Persefony Songs
Persefony Songs, my final work for TDT, used sections of a 2001 dance, Persephone's Lunch (based on the Odyssey), to build a new work in collaboration with composer Thom Gill and the musicians of Bernice. Their gorgeous music was played live in each performance.
Premiered Toronto, March 5, 2019
Created with and first performed by Sonja Boretski, Zachary Cardwell, Alana Elmer, Yuichiro Inoue, Peter Kelly, Megumi Kokuba, Pulga Muchochoma, Erin Poole, Margarita Soria, Roberto Soria, Devon Snell and Christianne Ullmark of Toronto Dance Theatre and Robin Dann, Daniel Fortin, Thom Gill, Philippe Melanson, Alex Samaras and Felicity Williams of Bernice
Music director
Thom Gill
Music performed by Bernice (Robin Dann, Dan Fortin, Thom Gill, Felicity Williams) and guest Alex Samaras
Lighting designer
Simon Rossiter
Set design
Steve Lucas and Simon Rossiter after James Robertson
Costumes
Jennifer Dallas after Anna Michener
Rehearsal director
Rosemary James
Consultant
Tedd Robinson
"House's recent body of work– Martingales, Echo and now Persefony Songs,– are all textured and strikingly atmospheric creations. What sets the exquisite Persefony Songs apart is it stirring aura of tenderness.
Globe and Mail
"It is an act of presence as much as an act of movement. It is eventful before it is performative. It creates the sense of colloquy among its performers, as though the action moves forward because they agree to it, collectively, in real time."
Globe and Mail
Photos of the company by Omer Yukseker