"Prima" Modern Dance Premiere October 28, 2010

”…the line between violence and sexuality is cynically blurred, as dancers hold their arms up, as if at gunpoint, or crawl on the floor like strippers…” – The New York Times on “Prima”

Testperformancetest, Fusebox Festival, PS 122 and the JCC in Manhattan announce the Austin premiere of critically acclaimed “Prima” by LeeSaar The Company created by Israeli duo, co artistic directors and Guggenheim fellowship awardees Saar Harari and Lee Sher. “Prima” will debut at the Off Center at 8 pm on Thursday, Oct. 28; Friday, Oct. 29; and Saturday, Oct. 30. This is the first time the performance has been seen in the U.S. outside of New York.

LeeSaar The Company developed “Prima,” this highly physical contemporary dance piece, through residences in Austin at the Fusebox Festival and in New York at the JCC in Manhattan and PS 122 with the support from testperformancetest; and major funding from The Greenwall Foundation, The Guggenheim Fellowship in Choreography, The Office of Cultural Affairs and Consulate General of Israel in NY.

”…Tough or tender, they’re amazing. And mysterious. But these mysteries don’t need to be solved. In our hearts and our own bodies, we know them…” said Deborah Jowitt of The Village Voice.

Formed in 2000 in Israel, with varied life experiences from parachuting in Tel Aviv to directing on Broadway, company members are from Taiwan, Korea, the United States and Israel. LeeSaar’s troupe embraces various disciplines in the arts where dance and choreography collide with theater.
This marks the third year of testperformancetest, a fund created to bring national and international performers to the Austin area spearheaded by Julie Thornton. The multi-year fund also commissions a variety of new work to be performed in Austin.

“I recommend Prima without reservation to audience members in astonishment of the mechanics of the human body, those struck by things beautiful and mysterious, and anyone in search of a deeply moving theatrical experience transcendent of language. Folks liable to get hung up on narrative and direct intent may want to take a pass, but for anyone else, this modern dance conception makes for a perfect eve, ” said David Witt of nytheatre.com.

Official Website: http://www.testperformancetest.com