Monday, August 11, 2008

Touch Compass 2008 Season: extraordinary dance not to be missed

World-renowned integrated dance company Touch Compass will present two spectacular new dance/theatre works from 1 to 4 October 2008 at Auckland’s Maidment Theatre.

Founded in 1997 by dancer and choreographer Catherine Chappell, Touch Compass is a unique New Zealand dance company in which dancers with and without disabilities work together to create inspirational and thought provoking dance shows.

Winner of four tempo˚ awards in 2007, Touch Compass this year returns to the tempo˚ New Zealand Festival of Dance for a strictly limited season with two new works that have been two years in the making.

The season’s works are Harmonious Oddity, a stunning dance/theatre work by Pedro Ilgenfritz and Catherine Chappell, and Grotteschi, a powerful duet by Suzanne Cowan.

“Dreamlike and challenging, Harmonious Oddity bridges subconscious and conscious realities, featuring surreal, Fellini-esque scenes played out live on stage and on film. Dancers perform not only on their feet, but also on wheels and suspended in mid-air in a wacky and humorous work that will transport you into another realm,” says Touch Compass Artistic Director Catherine Chappell.

“Grotteschi explores the myth of the classical body and grotesque body, how each contains the other, and how they ultimately transcend any categorisation.”

Joining the company this year are Brazilian actor, theatre director, playwright, lecturer, and physical theatre expert Pedro Ilgenfritz, and lighting designer Jenny Pullar whose work includes designs for 191 different productions in 12 countries.

What: Touch Compass 2008 Season
Where: Maidment Theatre, 8 Alfred Street, Auckland
When: 8pm, 1 to 4 October 2008
Cost: A reserve $35
B reserve $30
Unwaged/Group $25
Concessions $20
Child (up to 18 years) $15
Bookings: Phone 308 2383 or visit www.maidment.auckland.ac.nz from 8th August
Website: www.touchcompass.org.nz


For further information, please contact: Donald Holder
Media consultant
09 627 4486
021 241 0448
donald@donaldholder.co.nz

“Touch Compass is great theatre, great dance, and real succour for the soul.”
Bernadette Rae, NZ Herald 2001

“One rarely encounters such prolonged and heartfelt applause.”
Jennifer Shennan, Dominion Post 2007

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