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Bridget Cauthery
Patricia (Trish) Beatty and David Earle first crossed paths in the early 1960s at the Martha Graham School in New York. Originally from Toronto, both Beatty and Earle were inspired by Graham's teachings and went to study at her school as well as with modern dance luminaries Pearl Lang, Sophie Maslow, Donald McKayle and José Limón.
In 1967, Beatty returned to Canada to found one of Canada's first professional modern dance companies, the New Dance Group of Canada. That same year, Earle and American dancer Peter Randazzo travelled to Toronto to give a number of performances, including appearances with Beatty's company. It was Earle's and Randazzo's intention to start their own modern dance company but Beatty proposed that they integrate their visions within one company. Earle and Randazzo agreed and the new company, Toronto Dance Theatre, gave its first performance in December, 1968.
Beatty, Earle and Randazzo shared teaching, choreographing and administrating responsibilities, dividing their time between the company and School of Toronto Dance Theatre that grew alongside. Driven by their zeal to bring modern dance to Canada as a serious art form, Beatty and Earle developed their gifts as choreographers and as teachers. They were in turn inspired by the artistic milieu they fostered, and by the dancers they mentored and worked with, including Susan Macpherson, Peggy Baker, TDT's present Artistic Director Christopher House, René Highway, also associated with Native Earth Performing Arts Inc. and Danny Grossman, who went on to develop the Danny Grossman Dance Company.
Noted for her feminine strength, virtuosity and dynamic collaborations with musicians and visual artists, Beatty's work resonates with spiritual energy, epitomized by Mas Ha Rai (1980) and Dancing the Goddess (1993). Earle's natural lyricism and evocative imagery have fuelled close to a hundred works including commissions for the National Ballet of Canada and Ballet British Columbia. Their joint contribution was honoured in 1988 with the Toronto Arts Award, and in 1997 Earle received the Order of Canada.
Since departing from Toronto Dance Theatre in the early 1990s, Earle has founded Dancetheatre David Earle as a vehicle for his work, while Beatty continues to teach, mentor younger artists, and choreograph. Their presence and undeniable influence continues to manifest in their teaching, their choreographic legacy, their present work, and in three generations of dance artists.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anderson, Carol. "Earle, David," 101 from the Encyclopedia of Theatre Dance in Canada, edited by Susan Macpherson. Dance Collection Danse Press/es: Toronto, 1997.
Beatty, Patricia. Form without Formula: A Concise Guide to the Choreographic Process. Press of Terpsichore Ltd.: Toronto, 1989.
Jackson, Graham. "Martha's Web: Ten Years with Toronto Dance Theatre," Dance in Canada. Winter 1978-1979, pp. 3-8.
Jackson, Graham. "Beatty, Trish,"101 from the Encyclopedia of Theatre Dance in Canada, edited by Susan Macpherson. Dance Collection Danse Press/es: Toronto, 1997.
Mason, Francis. "A Conversation with Christopher House," Canadian Dance Studies 2, Graduate Programme in Dance, York University, Toronto, 1997.
Saxton, Nadine and Cornell, Katherine. Toronto Dance Theatre 1968-1998: Stages in a Journey, Captus Press: Toronto, 1998.
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Photo: Trish Beatty
Photo: David Earle
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