Category: Ballet

FIVE MINUTES: Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre

Saturday June 25, 2011 – Coming down to the wire after my busiest few weeks ever, I spent the afternoon watching some of my favorite NYCB dancers at Tom Gold’s studio (more about that later), then headed downtown to experience a new company: Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre. I hardly ever get a chance to try something different because my calendar is so full, but the publicist who invited me to Selwyn cunningly attached photos by Paula Lobo (above) and Christopher Duggan to her invitation. Both the dancers and the stage images caught my fancy. I’m glad I went: FIVE MINUTES was 100% enjoyable.

As my friend Tom and I found our seats at Dance Theater Workshop, the projection of a large digital clock onstage was ticking down the seconds til the performance began. It started on the dot and ran in a series of finely-paced scenes for exactly 55 minutes.

Working with a compilation score, each movement of which lasts five minutes, Selwyn presents her six dancers in ten seemingly un-related short works each with different costumes, lighting, projections and moods. The underlying theme is the passage of time and how we spend it; some of these vignettes flew by, others took a more leisurely pace. Working in various combinations (solo, duo, trio, ensemble) Selwyn’s very attractive dancers each have ample opportunity for both technical and personal expression. The dancing was excellent, the ever-changing musical and visual settings giving each dancer the possibility to explore many moods.

As the evening unfolded, there were some particulary luminous moments such a the sustained, lyrical duet for Robert Vail and Joori Jung (above, Christopher Duggan photo). Later, two strikingly beautiful men, Francisco Silvino and Louie Marin, dance conjoined solos in pools of light, the musculature of their torsos set aglow.

Throughout the evening the lighting and projections created dreamlike settings (Paula Lobo image, above) which wrapped the dancers in colour or created chiaroscuro effects. Each five-minute segment held the imagination. There were moments of wit but they never descended to cuteness; the dancers did speak briefly: “You have five minutes…”

Paula Lobo image, above. In less than an hour, Amanda Selwyn and her troupe had given us dance that was entertaining and lovely to watch along with a reminder that time is fleeting: use yours wisely.

We came out into the Chelsea evening where the streets had a special energy: on the eve of Gay Pride Day 2011, the New York City gay community and their suppportive friends had much to celebrate.

Dancers: Jenny Gillan, Ashleigh Gurtler, Joori Jung, Louie Marin, Francisco Silvino, Robert J. Vail

Sound Design for Five Minutes by Joel Wilhelmi. Costume Design is by Anna-Alisa Belous. Lighting Design is by Dan Ozminkowski. Projection Design is by C. Andrew Bauer. Scenic Design is by Tom Gleeson. Stage Manger: Tiffany Tabatchnick.

June 25, 2011
Miro Magloire/New Chamber Ballet

Friday June 24, 2011 – Miro Magloire and his New Chamber Ballet hold a unique place on the New York City dance scene. Performing works deeply rooted in classical ballet technique, NCB use an intimate studio setting to bring the viewer as close to dance as one can get. As a composer and musician, Miro puts an equal value on the music we experience at his performances: performed live by excellent musicians, we frequently hear works by contemporary composers that we might not otherwise get to know.

Miro’s troupe of ballerinas allow us not only to enjoy their individual dance-personalities up close but also to observe the technique of dancing on pointe in a way that can’t be grasped in the large venues where ABT and New York City Ballet perform.

Miro Magloire frequently re-visits his earlier works and brings them back with fresh details. Tonight’s opening THE GAME was originally developed under the title TABLE. Much of the piece looks as it did in the earlier version, but a deck of cards has been added giving a focus to the subtle combat between the two seated women. Madeline Deavenport and Katie Gibson (top photo by Kokyat) each periodically skitters away from the table to dance in jaggedly expressive phrases. Violinist Erik Carlson’s mastery of the Brian Ferneyhough score underlines the tension between the two players; Katie wins the game as the cards go flying across the studio space.

