David Earle (born 17 September 1939)Profile of David Earle is a Canadian choreographer, dancer and artistic director. In 1968 Earle was co-founder and co-artistic director of Toronto Dance Theatre alongside Patricia Beatty and Peter Randazzo, where Earle choreographed new modern dance pieces. In 1996 Earle started his own company called Dancetheatre David Earle where he continues to choreograph new works, to teach, and to create with the next generation of modern dancers. David Earle has received many accolades; a member of the Order of Canada, a recipient of the Jean A. Chalmers Award for Distinction in Choreography, also an honorary doctorate degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
Early life and training David Earle grew up in the suburb of Etobicoke. Earle's dance training began at the age of five with ballet and tap lessons from Toronto teachers Beth Weyms and Fanny Birdsall, debuting at Eaton Auditorium. In 1947, he joined Dorothy Goulding's Toronto Children's Players, where we would act for eleven years.
After graduating High School at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute, David Earle studied Radio and Television Arts for two years at Toronto's Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. At the age of twenty he left Ryerson after a Bolshoi Ballet performance inspired him to dance; he auditioned and was accepted as a scholarship student at Canada's National Ballet School. There he would meet Eurhythmics teacher Donald Himes who introduced him to the Laban technique at, modern dance artist, Yoné Kvietys' studio. David would go on to perform for two years with Kvietys' company.
In New York David Earle studied with Martha Graham. He was a dancer with the José Limón Dance Company for a single season, then assisted with setting up the London Contemporary Dance Theatre in England.
Toronto Dance Theatre After returning to Toronto Earle co-founded Toronto Dance Theatre with Patricia Beatty and Peter Randazzo in 1968. They agreed to share the role of artistic director and each create choreography for the company. Earle became known for emotional theatricality and attractive ensemble pieces. As time passed Earle assumed a more dominant role in the affairs and choreography of the company.
Earle joined the founders in 1977 to buy St. Enoch’s Church to convert it to the Winchester Street Theatre. In 1979 Earle created the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, a training program for professional modern dancers.
One of Earle’s dances during this time was Miserere, originally part of a larger work called Exit, Nightfall (1981). The piece incorporates liturgical themes and other religious imagery.
Earle and the other founders offered the artistic directorship of the company to Kenny Pearl in 1983.
During this time, Earle continued to choreograph in various places across Canada. In 1984 he created Sacra Conversazione at the Banff School of Fine Arts. The piece touches on themes of mortality and grief and is danced to Mozart’s unfinished Requiem Mass. The piece was later remounted with Toronto Dance Theatre in 1986.
In 1987 Earle returned as Toronto Dance Theatre’s sole artistic director. He continued in this role until 1994, where he became artist-in-residence with the company for two years.
He was profiled in Moze Mossanen's 1987 documentary film Dance for Modern Times, alongside Christopher House, James Kudelka, Ginette Laurin and Danny Grossman.
Dancetheatre David Earle After leaving Toronto Dance Theatre in 1996 Earle founded a new dance company called Dancetheatre David Earle, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. His recent work features collaborations with choirs, orchestras and chamber choirs.
In 2014 Earle premiered Exile, performed by three dancers. The piece drew upon traditional modern dance and was danced by young artists.
