World Premiere: James Kudelka’s Four Old Legs
24 Mar 2019.  -

Photo of Evelyn Hart and Zhenya Cerneacov in Four Old Legs by Jeremy Mimnagh

Legendary Canadian ballerina Evelyn Hart stars in Four Old Legs, The world premiere of Canadian dance luminary James Kudelka’s Four Old Legs will be on stage this April. Citadel + Compagnie’s resident choreographer and Order of Canada appointee Kudelka has created this poignant performance as a heartfelt journey of love, relationships, and the passage of time.

Ballet icon Evelyn Hart and acclaimed dance artist Zhenya Cerneacov eloquently explore the premise that growing older is something better practiced by young people. “It is always a joy to present new work by James Kudelka, whose finely honed talent and inexhaustible curiosity never cease to amaze me,” says Citadel + Compagnie’s Artistic Director Laurence Lemieux. “The ballet world has historically been devoted to youth and artistic novelty; however, works by seasoned artists whose creative relationships have deepened with time and familiarity are immensely rewarding. The intimate setting of The Citadel gives audience members an extraordinary opportunity to see Evelyn Hart, Canada’s most beloved ballerina, perform at close range and enjoy the fruits of her long-term collaboration with Kudelka.”

Four Old Legs is a series of vignettes that explore long-term love, after the heady thrill of infatuation has faded. A series of solos and duets are danced in a sparsely furnished space, each one providing a glimpse into the shared life of a couple, weaving the emotional threads into the rich and varied tapestry of a longstanding relationship. Set to 16 songs by artists as varied as Chopin, the Talking Heads, Judy Garland, and Serge Gainsbourg, the music indicates the passage of time and helps to illuminate the gifts and challenges of the aging process. With lighting design by Simon Rossiter, projection design by Jeremy Mimnagh and costumes by Hoax Couture, Four Old Legs represents a collaboration of experienced artists at the top of their game.