Category: DANCE

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Emery LeCrone Dance

The Joyce Theater Ballet Festival opened tonight with a performance by and reception with Emery LeCrone Dance.

I thoroughly enjoyed the show which consisted of five works: three World Premiers, a U.S. Premier created in 2016, and an excerpt from Emery’s debut at the Joyce in 2015.

What I like the most about tonight is seeing Emery’s emerging style. She has a “contemporary lyrical” interpretation of ballet. I love how beautifully and gracefully her dancers moved across the floor. Grand jetés lingered in the air, as if the dancers could stretch time. Lifts descended slowly, softly, and elegantly. Yet, periodically, ballerinas would accelerate out of a chaînés with an outburst of emotion.

Her company featured several dancers over 6 feet tall. Combined with costume designs that showcased the dancers’ bodies, Emery created a distinct visual style that accentuated height on stage. She also experimented with music. Four of the five choreographies tonight were done to live music including one with vocals.

Altogether, I had a wonderful experience. My favorites go to “Beloved” and “Time Slowing, Ending” which I thought were the smoothest and most elegant of her work tonight.

Emery LeCrone Dance is performing at the Joyce for two more nights until July 20th. Check them out!

Also look forward to seeing Claudia Schreier and Company, Cirio Collective, Gemma Bond Dance, and Amy Seiwert’s Imagery over the next two weeks!

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Fire Island Dance Festival

Supporting Dancers Responding to AIDS and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at the Fire Island Dance Festival. Thanks also to Meg for organizing the trip on behalf of the Joyce Young Leaders Circle.

Saw ten performances including six world premiers and one US premier.

My favorites include Peridance Contemporary Dance Company who opened the show with a smooth flowing choreography “Dia-Mono-Logues” featuring eight dancers in nude color from head to toe, except for a piece of thin and dyed fabric over their shoulders and arms. The dance explored issues of identity, prejudice, and judgement as new immigrants. The colored fabrics complemented the movements to show the internal and external struggles within each dancer.

Al Blackstone and James Whiteside put on a romantic/comedic ballet “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore” featuring themselves and five “extra” dancers. As James pursued Al, the object of his love, he must overcome the extras who stood in his way. Killing each one of them in dramatic fashion, James triumphantly captured Al. At the end, the lovers shared a cigarette, and stood handsomely as the sun slowly set behind them. (Literally, the festival took place with the sun setting behind the oceanfront stage, though James and Al’s fabulous acting sure made the sunset look grander than it even was!)

To close the show, Makers Dance Company, featuring numerous ABT dancers, delivered a powerful and physical ballet “Tatakai” inspired by Japanese samurai battles.

Upper right: Jeannette Delgado of Miami City Ballet, who had earlier performed the solo “My One and Only” from George Balanchine’s “Who Cares.”

#dancersrespondingtoaids #broadwaycares #equityfightsaids #fireisland #fireislandpines #fidance

CRA just posted a video of the Festival.

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ABT Met Opera Season

Congrats to American Ballet Theatre for a wonderful Met Opera season.

You can still see many of your favorite ABT dancers on stage again on July 25-26. ABT’s very own Gemma Bond is presenting her works at the Joyce Theater Ballet Festival in collaboration with 16 incredible ABT dancers. Help support her project and the dancers!

Now, back to the closing night and my third visit this week with Tchaikovsky Spectacular.

I can’t decide which I like more: “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux” or “Souvenir d’un lieu cher”.

Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside were stunning in “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux”. The fast-paced duet is a treat filled with gorgeous aerials, and Isabella and James owned every one of them. ❤️❤️

Seeing “Souvenir d’un lieu cher” a second time allowed me to reinterpret this ballet, take in all its details, and appreciate the story even more. In a few short minutes, this ballet brings you inside the mind and soul of the lead character, her memories past, and her torn heart. It makes you feel nostalgia. It reminds you of first loves. It touches your raw emotions. The different cast tonight, newly promoted Devon Teuscher (congrats!), Cassandra Trenary, David Hallberg, and Tyler Maloney, beautifully danced the four roles. Bravos! 🤗🤗

Also, shoutouts to Jeffrey Cirio and Gabe Stone Shayer You were amazing in Mozartiana and Aurora’s Wedding!