Miro’s working on a new piece to Lucio Berio which will be shown in the Fall, In the meantime, pianist Melody Fader gave us a musical preview tonight, playing Leaf from Six Encores as a solo interlude.

Lieder by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Wagner inspired LOVE SONG SOLOS, which premiered tonight. However, there is no singing involved. Instead Miro used the songs as a map, transcribing them for maracas (!) which he skilfully played himself. Who but Miro would imagine such a musical departure? But it works. Three dancers – Katie Gibson, Alexandra Blacker and Elizabeth Brown – each have a solo. They wear mossy green tunics by costumier Candice Thompson. Devoid of a literal story line, the dances nonetheless echo the emotional aspects of the original songs: passion, serenity, agitation and longing are conjured in movement. This unusual work gives each dancer ample expressive opportunity.

Choreographer Emery LeCrone calls for sustained energy levels from three dancers – Lauren Toole, Victoria North and Maddie Deavenport – in CHAMBER DANCES. This three-movement work set to John Adams’ Road Movies propels the dancers thru in-sync trio passages with relesntless pacing. A calmer central movement gives way to more bursts of movement in the finale. Each girl has a solo in which Emery builds on individual attributes to give us a personal look at each dancer while never stinting on technical demands.

A real workout for the threesome, CHAMBER DANCES signals Emery LeCrone’s ongoing ascent in the choreographic sphere. Earlier in the day, I got to watch another work that Emery is developing for the Guggenheim’s Work & Process series. More about that – with Matt Murphy photos – coming soon.

Alexandra Blacker is a dancer Kokyat and I have really admired in her performances with New Chamber Ballet. This past January we just happened upon Alexandra working in the studio with Emery LeCrone and Deborah Wingert on the solo VIRTUOSA for New Chamber Ballet; that’s where Kokyat took the above photo. Alexandra will now be moving back to California; it’s been lovely getting to watch her in several works with NCB during this past season.

June 24, 2011
Jennifer Muller: THE WHITE ROOM

Above: Mariana Cardenas of Jennifer Muller/The Works photographed by Matt Murphy.

Friday March 25, 2011 – THE WHITE ROOM is an evening-length creation by Jennifer Muller/THE WORKS which will premiere at the Cedar Lake Theater on June 22nd. We have been following the creative process of this piece since April 2010 when we were invited into The White Room for the first time. In October 2010, Kokyat and I went back to Jennifer’s studio again to see how the work was evolving.

Today I asked photographer Matt Murphy to join me for a third visit as Jennifer prepared to show us newly-created scenes from the second act of THE WHITE ROOM. This dramatic dancework, to a score compiled from various works featuring the cello, runs an emotional gamut from violence to tenderness. Power (and the corrupting influence of power), deceit, passion, despair and the myriad facets of human relationships are depicted by Jennifer’s brilliant ensemble of dancers who move with a distinctive combination of raw physicality and spiritual grace thru her demanding steps and often harrowing dramatic situations.

One of the most exciting aspects of a visit to Jennifer Muller’s studio is that her dancers go into full performance mode, giving unsparingly of themselves both from a technical and an emotional standpoint. Above: Elizabeth Disharoon and Pascal Rekoert. Since I began blogging I have had many wonderful experiences of getting close to dance both figuratively and literally. That is especially true at Jennifer’s studio where the intensity of the atmosphere seems to put the viewer in the very center of the dance.

Matt produced a beautiful portfolio of images from the rehearsal which I think reflect the generosity of spirit that the choreographer and dancers of Jennifer Muller/The Works always evince.

The men of the Company

Seiko Fujita

Abdul Latif, Elizabeth Disharoon

Jen Peters

Gen Hashimoto

Rosie Lani Fiedelman

Elizabeth Disharoon, Pascal Rekoert

Ensemble with masques

Elizabeth Disharoon and ensemble

Pascal Rekoert

Rosie Lani Fiedelman

Dancers watching dancers: Mariana Cardenas, Duane Gosa, Jen Peters, Mario Bermudez Gil and Seiko Fugita.

