Author: jason

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Fall for Dance: Program 4

Four solid performances tonight.

“Beach Birds” by CNDC Angers is perhaps my favorite Merce Cunningham choreography so far. I really enjoyed the nature-inspired movements — which felt like anything from a chirping bird playing in the forest, to saplings springing out of the soil. The music sounded like a gentle stream and the occasional breeze in the background, and complemented the movements perfectly. The last third of the piece became more abstract, and felt like more general geometric shapes to me.

I also like the variation of movement styles and the energy in Alicia Graf Mack‘s “Come Sunday”, and the powerful message of love in MADBOOTS Dance‘s “For Us”. Finally, it’s great fun to see Stella Abrera, Robbie Fairchild, and Gabe Stone Shayer do something completely different from classical ballet in “Unveiling” by Sonya Tayeh.

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Fall for Dance: Program 3

My favorite tonight goes to “Dare to Wreck” by Madeleine Månsson and Peder Nilsson of Skånes Dansteater, for some of the most amazing partnering that I’ve ever seen.

For context, Madeleine danced mostly in a wheelchair tonight, but this is *not* an “inclusion” performance to make a statement that dance is for everyone. This is *not* a choreography where a disabled dancer traced the approximate path of movements that had been created for another able-bodied dancer, to make a statement that they’re just capable. No no no no no.

“Dare to Wreck” is a showcase of what a wheelchair dancer can accomplish that no “able-bodied” dancers could even dream of. Madeleine could accelerate so rapidly and maintain such a high speed as she dashed across the stage, because she had wheels. The wheels also allowed her to decelerate and interact with Peder in ways not possible to other dancers.

I love the connection between Madeleine and Peder, both emotionally and technically. I love the the weight-sharing, weight-shifting, lifts, and aerials. I love all the creative and unexpected points of contact. I love the speed of their movements. I love the interaction between the dancers, the chair, and the wheels — like the way the wheels spin while Madeleine is lifted high in the air. Bravos!!

I also thoroughly enjoyed “At the Wrong Time” by Mariinsky Ballet featuring a trio of lovers. I love the different personalities on stage, especially the girl portrayed by Maria Shklyarova. I love the movement vocabulary, which looked like ballet movements inspired by Jazz-era ballroom steps. They look so much fun to dance!!!

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Fall for Dance: Program 2

WOW. JUST WOW.

Malevo owned the stage tonight. For a second night in a row at New York City Center, tap dancing took the cake at Fall for Dance. However, Malevo is waaaay beyond just tap or “Argentine folk dance” as the group describes itself.

It’s the most energetic and most energizing show I’ve seen in a long time — combining tapping/clogging, drumming, precision footwork, lighting, sound, and so much more.

Other memorable performances tonight include the unusual, unexpected, and wild French hip-hop dance company Compagnie Dyptik, and the beautiful Washington Ballet.

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Fall for Dance: Program 1

Caleb Teicher and Company with Chris Celiz owned the stage tonight, with their tap dancing and beatboxing collaboration.

I love the way Caleb’s dancers move their bodies and interact with one another, in addition to tapping.

I also looooove the way Caleb introduces comedy into tapping. It’s absolutely ingenious how an extra sound, a prolonged pause, or the dragging the side of his tap shoe across the stage at just perfect moment could bring the audience to laughter.

His choreography was creative, ever-changing, and I wanted more after the 30-minute performance!

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Tootsie

Good comedy, but the empty attempt to recast the story as advocating for gender equity failed miserably.

The plot is about an unemployed male actor, pretending to be a woman in order to land a job on Broadway. The mismatched and mistaken identities provided plenty of materials for laughs. The show was engaging and funny from the beginning to the end.

However, the show tried to superficially add a layer of pretense that it’s also promoting gender equality. The attempt failed miserably.

The analogy comparing “an actor lying his way to get a woman’s job” to “a man walking a mile in a woman’s shoes” did not fly. What lessons did the lead character learn from his mistakes? None, except he didn’t get laid. What did he suffer from telling outrageously lies? Nothing, except as a man he can walk away freely without consequences.

Women’s struggles, in the workplace and in the entertainment industry, were brushed over with a few clique expressions, and never explored in any serious manner. All the “blames” were placed on women, for not being able to balance their professional vs. personal life. The male character who fell for a strong woman was ridiculed in the plot.

Finally, if the show is seriously about gender equity… how about actually creating strong lead roles for women?

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Come From Away

Re-watching this amazing musical on the eve of the 18th anniversary of 9/11.

Still so touching. Still made me cry. Still made me laugh at the stupid Newfoundland jokes. Still one of my all-time favorite musical.

Yet I couldn’t shake a sense of sadness.

The unity we displayed and the bond we shared after 9/11 have been thoroughly destroyed since 2016 — by political actors who choose to divide us, sow distrust, and create divisions amongst us for their personal power grab.

Where do we as a nation stand today, compared to 18 years ago?

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Cultivated Chaos

I had a wonderful evening at Cultivated Chaos, a full-length show created and produced by Julia Kane, to benefit the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Some of my favorite moments include…

Stunning open scene to “Garden” by Sadie McNamara and Christophe Desorbay

Seeing the full version of “Stand By” by Christophe, Mica Butnar, Alicia Kee, and Jacob Spallino

Old favorites such as “100 Years” alongside new favorites such as “Take Me Home” and “Hurts 2B Human”

Plus, the sight of Julia Kane as tall as Megan Kirsch

A big congrats to Julia Kane Dance Collective and bravos to all the wonderful dancers Anakeiry Cruz, Cathryn Cioper, Julie Hricko, Ingrid Chang, Jordan Cassetta, Mica Romulo, Rachel Waldman, and more.

#jkdchaos

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Sea Wall/A Life

I enjoyed “A Life” by Jake Gyllenhaal more than “Sea Wall”.

Overall though, the format of the show felt more like a book reading rather than a stage performance.

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#DateMe

Go see #DateMe!!!

It’s the only show ever to encourage the audience members to leave their cell phone *ON* so that we can swipe, message, and hook up with each other during the show.

Laughed non-stop and had the most wonderful time as we searched for love.