Archive for montreal
June 29, 2008 at 8:29 am · Filed under dance, performance, performances, performance art, BENNY, bennyroyce royon, montreal, peformance
Hello guys,
I just wanted to share some photos and the press release of a show I put up last week-and-a-few here in Montreal with Kyra Jean Green, my friend and collaborator who graduated with me from the Juilliard School in 2006. This was my first evening show… ever! The evening was composed of little dances that we both choreographed individually. We linked them all with interesting transitions and made it a cohesive program lasting less than an hour. We received lots of compliments and great comments. We plan to do the show again sometime soon because of the enthusiastic demand for the show to happen again. Both Kyra and I were very happy and thankful for all who made the show possible. The dancers, volunteers, and the audience. Merci!
“Seamless” choreography Bennyroyce Royon, dancer Roxane Duchesne-Roy, photography Franco Nieto
“Seamless” choreography Bennyroyce Royon, dancer Roxane Duchesne-Roy, photography Franco Nieto
(Kyra, Kyle, Roxane, Franco, Benny)
(Kyra Jean Green and the cushion seats.)
We performed at a studio loft for the first night and ran into the problem of figuring out how to seat the audience. So Kyra decided that we should buy blow up mini-inner-tubes and have the audience use them as seat cushions. The audience loved it! They particularly loved the blown up dolphin and Dalmatian dog. It was a really fun evening!
PRESS RELEASE
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Kyra Jean Green and Bennyroyce Royon present MUSIC DANCE FUN WOW !, an exciting collaborative dance show between two talented choreographers. Both graduated from the Juilliard School and currently dance with Cas Public. The event will be presented on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9PM at STUDIO SPACE and on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9PM at THE POUND. They have enlisted a stunning group of Montréal-based dancers. The program, which is a little less than an hour, includes several new works by both choreographers. Musical selections include music by Dani Siciliano, Cocoa Rosie, Archive, Venetian Snares, Ellen Alien, Autechre, and Animal Collective. Ms. Green’s talents have been praised by The Washington Times stating that “CityDance Ensemble is impressive. [One of] its greatest strength[s] is new dancer Kyra Jean Green…” She has also been acclaimed by Lisa Traiger a member of the Dance Critics Association, Carmel Morgan of “Ballet Dance Magazine, and by DC dance blogger Amanda Abrams who expressed that “Kyra Jean Green was terrific… clean movements, beautiful and a compelling presence.” Likewise, Mr. Royon’s dance and choreographic talents have been applauded by the Boston Globe, the Berkshire Eagle, and by Jennifer Dunning of The New York Times who expressed that Mr. Royon’s “keenly focused, succinct way with movement” was a pleasure to watch. Kyra Jean Green was born in France and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. She received her B.F.A. in dance from Juilliard in May 2006. Upon leaving Juilliard she danced and choreographed for City Dance Ensemble of Washington, D.C. Ms. Green was one of three winners selected from a pool of 114 applicants to participate in a one-week residency to create an original work for Hubbard Street II. She has also choreographed for Bosma Dance of Washington, D.C. and had an evening of her work presented at the Kennedy Center. In September, Ms. Green will be choreographing a new piece for the Michigan based company Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. Mr. Royon was born in the Philippines. He started professional dance training at age 16 with the Evergreen City Ballet Academy and received his BFA degree at the Juilliard School in 2006. Mr. Royon joined the Metropolitan Opera Ballet for its 2006/2007 season where he performed in the new production of Madama Butterfly, choreographed by Carolyn Choa and directed by Anthony Minghella. He also appeared in other MET Opera productions. In summer of 2007, he joined Rasta Thomas’ new all male company “Bad Boys of Dance” with a debut performance at Jacob’s Pillow as part of its 75th anniversary season. Mr. Royon’s choreographic works have been presented in Montréal, Maryland, Seattle, New York City, and at Jacob’s Pillow in Beckett, Massachussetts.
(Happy to tell friends about the successful evening!)
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January 24, 2008 at 4:00 pm · Filed under dance, blog, performance, BENNY, cas public, bennyroyce royon, montreal
Wingers!
