************************************************
Acclaimed as one of the most important choreographers of our time, Merce Cunningham passed away at the age of 90 last year. Always forward thinking, he made a precedent-setting legacy plan prior to his death, including a special celebratory "legacy tour", which offers audiences a final opportunity to see the company Cunningham personally created and trained before it disbands at the end of 2011.
The company will visit Hong Kong and stage "Nearly 90²" as part of its tour. The performances will take place at 8.15pm, January 14 and 15 (Friday and Saturday) 2011, at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
"Nearly 90²" is a restaged version of "Nearly Ninety", Cunningham's final work, presented with live music, new costumes and lighting. The pared-down production brings a renewed clarity to the choreography, illuminating the keen, geometric beauty honed over Cunningham's 65-year career in dance making.
Merce Cunningham was a leader of the American avant-garde throughout his 70-year career. Through much of his life he was also one of the greatest American dancers. With an artistic career distinguished by constant innovation, Cunningham expanded the frontiers not only of dance, but also of contemporary visual and performing arts. His collaborations with artistic innovators from every creative discipline, for examples, John Cage and Rauschenberg, have yielded an unparallelled body of American dance, music, and visual art.
The Merce Cunningham Dance Company (MCDC) has had a profound impact on American art and the avant-garde since its founding in 1953. Guided by Cunningham's radical approach to space, time, and technology, the Company has forged a distinctive style, reflecting Cunningham's technique and illuminating the near limitless possibilities of human movement. For more than 50 years, MCDC's collaborations with groundbreaking artists from all disciplines have redefined the way audiences experience the visual and performing arts.
Following Cunningham's death last year, MCDC embarked on its final two-year world tour. Launched in February 2010 at the Wexner Center in Columbus, Ohio, the legacy tour is a celebration of Cunningham's lifetime of artistic achievement, showcasing seminal works taken from throughout his career. Currently encompassing over 40 cities, the tour will culminate in New York City - MCDC's home since it was founded - in December 2011.
"Nearly 90²" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets priced at $150, $250, $350 and $480 are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients may have 50% off (limited quotas for CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20% is offered for group bookings. Please refer to the programme leaflet for details. A post-performance meet-the-artist session will be held after the first show.
There will be video screenings and modern dance workshop associated to the programme. For details, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Friday, November 19, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:03
NNNN
