TDT presents Convergent Divergency

Completing an energizing 22.23 season, Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) is thrilled to announce the details of a spring duet of new works – Convergent Divergency – on stage at the Winchester Street Theatre March 23 – 25 and March 30 – April 1.

A captivating double bill, Convergent Divergency invites audiences to experience divergent styles and voices in dance as TDT company dancers converge with guest dancers from the Bharatanatyam and Kiki Ballroom scenes in two new works: helix by Atri Nundy and GIVE ME ONE by Danah Rosales.

Bharatanatyam dancer/choreographer Atri Nundy brings together three company dancers and two Bharatanatyam dancers in her new creation, helix, which takes on a search for the contemporary in Atri’s own choreographic language. Altogether, the artists embrace the possibilities of the body with the spine at the crux of this piece. As they lengthen and spiral their bodies with deep rigour, care and concentration, the ensemble will show audiences the beautiful complexity of the body in the simplicity of movements.

GIVE ME ONE from Danah Rosales, known as ‘New Legend Mother Maldita Siriano’ in Toronto’s kiki ballroom scene, will fill the theatre space with elements from their ballroom experience, including Runway, Face, and Vogue. Featuring original music from DJ, producer, and rapper myst milano alongside striking styling by Diséiye, this invigorating work is built upon the bonds formed and nurtured between three company dancers and three artists from the Toronto Ballroom community, all while celebrating each of their unique personalities, dauntlessness, beauty, power, and joy.

“This season at TDT puts a focus on the intersections of dance forms, which is why I am really excited for audiences to experience this double bill, featuring the TDT ensemble performing alongside some amazing new guest performers,” says TDT’s Artistic Director Andrew Tay. “Choreographer Atri Nundy is building on ideas that were initially created during our Pilot Episodes residency project last season, while former TDT dancer Danah Rosales returns to the company to create her first work with collaborators from the Kiki ballroom scene. See you all at the theatre!”

Convergent Divergency runs March 23 – 25 and March 30 – April 1 at the Winchester Street Theatre. Performances are at 7:30pm plus a 2:00 p.m. matinee on April 1. Tickets are offered on a sliding scale, ranging from $10 to $45 and are available at tdt.org. Audiences can select whichever ticket price option that works best for them. A livestream is scheduled for March 25 (tickets $5 – $15), and the recording will remain on demand to ticket holders for 14 days following initial airing. ASL interpretation will be available at the March 30 performance. The runtime is 80 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.

Facebook: @TorontoDanceTheatre
Twitter: @TOdancetheatre
Instagram: @torontodancetheatre
TikTok: @torontodancetheatre

Media contact:
Suzanne Cheriton, RedEye Media, suzanne@redeyemedia.ca, 416-805-6744

ABOUT Convergent Divergency
March 23 – 25 and March 30 – April 1
At the Winchester Street Theatre, 80 Winchester St.
7:30 p.m. performances plus a 2:00 p.m. matinee on April 1
Livestream available for March 25 performance
Duration: 80 minutes (including a 20 minute intermission)

helix by Atri Nundy

• Performed by: Yuichiro Inoue, Rachana Joshi, Peter Kelly, Megumi Kokuba, Purawai Vyas
• Costume Design: Valerie Calam
• Sound Collaborators: Nancy Thavaruban with cellist Dante Alaimo

GIVE ME ONE by Danah Rosales

• Performed by: Jocelyne ‘Jaws’ Cardenas, Matthew ‘Snoopy’ Cuff, Kelly-Ann Johnson, Erin Poole, Devon Snell, Roberto Soria
• Costume Design: Diséiye
• Sound Composer: myst milano

Choreographers: Atri Nundy and Danah Rosales
Artistic Director: Andrew Tay
Rehearsal Director: Rosemary James
Lighting Design: Noah Feaver
Production Managers: Bryan Kling and Tanya Bregstein
Stage Manager: Jennifer Newnham
Assistant Stage Manager: Stephanie Dilnot
Technical Director and Board Operator: Jasper Jacobs
Stage Hands: William Paul Carter and Will Carr
Livestream Director: Eddie Kastrau
Camera Operators: Alex Gangurean and Jack Reslinski

ABOUT ATRI NUNDY

Atri Nundy started learning Bharatanatyam at Sampradaya Dance Academy under her teacher Lata Pada at the age of four. After completing her arangetram in 2005, she continues to work as a teacher at the Academy and as a Company dancer and choreographer at Sampradaya Dance Creations.

While training in Bharatanatyam, Atri was fortunate enough to be able to train in various dance forms. This combination has given her the interest to explore beyond the traditional realms of Bharatanatyam. She has had the opportunity to work with Kevin Ormsby at KasheDance, Nova Bhattacharya at NovaDance and Brandy Leary at Anandam Dancetheatre. She created her first ensemble piece, Mindful Chatter, that was commissioned by Anandam Dancetheatre and supported by the Toronto Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts in April 2022.

ABOUT DANAH ROSALES

Danah Rosales is a Toronto based cis-queer millennial; second-generation Canadian-Filipin*; a daughter; a dawta; a sister; a sis; a mother of two little humans; a mutha of a kiki house; and an artist in which her work encompasses improvisational performance, choreography, competition, collaboration, teaching, and active community participation and organization.

ABOUT TORONTO DANCE THEATRE

Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) is an iconic name within the Canadian dance landscape. Founded in 1968, the company was instrumental in ushering in a new era of modern dance to Toronto and national audiences. Today, TDT is one of Canada’s leading innovators in dance while being one of the very few contemporary companies in the country with a full-time ensemble of dancers. Think of TDT as Toronto’s original dance provocateurs, bringing the city’s dance creativity to the world and the world to Toronto.

Under the artistic direction of Andrew Tay, TDT supports imaginative programming that places creative risk-taking and artistic development at the forefront. They create initiatives that address relevant issues within the field, stage high-calibre theatre productions and instigate thoughtful activations in the community. TDT’s home, the historic Winchester Street Theatre, sees 15,000 people through our doors annually, and is recognized as a hub for hundreds of independent artists and community groups.

Toronto Dance Theatre acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.