Author: jason

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Bryant Park Ballet Festival

The Bryant Park Ballet Festival continues tomorrow (Friday 6pm) with the Ashley Bouder Project, Continuum Contemporary/Ballet, Doug Baum and Artists, Island Moving Company, and Thomas/Ortiz Dance.

Summer in New York City means outdoor dancing everywhere. Go enjoy some incredible dance performances! Here is a throwback to watching Thomas/Ortiz Dance last year. Love their beautiful lines and gorgeous costumes. I can’t wait to be back in town!

“Undamely”
Choreographers: Ted Thomas and Frances Ortiz
Dancers: Thomas/Ortiz Dance
Photographer: Jason Chuang

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Dearest Home

Catch “Dearest Home” by Abraham.In.Motion this week at the Kitchen! Merde Connie Shiau.

New York Times describes the piece as Kyle Abraham’s most personal work to date reflecting on love, longing, and loss. Sounds incredible! I’m still traveling and so sadly will miss the entire run through July 2. Hope some of you can make it. Let me know how it goes!

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Russian Mazurka Quadrilles

Throwback to my mazurka days!

Performing the Russian Mazurka Quadrilles with the Academy of Danse Libre.

The mazurka (or mazur) is a fast, strong, and spirited dance that originated in Poland. The “mazur” was brought to Germany and Russia, and introduced to England in the 1820s under its Russian name “mazurka,” before it swept across western Europe and America alongside the 1844 Polkamania.

The high-energy mazurka was the ultimate challenge in the 19th century ballroom, and often danced by the strongest dancers at the break of dawn after all-night balls to show they weren’t tired.

The Saint Petersburg Vintage Dance Week started this past weekend. I had to miss the event due to work. Here’s to an amazing White Ball for everyone attending the event.

“Russian Mazurka Quadrilles”
Choreographer: Richard Powers
Dancers: The Academy of Danse Libre
Video: John Beale

More about the mazurka

Full video on YouTube

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Young Choreographer’s Festival

Young Choreographer’s Festival is taking place tomorrow (Friday 8pm) at Symphony Space!!! Get your tickets!

Let yourself experience the amazing talents of this city’s up-and-coming young choreographers. Last year’s program was incredible! 😍

More than just a one-evening show, Emily Bufferd who founded YCF has a wonderful vision to educate, foster, and cultivate a new generation of choreographers and dancers. 🤗

Your support goes toward more than just rehearsal and performance space. You’ll help YCF provide mentorship to the young choreographers, create opportunities for them to enter prestigious dance festivals, and kick start their careers.

Did I mention the show was incredible last year?

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Flying Days

Just flew for 34 hours with my adorable penguins. Work conference till the end of June. I’m bummed to miss at least six dance performances that I had wanted to see, but will try to write more about the events if I have time.

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The Art of Isadora

Congratulations to Isadora Duncan Dance Company for a wonderful performance and a sold-out house at the Joyce Theater tonight.

Two years ago, when I first arrived in New York City, I received my very first dance class from former Duncan Dance company member Morgana Mellett. I loved the naturalness of the Duncan movements, the connection to the body, and the music. Morgana encouraged me to sign up for their week-long summer workshop, which I did and then repeated again for a second week.

Looking back, I couldn’t have wished for a better start to my dance experience in New York City. Duncan merged so many of my favorite dance elements. Vintage steps such as the mazurka, the gallop, and the polka. The influence of ballet. The emphasis on natural movements and expressiveness, which I enjoy so much in contemporary lyrical.

Seeing Duncan Dance on stage tonight at the Joyce Theater, in a way, is completing the circle for me. To see where it all began. To understand how I fell in love. To re-live the wonderful experiences that inspired me then… and still captivate me now.

Emily D’Angelo: I’ve seen you beautifully dance Greeting, Lullabye, and Flames of the Heart before, but you were more loving and more fierce tonight than ever. Bravos!

