LONDON.- Contemporary artist Pablo Bronstein (born 1977, Buenos Aires), whose critically acclaimed exhibition Sketches for Regency Living continues at the ICA until 25 September, presents Plaza Minuet / The Birth of Venus, an original ballet devised by Bronstein and co-commissioned by the ICA and Tramway, Glasgow, at both venues in September.

Classically trained dancers, including Matthias Sperlinger and Rosalind Masson, perform the two-part ballet wearing costumes designed by Mary Katrantzou. In Plaza Minuet, Bronstein develops ideas explored in his contribution to the Tate Triennial 2006, in which performers obey a series of rules of behaviour. They follow lines marked out on the floor that might represent an architectural void or an imagined piazza. Part two, The Birth of Venus, opens with the entry of the King symbolising the birth and triumph of Venus.

London-based Pablo Bronstein creates drawings, models, installations and performances that examine the mechanisms of architectural space and highlight the inherent power structures that define and direct human behaviour and movement. The dance performances that he has choreographed combine the language of baroque and neoclassical styles with minimalistic aspects of modern dance and ritualised actions. For his exhibition Sketches for Regency Living at the ICA until 25 September, Bronstein draws upon London’s Regency history and that of the ICA building, Nash House.

Canadian Matthias Sperling is an associate artist with the national dance agency Dance4 and winner of a Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award. International festival appearances include Nottdance (UK), Dance Umbrella (UK), Les Rep'rages (France) and Springdance (Netherlands), and he has performed and collaborated with companies including Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance and Siobhan Davies Dance.
Rosalind Masson trained at the London Contemporary Dance School. She currently works with La Nua Dance Company and Bodysurf Scotland. She has worked with Movement Research, learning from choreographers such as Miguel Guitterez, John Jasperse and Katie Duck in New York, and Arthur Staldi and Renate Graziadei at Labor Gras Studio in Berlin.

Plaza Minuet /The Birth of Venus is a co-commission between the ICA, London, and Tramway, Glasgow, and is generously supported by The Workroom, Scotland's independent dance atelier, based at Tramway. Sketches for Regency Living is supported by Bloomberg, Herald Street, The Henry Moore Foundation, John Jones and Arts Council England.