MOMIX Returns to Auckland with Passion

Hot American dance theatre company MOMIX returns to New Zealand in April to perform a strictly limited season of its signature work Passion.

THE EDGE®, in association with CAMI Spectrum LLC, presents Passion in the ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, from April 5-10.

Inspired by the score and themes from the 1984 Martin Scorsese film The Last Temptation of Christ, and created by legendary American choreographer Moses Pendleton, Passion weaves Christ’s sacred passion, the sensuality of earthly love and a celebration of the natural world into a tapestry of astounding splendour.

“A combination of dream, magic, light show and hymn to the glories of the human body, the production has to be one of the most inventive and fascinating creations ever hatched by anyone.” – Dallas Morning News

Passion combines MOMIX’s most versatile and innovative dancers with epic projected imagery and a Peter Gabriel score that made world music history.

“Looking at Passion, I felt I was seeing something extraordinarily exciting about to happen.” – Clive Barnes, New York Post

Based in Washington, MOMIX is known for its mind-boggling and body-bending images and has been celebrated worldwide for its ability to conjure up a universe of surrealistic images using props, light, shadow, humour and the human body, blurring the boundaries of classical ballet, modern dance, gymnastics, acrobatics, aerial arts and human puppetry.

MOMIX has wowed audiences throughout the world and made its New Zealand debut in February 2004 with Opus Cactus, receiving standing ovations from the Auckland audiences and rave reviews from critics.

Now, in this strictly limited Auckland season, THE EDGE® gives New Zealand audiences the opportunity to once again experience the astonishing talents of this dance theatre company.

“… the power of myth, meeting the power of MOMIX … a world’s history of mythic images … seduction and emotion … acrobatics, pure classical line, rhythmic gymnastics, circus tricks – they did everything with a touch of class and amazing body control.” Montreal Gazette.

Tickets for Passion at the ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE® are on sale now. Book at Ticketek 09 307-5000 or online at http://www.ticketek.com

Choreographer: Moses Pendleton

Music: Peter Gabriel

April 5-10 2005

ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, THE EDGE

Background Information – Momix

Known internationally for presenting work of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty, MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists under the direction of Moses Pendleton. For 20 years, MOMIX has been celebrated for its ability to conjure up a world of surrealistic images using props, light, shadow, humour and the human body.

In addition to stage performances worldwide, the company has frequently worked on special projects, in film and in television. MOMIX has made five Italian RAI television features broadcast to 55 countries (including the USSR and China) and has performed on Antenne II in France.

MOMIX also featured in PBS’s Dance in America series. The company participated in the “Homage a Picasso” in Paris and was selected to represent the US at the European Cultural Center at Delphi. MOMIX dancers Cynthia Quinn and Karl Baumann played the role of Bluey in the film FX II, under the direction of Moses Pendleton. The company is featured on a Decca Records laser disc, appearing with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony in the Rhombus Media film of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, winner of an International Emmy for Best Performing Arts Special.

In 1992, Mr. Pendleton created Bat Habits, developed with the support of the Scottsdale Cultural Council/Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Scottsdale Arizona and the University of Washington to celebrate the opening of the San Francisco Giants’ new spring training park in Scottsdale, Arizona. This work was the forerunner of Baseball which was created by Mr. Pendleton in 1994.

MOMIX is featured in one of the first IMAX films in 3-D - Imagine premiered at the Taejon Expo 93 and was subsequently released in IMAX theatres worldwide. MOMIX has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Spain, Greece, Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Denmark, Spain, England, Austria, Ireland, Holland, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. The company is based in Washington, Connecticut.

Background Information – Moses Pendleton

Artistic director and choreographer Moses Pendleton was born and raised on a dairy farm in northern Vermont – his earliest performing experience exhibiting Holstein Friesians at the Caledonia County Fair.

An accomplished athlete, he won the Vermont State Cross-Country Ski Championship in 1967. He received his BA in English Literature from Dartmouth College in 1971, and co-founded Pilobolus Dance Theater the same year.

Moses first worked outside of Pilobolus in 1979, choreographing and performing in the Paris Opera’s Integrale Eric Satie. He then choreographed the closing ceremonies for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid. It was at these games that he premiered his solo, Momix, which became the name of the company he founded in 1981.

In addition to his work with MOMIX, Moses has been active as choreographer and performer for numerous other companies around the world. In 1980, he revived Picabia’s Dadaist ballet, Relache for the Joffrey Ballet.

He created the role of the fool for Yuri Lyubimov’s 1982 production of Mussorgsky’s, Kovanschina at Milan’s La Scala. That same year in Berlin he staged and performed in the Deutshe Opera’s production, Tutuguri, based on the writings of Antonin Artaud. He choreographed Stravinsky’s Pucinella for the Ballet de Nancy in 1985 and Rameau’s, Platee for the U.S. Spoleto Festival in 1987.

He supplied “mise en scene” for the 1988 revival of Cocteau’s, Les Maries de la Tour Eiffel for the inauguration of the Florence Gould Hall at the Alliance Francaise in New York. In 1989 he choreographed AccorDION for the Vorbuhne-Zurich Theatre. He also contributed choreography for Lina Wertmuller’s 1983 production of Carmen with the Munich State Opera. Moses has also performed as a soloist in dance galas throughout the world.

His film work includes the 1982 Moses Pendleton Presents Moses Pendleton for ABC Arts which won a Cine Golden Eagle award. He also contributed choreography to the Bluey character in the 1991 film, FXII. He co-starred with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in the Emmy Award winning film of Mussorgsky’s. Pictures At An Exhibition, produced by Rhombus Media. His 3D IMAX film, Imagine, was released in IMAX theatres worldwide in 1994. Moses has also choreographed music videos, including Julian Lennon’s 1984 Too Late For Goodbyes, directed by Sam Peckinpah and Prince’s Batdance from the film, Batman. Moses’ work has been seen on PBS’ Dance in America, City Arts and Great Performances.

In Europe, Moses has directed and choreographed many special programmes for Antenne II in France and RAI TV in Italy. In America, his TV appearances include The Tonight Show.

Moses’ work has been recognised through various awards. These include becoming a Guggenheim Fellow in 1977, a 1998 recipient of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts’ Governor’s Award and being awarded Italy’s Positano Award in 1999.

Among his many projects for 2004-2005 is a new, full evening length work he is creating for MOMIX which grew out of a co-commission with the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts and the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. This work, Sun Flower Moon, will be performed at The Joyce Theater in Manhattan in May 2005.

© Scoop Media