Dance around the North Island for a tenth birthday

Media Release – For Immediate Release
2 July 2007

Touch Compass dances around the North Island for a tenth birthday celebration

Renowned New Zealand dance company Touch Compass celebrates its 10th anniversary in Auckland from October 17, 2007 with a four centre North Island tour. The company’s most memorable works have been selected for this retrospective showcase, including the outstanding and critically acclaimed work - Lusi’s Eden.

Over the last ten years audiences have been drawn to the beauty and skill of this ground breaking company, unique for its integration of professional dancers and choreographers with and without a disability.

Highly regarded for their innovation and “flying” which sees wheelchairs and dancers suspended and swinging above the stage, the company creates work to challenge public perception of “what dance is and who is a dancer”. The work that has resulted has earned Touch Compass the reputation as a pioneering and ingenious contemporary dance company.

A decade ago, artistic director and founder Catherine Chappell returned home from the United States to experiment with her newly learned contact improvisation skills. Touch Compass was created in the same year and in 1997 the first Touch Compass season proudly premiered at Auckland’s Maidment Theatre.

Lusi’s Eden is a theatrical journey which sees the heroine Lusi Faiva trade her electric wheelchair for a harness to fly her to freedom across the stage and high above the audience. This physical and metaphorical flight of fancy inspires and uplifts audiences who identify with the liberation of spirit which is captured by this poignant and exuberant work.

“Lusi’s Eden [is] a precious gem, polished and flawless and brilliantly lit from the heart within.” - Bernadette Rae, New Zealand Herald, 2001

The 2007 Touch Compass retrospective tour offers audiences a chance to trace the journey of this captivating dance company as they launch into a new decade of exceptional dance.

RETROSPECTIVE SEASON runs 17 October – 15 November 2007
Tickets go on sale 6 Aug 2007.
Tickets from $20-$50 (concessions and group discounts available).

AUCKLAND
As part of the 2007 tempo – NZ Festival of Dance
Maidment Theatre, 17th-20th October.
Bookings: (09) 3082383 or www.maidmenttheatre.ac.nz

WHANGAREI
Forum North, 31st October.
Bookings: (09) 430 4244 or www.ticketek.co.nz

HASTINGS
Hawkes Bay Opera House, 8th November.
Bookings: 0800 4 TICKET or www.ticketdirect.co.nz

WELLINGTON
Te Whaea Theatre, 13th – 15th November.
Bookings: 0800 4 842538 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz

For more information visit www.touchcompass.org.nz

ENDS

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