Asian premiere of Haruki Murakami-inspired dance works by James Cousins at Peta

MANILA, PHILIPPINES— Bestsellers like Haruki Murakami’s “Norwegian Wood” have long inspired film, television and theater adaptations worldwide. But dance?

Touted as a “rising star” by Britains’ national daily, the Independent, British choreographer James Cousins dared to.

British Council, PetaTheater Center and the Cultural Center of the Philippines are delighted to present the Asian premiere of British choreographer James Cousins’ contemporary dance works: the highly-acclaimed “There We Have Been” and its sequel “Without Stars”. Shows are on Thursday, October 9 (8pm) and Friday, October 10 (3pm and 8pm) at the Peta Theater Center. The twin-bill production will next tour Malaysia and Vietnam this year.

“There We Have Been” focuses on the first half of Murakami’s novel, wherein two dancers enact the development of relationships between the novel’s

protagonist and his late best friend’s girlfriend. This duet sees English performers Aaron Vickers and Lisa Welham intensely folding, wrapping and balancing, with the female character never once touching the floor.

“Without Stars” tells the other half of the story. Framed from the male protagonists’ point of view, the piece for three dancers tells the story of a man on the brink of losing the life of his love. The dance piece features international contemporary dancers Albert Garcia (Spain), Chihiro Kawasaki (Japan) and Georges Hann (UK).

James Cousins trained at the London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS), graduating in 2010 with a first class honors degree. As a performer, major highlights of his career are dancing for the international tour and film adaptation of Matthew Bourne’s “Swan Lake” and performing for the 2012 film “Anna Karenina” starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law.

As a choreographer, Cousins has created numerous works that have been performed throughout London and abroad to great acclaim. In August 2011, he became the first winner of the inaugural Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Choreographer Award. “There We Have Been” was the resulting showcase piece from the said award.

Cousins’ twin bill production is a proof of arts’ capacity to inspire more art, bridging cultures through creativity and talent.

Tickets are P450. For tickets contact Ticket World at 891-999 or Ticketworld.com or contact the PETA Theater Center at 725 – 6244, 0915-4933728 or email peta.theatercenter@gmail.com
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