Nikki Poulos: You’ve grown so much! Love the way you opened the Furies.

Faith Kimberling: Love your musicality!

Hayley Brasher: I’ve mostly heard about you from others, except for the brief moment seeing you outside the theater tonight. Love your energy and radiance. Great job!

Of course, guest star Sara Mearns of NYCB Ballet is absolutely beautiful, and Lori Belilove as always, is full of the true Duncan spirit. Thank you for the incredible show and a wonderful evening!

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Children of Syria

Dancing for a cause at the Next Stage Project Showcase.

Many forms of movements tonight. The most striking, I thought, in its simplicity but also beauty, was the silent solo “Memory Current” danced by Miki Orihara and choreographed by Adam Barruch.

I like a couple pieces that took on a more literal interpretations of tonight’s theme. “Yes is here, no is also here” by Alexandra Beller is poetry-like, blending together spoken words, recorded audio, and movement, and challenges us to think about the current political state.

“You may say I’m a Dreamer” by Justin Yoon Sang Jo delivers a simple statement about peace through sign language, upbeat music (“Imagine” by John Lennon), and some fun movements.

Also, lovely dancing from the Hutchinson Collaborative and Lauren Wolter in “Days of the Open Hand.”

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Anastasia

An entertaining evening with gorgeous costumes, a lovely White Ball, wonderful singing, and stunning visuals. Also, Christy Altomare could make anyone fall in love with her and bow to her highness.

Costuming in Anastasia is gorgeous beyond imagination, especially for me as a vintage dancer whose favorite dance period is 1800s through 1910s.

Love all the waltzes, polkas, and gallops at the White Ball in Saint Petersburg. Coincidentally, I had originally registered to attend a historical dance week in Russia next week (but cancelled due to a work conflict). The signature event of the week is a White Ball in Saint Petersburg. Awwwwww…..

Christy Altomare is perfect as both Anastasia and Anya. Love the amazing chemistry between Christy, Derek Klena (Dmitry), and John Bolton (Vlad Popov) that make the story so heart-felt.

Wonderful singing from everyone in the cast.

Finally, bravos to Sissy Bell as Odette and the other dancers for staging Swan Lake in the middle of a musical. The ballet appears to be danced on the marble floor on stage though!?!?!?

This one is for you, Anita Mannings: Anya is feisty, strong, and determined to find her identity. As she recalls more of her past, Anya starts to think she really is the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. More than having just memories and royal demeanors, however, she must be recognized by her grandmother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, to become a true princess. In order to pass the test, her grandmother reminds her: “You must convince yourself, before you can convince others.” All the best in London! Believe in yourself. You’ve got it!!

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L.A. Dance Project

Another great program with L.A. Dance Project at the Joyce Theater this afternoon.

“Hearts and Arrows” is so much fun to watch!! In fact, it’s so dynamic and joyful that I want to join the dancers on stage. I could totally see myself doing movements (assuming I have enough technique) and loving the sensations.

Gaga’s “YAG” is intensely emotional. I’ve never felt the theater so still and so silent. Everyone held their breath, either out of respect or due to psychological shock, as each cast pronounced the death of their family members. As the onstage grief built up, actions as simple as Lilja Rúriksdóttir mechanically and repetitively doing a dozen push-ups triggered a sense of sorrow in me. Wow!

I like symbolism of the wife taking on the husband’s identify. I also like some of the unexpected artistic choices, such as the nude scene at the end and dancers crushing the line of fortune cookies. A couple things went a little too far and felt strange, like actually eating the fortune cookie. Over all though, I love the piece!

Saw “Orpheus Highway” again today, sitting dead center in the theater instead of house left. The small change in angle made a big difference. While the beginning felt chaotic seen from house left, the layers of film and live dancing felt coherent today. Janie Taylor stepped in for Rachelle Rafailedes today, which meant the film is not an exact replica of the dancers, but everything felt right in place.

Great job L.A. Dance Project! Merde and enjoy your second week in New York!