Sincerest apologies for having been M.I.A. (missing in action) for quite some time now… I went to the Philippines to visit my family during the holidays; big family reunion, I haven’t been to the Philippines since I emigrated 11 years ago! It was really emotional to see my extended family. I came back from that trip and I left again for tour the following week! Now, I’m back and this week we (cas public) have our premiere of “Suite Cruelles” a new show that proves to be exciting. If you happen to be in Montreal, come see the show. Details are below!
PS. I enjoyed reading everyone’s updates and entries. Especially, Kristin’s iPhone entries! Keep ‘em coming! 
xo, Benny
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WWW.DANSEDANSE.NET
[Show Info.]
Since presenting Courage mon amour at Danse Danse in 2002, Hélène Blackburn has been busy creating two works for young audiences, Barbe Bleue and Journal intime, that were huge hits on their tours of Canada and abroad. Five years later, Blackburn and her company, Cas Public, are back to present dance lovers with a new work for 9 dancers and 2 pianists. Using body movements that combine the discipline of ballet with the surrender of contemporary dance, Hélène Blackburn draws us into a murky realm where pleasure and pain become one. Inviting.
[Synopsis]
Incandescence. Beings passionately search for one another, their vacant expressions mirroring the pain inside the bodies. The dancers explore and search one another with athletic jumps and jolts, alternately punishing, provoking and caressing each other. A mad dash tends toward the unbridled conquest of pleasure through the other.
The body works itself into a frenzy, it questions, rages and raves in search of what it cannot find: The impossible union of bodies and souls. Pain chosen reflects pain suffered. The hypnotic music and the violence of silence raise questions, while the frenetic rhythm haunts and mesmerizes.
The dancers sustain the virtuosity to the point of paroxysm, masters of the raw energy they exude. Lighter moments meet an intensity of desire like absurd fragments in a reality devoid of refinement.
The voluptuousness of the high heel rouses, and the body teeters then exults in disarticulated fits and starts.
As though finding pleasure necessarily involves losing oneself in pain…
Recent Posts by bennyroyce royon
November 5, 2007 at 5:45 am · Filed under dance, pointe shoes, BENNY, bennyroyce royon, montreal
This whole weekend has been the worst I’ve had so far in Montreal. I’ve been dealing with a toothache all day today and yesterday. Sucks that I don’t have dental insurance here. I’ve been taking Advil and putting Orajel on my gums. It helps but it doesn’t take all the pain away. I’ve been in bed most of the day. So now i’m up like an insomniac trying to find things to do. Laying down adds a headache to my tooth dilemma. I thought it would be a good idea to post something on here. And so here it is…
So, for our new creation “Suite Cruelles” our director has decided to put me on pointe shoes! I tried my old ones at home and they still fit. I’ve been wearing them for rehearsals but they hurt so much! I have much respect for you girls! She’s also put me and the other guys on heels! That’s right, high heeled shoes… well, I guess more character shoes. The process has been really rewarding. I can’t wait to perform it on stage. The whole company is excited. I hope some of you can and will consider to come up to this beautiful city of MONTREAL. IT ISN’T THAT FAR AWAY! And, its good to see something besides NYC performances!
Anyway, here’s a picture.
Recent Posts by bennyroyce royon
September 12, 2007 at 12:19 am · Filed under dance, blog, BENNY, cas public, bennyroyce royon, montreal, cananda
Across the border you’ll find me dancing in the city of Montreal with a company called Cas Public. This is my third week here and it has been great so far. Montreal is so wonderful! I’ve been biking to work every single day. I live near la Parc Fontaine. Such a gorgeous park but can’t compare to Central Park in New York City. Do I miss the city? Yes of course, but Montreal keeps be pretty busy.
The work that I do with the company is very interesting. I feel that I’m also an actor besides being a dancer. There is text, gestures, and of course the signature Helene Blackburn (the artistic director) contemporary fast movement, which the girls do most of it on pointe shoes. Right now I’m learning two shows that we are going to tour all over Quebec and Europe. We are also creating a new ‘creation/show’ entitled “Suite Cruelles.” I’m very excited for that!
Ah… Ben oui! C’est tres vrais qui j’ai commence å parler français dans mon travail… mais seulment quelquefois!
Not bad, eh? lol I didn’t even use a translator!
So sorry Wingers that I have been gone for a bit… I miss New York City. But I found me a new home in Montreal!
If you ever think of visiting…. let me know!
Recent Posts by bennyroyce royon
