DanceWorks presents acclaimed Vancouver company - Wen Wei Dance with Cock-Pit

Toronto, March 9, 2010- DanceWorks, this city's longest running contemporary dance series, presents the Toronto premiere of Cock-Pit performed by Vancouver's acclaimed Wen Wei Dance. A revealing, and ravishing quintet for four men and one woman that touches on adolescent sexual awakening, Cock-Pit runs Friday April 9 and Saturday April 10 at Harbourfront Centre's Fleck Dance Theatre, after which the company tours to Quebec City, Montreal, Regina, Victoria and Salt Spring Island in B.C.

Cock-Pit is inspired by Wen Wei Wang's memories of his student days in China at a boarding school run by the People's Liberation Army. "I shared a room with four boys for more than five years," he states. "We were at the age when we became concerned about sexuality without having any advice from our parents or teachers. We were not allowed to have girl friends, so we only thought about them in our dreams and imaginations. These memories contribute subconsciously to the scenario for this work."

In close quarters, four men play games that threaten to spiral into violence or desire. Inextricably bound together, they are alternately seduced, entranced and thwarted by an elusive female figure that moves easily between dreams and physical reality.

Incorporating anthropomorphic elements, four-foot long pheasant feathers that extend limbs and a heated sexuality that alternates between open combat and tender intimacy, Cock-Pit is infused with all the volatility and pressure of youth trapped in a closed-off world. As secret yearnings and open plays for dominance threaten to erupt, the possibility of escape, like a distant woman, moves into an unknown future.

Cock-Pit premiered in Vancouver in February of 2009 at which time Paula Citron of the Globe and Mail commented, "Wen Wei Wang is a master of imagery. His use of symbolism in dance is superb. So not surprisingly, his new work, Cock-Pit is a visual triumph."

Wen Wei Dance tours Cock-Pit as follows:
5 and 6 March - EDMONTON: Brian Webb Dance Company
9 and 10 April - TORONTO: Danceworks
15, 16 and 17 April - QUEBEC CITY: La Rotonde
21, 22, 23 and 24 April - MONTREAL: L'Agora de la danse
27 and 28 April - REGINA: New Dance Horizons
1 May - VICTORIA: Dance Victoria
4 May - SALT SPRING ISLAND: Arts Spring


Wen Wei Wang - choreographer

Wen Wei Wang began dancing at an early age in China, where he was born and raised. He trained and danced professionally with the Langzhou Song and Dance Company. In 1991, he came to Canada and joined the Judith Marcuse Dance Company after which he danced with Ballet British Columbia for seven years. In 2000, he received the Clifford E. Lee Choreographic Award and since then has choreographed for the Alberta Ballet, Ballet Jorgen, and Dancers Dancing. Since 2003, he has served as Artistic Director of Wen Wei Dance. The company has performed at major venues across Canada, the Vancouver International Dance Festival, Dancing on the Edge Festival, the Canada Dance Festival, and the International Contemporary Dance Festival in Colombia, South America. Wen Wei is the recipient of the 2006 Isadora Award for Excellence in Choreography.

DanceWorks presents Vancouver's acclaimed

Wen Wei Dance with Cock-Pit

Co-produced by L'Agora de la danse and the National Arts Centre

Choreographed by Wen Wei Wang

Original score by Giorgio Magnanensi, Lighting design by James Proudfoot

Part of Harbourfront Centre's NextSteps

Friday April 9, and Saturday April 10, 2010 8PM

Fleck Dance Theatre

207 Queens Quay West

Tickets: $28 (Discounts for students, seniors, CADA, SCDS, groups,)

                       Box Office: 416-973-4000 or online at www.danceworks.ca