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Wave Rising Series

Opening night at the Wave Rising Series, featuring works by emerging choreographers.

Exciting work, if I may add!!! The series continues for two more weekends including works by four more companies that didn’t present tonight. Go and check them out. Some of my favorites:

“Searching for a Phase Change” by LaneCoArts. I like the fusion of dance, drawing, and the various music segments. The interplay between the dancers and the painter is novel and unexpected. The piece starts with five dancers moving about the room, and a painter on the floor furiously filling his canvas with bold lines. When their roles are suddenly reversed, the effect is not just visual but psychological too. A big shock to the painter, who suddenly see the world in a different perspective. I would love to learn more about what motivated the choreography. The emotions are so raw in this piece. Is there a real-world experience behind it?

Excerpts from “now now” by Mei Yamanaka Works. Struggles and conflicts define the relationship between the two characters on stage. In the beginning, the two try to pop the (imaginary) balloons tied around each other’s ankles, in a playful but competitive manner. The playfulness turns into judo-like throw downs of each other. Dressed in complementary orange and grey costumes, the two characters engage in activities that increasingly frustrate each other, hurt each other, before calming down and reverting to same pattern over and over again. Yet, they always stick with each other no matter what happens. I guess, in a way, that’s just real-life relationships, isn’t it?

“COR-O2” by Оniin Dance Company and Daniela Rapisarda. This piece has its own distinct stylistic movements that, in all honesty, defy words to describe it. The body isolations and arm movements are so much fun to watch!

Excerpts from “iyouuswe” by Young Soon Kim Dance Company. An abstract piece that cannot be described in words either and, as far as I can tell, does not have a narrative. Yet, there are moments in the choreography where the movements feel so nature and satisfying!!!

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The Exiles by José Limón

The José Limón Dance Company wrapped up the Contemporary Dance festival at Bryant Park tonight.

I saw “The Exiles” twice at the Joyce Theatre earlier this year, but it took me until the second viewing to fully appreciate the piece. I’m so glad to watch it again.

Centered around a couple, the choreography tells the couple’s story in two movements, “The Flight” and “The Remembrance.” At the beginning, the couple walk onto the stage arms around each other’s back, alternating between making brave strides forward and taking tentative but necessary steps to continue their journey. Immigrants arriving in a new land, perhaps? Or maybe refugees who cannot look back? In any case, we follow the couple in this foreign land as they take on new identities, become momentarily euphoric, only to struggle again. Eventually, the couple shed their shells, their exterior pretense, and finally find their true selves. As they across the stage again, their strides are higher, braver, and ever more confident.

Well, that’s how I translated Limón’s language anyways.

The piece is as relevant to my own expat existence in New York City this evening, as it is to the plights of millions back in 1950 when the piece was first created, as it is to millions around the world now. And that, capturing the essence of our lives and our everyday experiences, is what I find to be the magic of José Limón.

Bravos to Mark Willis and Savannah Spratt for the wonderful performance!

“The Exiles”
Choreographer: José Limón
Dancers: Savannah Spratt and Mark Willis of the José Limón Dance Company
Photographer: Jason Chuang

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Black Boys Dance Too

Second in the program, Black Boys Dance Too performed at the Contemporary Dance festival at Bryant Park tonight.

They braved and danced in the rain last year. Thankfully the sky cleared this afternoon just in time for us to see those gorgeous young men going full out on stage today.

“Blocked”
Choreographer: Terk Lewis
Dancers: Black Boys Dance Too
Photographer: Jason Chuang

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Bryant Park Presents Contemporary Dance

Youngsters from the Harlem School of the Arts opened the Contemporary Dance festival tonight at Bryant Park.

Energetic and cheerful, these kids remind us why we are here: Because we just loooove to dance!

“Sweet’s Sweet Suite”
Choreographers: Aubrey Lynch II, Leyland Simmons
Dancers: Harlem School of the Arts Dance Ensembles and Junior Dance Ensembles
Photographer: Jason Chuang