nyc.dancr
Opening night at the American Ballet Theatre.
Beautiful ballet and wonderful company as ABT opens its Met Opera season. Love the entire story of Don Quixote, but the wedding scene is just incredible. Bravos to Gillian Murphy, Cory Stearns, Hee Seo, James Whiteside, Cassie Trenary, and Devon Teuscher. You are absolutely amazing.
Go see “SHE A Choreoplay”!!!!!
Powerful. Courageous. Unapologetic. Truthful. Empowering. Just some words the audience used to describe the performance in the post-show talk-back. Playing until May 21st. Details at Jinah Parker.
A show about sexual violence against women. A raw, emotional, and honest conversation for everyone. An incredible fusion of dance and spoken words to explore a sensitive topic, to connect with the audience, to dive into at-times secretive pasts, and to empower everyone to become an agent of change.
Did I mention the dancing is also absolutely gorgeous? Bravos to the dancers for candidly expressing a full range of emotions, from that of the dreamy first loves to the violent humiliating assaults, from that of the dark shameful moments to the healed souls. You are amazing: Jinah Parker, Sarah Elaz, Yuki Fukui, Brittni Genovese, Evelyn Hoelscher, Kerime Konur.
One of the most touching performances I’ve seen lately. Thank you for the wonderful work! #SHEaChoreoplay
Spring time romance at New York City Ballet.
Went to today’s matinee to watch “Carousel” again. Such a beautiful and fun choreography by Christopher Wheeldon. The dance (and love story!) is still so mesmerizing and heart warming the second time around. The leaps at the end by Chase Finlay are absolutely amazing. Of course Lauren Lovette is lovely as usual.
(Next goal: See Lauren Lovette’s choreographies)
Finally saw “Year of the Rabbit” after hearing Justin Peck speak about it at the Inside NYCB seminar. Beautiful choreography. Delighted to see Teresa Reichlen, one of my favorite dancers, starring in the piece.
The black horse of the 5-choreography program goes to “The Inferno Machine” by Peter Martins. Bravos to Ashley Laracey and Craig Hall for the eccentric, sinister, at-times jarring, but powerful ballet. Wow!
Graduation night at the Ailey School!!
Congratulations Hannah Feltham, Verity Brown, and all the certificate program grads. Alexis Dreiss, your speech captured all the emotions and excitement of the night! What an incredible show and a fun celebration you put on tonight. Thank you for all the lovely performances over the years. All the best in your future careers!
Throwback to Stanford Big Dance 2011, when the 178 of us who stayed up dancing all night from 9pm to 6am, and to the old Roble Studio.
Stanford Big Dance is finally back this year in the newly-renovated Roble Studio. All you kids going tonight, enjoy the new studio!!! It looks amazing. Oh, I miss the Dawn Mazurka, the Accelerating Waltz, the Chicken Dance, and of course dancing with you all until the sun comes out.
“The 2011 Stanford Big Dance All-Nighters”
Photographer: Jason Chuang
Throwback to #slazz by Heather Rigg at Broadway Dance Center Student Showcase 2016.
Showcase 2017, we are ready for you!!! Final rehearsal was tonight. Show time is next Sunday, May 21st at 4:30pm and 8:00pm at Symphony Space. Don’t miss it!
“#Slazz”
Choreographer: Heather Rigg
Dancers: Jonathan Ruff (in the air) and students of Heather Rigg at Broadway Dance Center
Photographer: Jason Chuang
At the ballet with Richmond Ballet at the Joyce Theater plus a post-show chat with the company.
Favorites moment: Maggie Small‘s duet in “Lift the Fallen”. Great job!
Random thought: How small is the dance world? I was chatting with the lady sitting next to me. As it turns out, her niece is a ballet dancer, and I’ve previously photographed her. We then browsed through photos on my phone looking at her niece’s performance.
Throwback to watching Battery Dance at Battery Dance Festival 2016. One of the few times that I picked up my camera in recent years.
I remember enjoying the fusion of western and Indian influences in this piece. Beyond blending together ballet and jazz lines with Indian movements, I love the use of music and a story line that touches on everything from human connections to relationships and family.
Battery Dance’s New York season is this Wednesday and Thursday!
This year’s program sounds amazing: an international collaboration to examine refugees, traditions, and the current political climate. Except I’m already booked up on both nights and cannot attend. Have a great run!!! Go watch them and let me know how it is.
“The Durga Project”
Artistic Director: Jonathan Hollander
Dancers/Choreographers: Robin Cantrell, Mira Cook, Unnath H.R., Clement Mensah, Bethany Mitchell, Sean Scantlebury
Photographer: Jason Chuang
José Limón considers Isadora Duncan as his “dance mother”. Here’s a throwback to the Isadora Duncan Dance Company dancing outdoors at Fort Tryon Park.
The Duncan Dance Company will be performing at the Joyce Theater on June 19th. More information at Isadora Duncan Dance Company. Experience the lively, beautiful, and natural movements of Isadora Duncan. Come see the show with me!!!
Dancers: Lori Belilove and the Isadora Duncan Dance Company
Photographer: Jason Chuang
“To the young I say: Do not for an instant abandon that most indispensable asset of the artist, your courage.” — José Limón
Went back to see the amazing José Limón Dance Company for a second time this week at the Joyce Theatre.
Love the new version of “The Exiles” by Savannah Spratt and David Glista with live singers and music composed by Aleksandra Vrebalov. I interpreted the story in a whole different way, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. “Concerto Grosso” and “A Choreographic Offering” are both beautiful with a different set of lead dancers. My favorite goes to the solo by Brenna Monroe-Cook (Wednesday) and Logan Frances Kruger (tonight). “Night Light” is still incredible.
Random thought: The closing scene of “A Choreograph Offering” reminded me of Paul Taylor’s “Brandenburgs”. Despite moving with more subtle and measured gestures, I felt the Limón dancers actually projected greater energy. Expressing more with less, such is the fascinating language of dance!!