Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents WINTERSONG — dances for a sacred season December 8 to 10

From a media release

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents
WINTERSONG — dances for a sacred season
December 8 to 10 at Harbourfront Toronto

• Get Tickets Here

NOVEMBER 2023 (Toronto) - Celebrating 35 years of illuminating the solstice through dance, Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents WINTERSONG—dances for a sacred season. Featuring a World Premiere by Hanna Kiel, plus works by Jera Wolfe, Santee Smith, Carol Anderson and Colin Connor, WINTERSONG warms the hearts of family audiences with a breathtaking tapestry of seasonal dance inspired by the world’s rich solstice traditions.

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents WINTERSONG (Photo: David Hou)

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre is a Toronto based repertory company of exceptional next-generation artists founded in 1980 by Artistic Director Deborah Lundmark and Managing Director Michael deConinck Smith. Highlights include appearances at Toronto’s Princess of Wales and Royal Alexandra Theatres, five invitations to the Canada Dance Festival and tours to Singapore, Malaysia, China, Scotland and NYC. CCDT has been featured at Fall For Dance North, Toronto’s premiere international dance festival, and Harbourfront Centre’s inaugural International Junior Festival.       

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents WINTERSONG (Photo: David Hou)

 The Programme 

A Sonata of Shadows (World Premiere)—Choreography by Hanna Kiel

Music by Adam Campbell

“This composition delves into the aftermath of the solstice, examining its connection to our lives and the lessons we derive from it. There are moments when it feels like this darkness will never dissipate. However, as in the natural cycle, daylight inevitably returns. This piece explores the profound nuances of these dark moments, delving into the feeling that they might persist indefinitely.” —Hanna Kiel

Hanna Kiel is a Dora award winner, a founder and artistic director of Human Body Expression, and a resident choreographer at Canada’s Ballet Jorgen.

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents WINTERSONG (Photo: David Hou)

Star Dreamer (2011)—Choreography by Santee Smith

Music by Cris Derksen

“Star Dreamer celebrates the traditional story of the Seven Dancers and significance of the Pleiades to the Iroquoian Midwinter Ceremonies. During the winter solstice Shooting Star dreams the Seven Dancers into existence. Dancing and swirling in unison, they transform into the brightest stars in the sky while he falls back to Earth.” —Santee Smith

Santee Smith / Tekaronhiáhkhwa is a multidisciplinary artist and the founder and artistic director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre.

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents WINTERSONG (Photo: David Hou)

Embers (2019)—Choreography by Jera Wolfe

Music by Luke Howard, Lior, Shards

“When I think about the winter solstice I am taken to my time spent in Winnipeg. I remember the cold winters that brought me and others together. We would gather together indoors to stay warm. We would eat, play music and enjoy each other’s company. It was the warmth of us coming together that brought comfort to the harsh and unforgiving winters.” — Jera Wolfe

Jera Wolfe is a Dora award winner whose choreographic credits include the National Ballet of Canada, Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, and Red Sky Performance.

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents WINTERSONG (Photo: David Hou)

THAW (2022)—Choreography by Colin Connor

Music by Patrick Grant

“THAW is a celebration of ice thawing and changing into rushing Spring rivers. It is also a celebration of these young dancers finally emerging from the cold of pandemic distance and isolation into the warmth of closeness and being truly with each other again.” —Colin Connor

Colin Connor is an award-winning choreographer and former artistic director of the American legacy José Limón Dance Company.

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre presents WINTERSONG (Photo: David Hou)

Nowell Sing We (1988)—Choreography by Carol Anderson      

Music by Kirk Elliott 

Driven by the celebratory briskness of medieval carols arranged by Kirk Elliott, Nowell Sing We sets two-dimensional imagery – familiar from medieval art – into motion. Since its creation in 1988 for the inaugural WinterSong, every CCDT company member has danced in this piece. 

A founding member and Artistic Director of Dancemakers, Carol Anderson subsequently went on to create ten works for CCDT as the company’s most prolific guest artist. She is a celebrated writer on the subject of Canadian dance and recipient of the Dance Ontario Award.