable endurance contest, bluemouth inc. uses similar themes to shape fully participatory theatre, wherein the audience members are also contenders in the midst of various integrated performances, and as such contribute to the outcome of the events by either advancing or being eliminated as the event proceeds. Eliminated competitors become spectators, framing Dance Marathon as both contest and performance.

"In a world where the public appetite for reality TV continues to grow,” said Lucy Simic, co-founder of the collective, “bluemouth inc. invites their audience to enter into the drama of the Dance Marathon [and asks] – just what level of experience are you willing to have?"

Well known for their site-specific work, bluemouth inc. will transform the Enwave Theatre into a fully realized performance space. The Toronto, Montreal and New York City-based collective embrace and combine all of the talents in their arsenal for Dance Marathon, changing roles throughout the incredibly ambitious creation that promises to vary with each night.

For further information about all World Stage, Fresh Ground new works and Harbourfront Centre events, please visit harbourfrontcentre.com or call 416-973-4000.