Category: Ballet

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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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Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

A few belated posts from March…

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet at the Joyce Theater on Sunday, March 24.

I thoroughly enjoyed Aspen Santa Fe Ballet‘s last visit to the Joyce Theater, and liked learning about their focus on fostering new and creative works. I’ve been curious about what they would present this year.

My favorite today was “Dream Play” by Fernando Melo. The piece has so many unique and unexpected moments.

First and foremost, it’s theatre piece about a pair of lovers, about our desires, and about a dream world. The entire scene is set flat on the floor, with the dancers lying on the stage. The dancers move, roll, crawl, “walk” while lying on one shoulder, “fly” by gliding across the stage on a dolly. The choreography is captured and projected onto a screen via an overhead camera in real time. The movements feel both realistic — the dancers did an incredible job mimicking real-life activities as they “walk” across the stage — and surreal — without gravity, the dancers can jump as high as they want, walk a tightrope, spin, fly in all manners imaginable. I loved how the choreography took advantage of the stage setup and the dream-like environment to create such a rich movement vocabulary.

Second, interspersed between the storytelling were several gorgeous “human” kaleidoscope scenes. The dancers, wearing costumes with high contrast lines, would sit on the floor and move their arms, legs, and torso in beautiful geometric patterns. The patterns, when captured by the overhead camera, formed gorgeous — I mean absolutely gorgeous — shapes that looked like a kaleidoscope but more stunning in every way.

Finally, my favorite moment is when the storytelling and the kaleidoscope scenes merged at the end, and the two lovers burst out of the “human” kaleidoscope in the midst of a sea of spinning red umbrellas. The picture and the movements were just sooooo beautiful.

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Complexions

Complexions Contemporary Ballet was AMAZING at the Joyce Theater last night. What an incredible group of talented dancers with so much artistry and such impeccable techniques.

Star Dust was still the same stunning, energetic, over-the-top, rock-n-roll ballet concert that captured my heart for the past two years. The piece is set to fourteen songs by David Bowie, as a tribute to the singer.

Bach 25, a world premiere, consisted some of the finest and most beautiful ballet movements.

Thanks for a wonderful evening, Complexions. Go see them at the Joyce Theater from now till March 3rd!

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For Norma

More throwbacks to 2018 — I had lots of fun dancing in “For Norma” by Dawn Hillen as part of the Broadway Dance Center Student Showcase this May. Thank you, Dawn, for encouraging me to perform in my first ballet!!

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More of the Trocks at the Joyce Theater

Absolutely loved “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Chopeniana” by the Trocks!!!

Stunning pas de deux. Gorgeous fouettes with exciting double turns. The evening was a beautiful technical showcase of classical ballet.

Yet, you don’t want to miss any of the corps variations, silly pre-show announcements, hilarious program notes, the drinking and the champagne on stage, or the naps and sleep-walking ballerina who fell off the stage.

Bravos to this company of all-male ballet dancers en pointe for giving us ballet comedy at its finest.

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The Trocks at the Joyce Theater

Wrapping up the year with hilarious ballet comedy by the Trocks at the Joyce Theater.

From the silly stage names and absurd bios in the printed program to the comical pre-show announcements… from Swan Lake to the encore “modern” performance featuring high kicks to the tune of Winter Wonderland… we were treated to a beautiful and fun night of ballet by this company of talented all-male dancers.