Choreography
David Earle has choreographed more than 130 works over five decades as founder/artistic director of Dancetheatre David Earle and co-founder/co-artistic director of Toronto Dance Theatre. +YEARTITLEMusicNotes2014Exile2006Only 2 For 4 In 52006Barn Dance2006Pavanne From The Sleeping Beauty2006Shalom2006Partings2005The Heart at Night2005The Bridge of Dreams2005Collecting Light2004 The Merman of Orford2004The Death of Enkidu2004A Farther Shore2003Piccolo Teatro or Self Portrait as a Drowned Man2003Jesu, Meine Freude2003Sealevel2003Somewhere I Never Traveled2002A Play of Light2002King David2002Zoroaster2002The Reproaches2002Vanishing Perspectives: parts one and two2002Strip Show2001Richot Mass2001Tango for String Quartet2001Meridian2001Dirait-on2001In Spite of and Because2001Le Minotaur2000L'Histoire du Soldat2000Horizon2000Night/Summer2000The Creatures of Prometheus2000There Was a Song1999Three Winter Prayers1999Imagined Memories1999Ex Voto1999Reunion1999Endangered Worlds1998Vertical Thoughts 31998Serious Games Part 11998Serious Games Part 21998Three Duets for Two Friends1998In Memoriam1998Kyrie1997Walking in Venice1997Danny Boy1997Walking in Venice II1997Last1997Hour of Light1997Une Cantate de Nöel1996Elsewhere1996Maelstrom1996Ark of the Covenant1996Sang1995Furniture1995Stardust1994Three Bach Arias1993Pillow of Grass1993Errata1993The Painter's Dream1992 Architecture for the Poor1992 Untitled Monument1992 Visible Distance: A Bach Suite1992 Angels and Victories1992 Undetermined Landscape1992 The Clay Forest1992 Diving for the Moon1991Romeos & Juliets1991The Voice of the Ancient Bard1990Capriccio1990Romance1990Autumn Leaves1990Dreamsend—A Melodrama in 12 Moving Parts1990Openings and Inventions1989Ancient Voices of Children1989El Amor Brujo (Wedded to Witchcraft)1989Schéhérazade1988Palace of Pleasure (or Death by Love)1988La Valse1988Chichester Psalms1987Sunrise1987Cantata {renamed The Triumph of Love, 1988}1987Cloud Garden1986Emotional Geography1986Sacred Garden1985Adagio from "The Theatre of Memory"1984Orpheus and Euridice1984Cape Eternity1984Sacra Conversazione1983Realm1983Court of Miracles1982Ormai1982Dido and Aeneas1981Moonchase1981Exit, Nightfall1981Journey1981Christmas Concerto1981All the Books in Heaven1980Courtyard1980Akhenaten1980La Bilancia1980Frost Watch1980Emozioni1979 Time in a Dark Room1979 Rejoice in the Lamb1979 Raven1979 The Wedding Dance1978 Courances1978 Sweet and Low Down1977Fauré Requiem1977Mythos1976Quartet1975Waltz Suite1975Deux Épigraphes Antiques1975L'Hôtel Splendide1975Vignette1975Field of Dreams1974Bugs1974Parade1973Ray Charles Suite1973Baroque Suite Finale1973Atlantis1972Lyrical Solo1972Baroque Suite Duet1972Lament1972Boat, River, Moon1971Balleto al Mio Bel Suon1971Legend1971The Silent Feast1970Operetta1970Portrait1970Pie Jesu1969 Lovers1969 Fire in the Eye of God1969 A Thread of Sand1968Angelic Visitation #11968Angelic Visitation #21968The Recitation1968Mirrors1967 Witness of Innocence1963Recitative and Aria
Accolades 2012 - Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal 2011 - Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, Laureate 2009 - Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, Individual Category 2006 - Walter Carsen Prize for excellence in the performing arts 2005 - Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario 2002 - Jacqueline Lemieux Prize, Canada Council for the Arts 1998 - Muriel Sherrin Award, Toronto Arts Council Foundation 1996 - The Order of Canada 1994 - Jean A. Chalmers Award for Distinction in Choreography. 1988 - Toronto Arts Award for Performing Arts - Toronto Dance Theatre co-founders David Earle, Patricia Beatty and Peter Randazzo. 1987 - Clifford E. Lee Award from the Banff Centre for the Arts 1987 - Dora Mavor Moore Award for best new choreography for Sunrise. "[ David Earle's ]... work Sacra Conversazione has been selected by Canadian dance professionals as one of ten Canadian choreographic masterworks of the twentieth century."
References
External links
Dancetheatre David Earle - Official Website