46/ JUNE 2012 THE RIDER Apassionata


Now in its ninth year, APASSIONATA brings its new show featuring over 40 horses entitled “The Beginning” to Toronto’s Ricoh Coliseum in July as part of an eighteen month, sixty-six city North Ameri- can tour. The Toronto per- formances are slated for Friday July 20 (8pm) Sat- urday July 21 (3pm & 8pm) and Sunday July 22 (3pm).


For almost a decade this theatrical sensation has enchanted families and horse lovers alike with its superb equestrianship that includes magnificent dres- sage and exhilarating stunt riding. The natural ele- gance, nobility, speed and agility of these animals is breath-taking and features many different breeds from Shetland ponies to Friesians that have been brought together from across Europe and North America to create this thrilling theatrical extrava- ganza.


Starting in 2003, APASSIONATA’s success in Europe has been so remarkable and consistent


Europe’s most successful live entertainment show comes to Toronto’s Ricoh Coliseum July 20 through 22


with horses. They were a part of our lives and it was only later, once I lived in cities, that I understood how important that connec- tion with horses was to me as a child. If we could re- create the relationship between man and horse on stage, we would have the basis for magnificent enter- tainment. And with the success we’ve had with this show so far, I think the


public would agree.”


Massine and Grubich are taking great care in bringing APASSIONATA to North America. The full care, feeding and trans- portation of the equine cast of more than forty animals is a major logistical under- taking. The European horses need to be carefully introduced to their new North American environ- ment, as well as be condi-


tioned to new horses acquired here for the cast. The show plays arenas on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but from Monday to Thursday the horses are housed and cared for in one of eight centers fully equipped and staffed, and strategically located around the continent.


In addition the pro- ducers have brought together an award winning,


critically acclaimed, Broad- way creative team for its North American debut tour. This team is lead by direc- tor Scott Faris, working with Holger Ehlers, author, Artistic & Musical Director of the European tour, to bring all the elements together for the North American production.


Director Faris told us, “The show brings together top class horsemanship and many exotic breeds of horses not often seen in North America. APAS- SIONATA gives the audi- ence an experience that will not be forgotten. The intense communication between horse and rider


will thrill horse enthusiasts and audiences of all ages.” Please visit www.apassionata.com/usa/ tour-tickets/toronto/ for show information and tick- ets.


By Glenda Fordham FordhamPR


that its producer-creator Peter Massine and his US producing partner, Tanya Grubich, were motivated to bring the excitement of APASSIONATA to North America. Massine has re- envisioned how horses could be brought to the stage in a thrilling, dramat- ic and mesmerizing theatri- cal presentation.


“Although showman- ship is an important com- ponent of APASSIONA- TA,” Massine says, “this isn’t just a show about what kind of tricks humans can train horses to do, or how fast they can be rid- den, or how high can they jump. This is a show about a very deep kind of joy, happiness and contentment that our cast and audience experience with these ani- mals.”


When Massine origi- nally created APASSION- ATA, he sought out leg- endary horsemen and women of Europe, many of whom had spent their lives working with these animals or have continued the lin- eage of families who have worked with horses for generations.


“When I was a boy in Northern Germany,” con- tinues Massine, “every- body had a horse and everyone was connected


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