Friday, April 26, 2024
"What did you do on your summer vacation?" is a big conversation starter this time of year Dancers dance, whether on tour, as featured guests at festivals, or for members of American Ballet Theatre, exploring their art at Co•Lab Dance . Led by Founder-Director and ABT colleague Lauren Post, On September 6 and 7, Co•Lab showed two sold-out audiences at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center what they did between ABT's two seasons at Lincoln Center. The four engaging new works were created by female choreographers; something their home company is seriously trying to address. Here this was a matter-of-fact new normal. Forming Co•Lab''s sophomore company were ABT Soloists
Tag: martha graham
Yang Liping Contemporary Dance’s ‘Under Siege’ at Mostly Mozart
Since there is no longer a Lincoln Center Festival (the moral being never hire a former college president who believed locals could summer in Salzburg or other pricey European festivals just like ex-colleagues and students/alums can), Mostly Mozart successfully transitioned to a more inclusive schedule. Choreographer/Director Yang Liping's Under Siege, an entertaining retelling of the Ancient Chinese Chu-Han Contention may seem a bit of a stretch, but at its conclusion when pieces of red paper symbolizing dead warriors and one fiercely loyal maiden fell, its message is very clear: a world without harmony.is dangerous. Audiences filing in to the Koch Theater saw the
DRAGON SPRING PHOENIX RISE at The Shed is a 21st Century Kung Fu Spectacle
Swords whizzed past heads close enough to cut their opponents’ hair; dancers dropped from or rose to the sky like celestial beings dangling on a mere thread; acrobatic action scenes shifted into nightclub extravaganzas complete with vogueing routines; fire and water danced alongside the performers as elemental partners, adding to the danger and thrills. A dream team of talents was assembled to realize co-conceiver and director Chen Shi-Zheng’s vision that was initially inspired by observing Bruce Lee’s audition tape for his film debut at age 18. All of this and more came together to create Kung Fu spectacle Dragon Spring
Merce Cunningham Centennial Celebration
Merce Cunningham (1919-2009) April 16 marked the centennial of choreographer Merce Cunningham's birth. His artistic legacy is that his modern dances, many set to music by his creative and life partner John Cage, will forever be modern. Following Cunningham's directive, his company disbanded after his death at 90 - but not the teaching, training, archiving and performing spanning 70+ years. The Merce Cunningham Trust's world-wide celebration included a definitive program April 17-21 at the Joyce of three classics performed by three companies. The Merce Cunningham Trust defines the Cunningham Technique as "a rigorous form of training designed to create strength and flexibility of both the body and
From the Horse’s Mouth: A Celebration of Egyptian Dance in All its forms and Traditions
The evening begins with an invocation to Egyptian goddess Hathor, praising her as “mistress of dance,” and “lady of jubilation.” But the woman who takes the stage is more evocative of Egyptian goddess Bastet with feline features and a catlike stride. Her stature barely surpasses 5 feet and yet she commands the entire space of the Theater at the 14th Street Y with her stately presence. This is Magda Saleh, the woman of honor and inspiration for this week long series of events and performances celebrating Egyptian dance, “in all its forms and traditions.” Ms. Saleh sets the tone with an