Jennifer Muller.

All photos by Matt Murphy.

June 22, 2011
THE WHITE ROOM: A Paula Lobo Gallery

A gallery of images by photographer Paula Lobo from the premiere presentation of Jennifer Muller/The Works’ THE WHITE ROOM. Read about the evening here. Above: the dancers are Elizabeth Disharoon, Pascal Rekoert, Alvon Reed, Mario Bermudez Gil, Abdul Latif, Duane Gosa and Jen Peters.

Click on the images to enhance the view.

Hsing-Hua Wang, Duane Gosa and Seiko Fujita

Alvon Reed, Rosie Lani Fiedelman

Hsing-Hua Wang

Gen Hashimoto, Hsing-Hua Wang and Susanna Bozzetti

June 22, 2011
Four Stars from New York City Ballet

Paul Kolnik’s images from two recent performances at New York City Ballet: above and immediately below: Janie Taylor and Robert Fairchild in Balanchine’s LA SONNAMBULA. Read about their performance here.

This performance marked the debuts of Janie and Robert in LA SONNAMBULA.

Above: Teresa Reichlen and Amar Ramasar in a performance of the Peter Martins/John Adams ballet FEARFUL SYMMETRIES. I wrote about this revival here.

May 30, 2011
At the Noguchi Museum

Sunday May 29, 2011 – Kokyat and I have been talking about going to the Noguchi Museum for months and today we finally made it there.

Noguchi’s Water Stone (1986) at the Met Museum is one of Kokyat’s favorite works of art. Every time we go to The Met we make a pilgrimage to sit and observe the stone. The best times are when there are no other museum visitors around. We usually fall silent when sitting there; it creates a peaceful atmosphere. There is a very similar work at the Noguchi Museum (top photo) but it’s outdoors, and the surface of the pool refects the sky and trees in every-changing patterns.

The Noguchi Museum is not all that easy to get to from Manhattan. It’s a long walk from the nearest subway stop (though there is shuttlebus service from Manhattan) and so it is blessedly free of baby strollers, cellphones and tourist traffic. The atmosphere is wonderfully tranquil and there’s a deep connection with nature both in the wood and stone which Noguchi fashioned into masterpieces…

…and in the garden’s trees and plants, some of them native to Japan and rarely seen in the States. The blending of art and nature is so calming.

The museum is housed in what was once a run-of-the-mill industrial building. Noguchi saw something in the space and its ‘courtyard’ (then a run-down parking lot and storage area), transforming the mundane property into a spectacular sculpture garden while creating ten galleries within the building to house a large collection of his works. He also bought a small building across the street where he lived.

Noguchi did not always sign and date his work, but his signature runes (above) can be found on many pieces. Most of the works are simply presented without the title cards and descriptive information one usually sees in a museum. Noguchi wanted the viewers to draw their own inferences from his work without being steered by his own concepts in creating them.

Noguchi at Versailles in the 1950s.

We spent a long time wandering the galleries…

…then Kokyat fell asleep in the garden beneath a wall of bamboo. It is such a serene and restful place.

Isamu Noguchi’s work with Martha Graham was recently celebrated in an evening of works on which they collaborated, performed at the Rose Theater. In another connection with dance, Noguchi designed ORPHEUS for George Balanchine and his stylized lyre from that production was for years the iconic logo of the New York City Ballet.

I’ve posted some of my photos from our day at the museum on Facebook.

May 29, 2011
Aboard the USS Intrepid: HOMECOMING

On Saturday May 28 at 11:30 AM, Roman Baca’s HOMECOMING will be performed aboard the USS Intrepid. This brief but extraordinarily moving work is performed to a haunting John Corigliano score (from the film THE RED VIOLIN) over-laid by the reading of letters sent from home to US servicemen on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Earlier in the week, Kokyat and I stopped by the DANY Studios where Roman and his dancers were brushing up the work for its Intrepid premiere. They will dance HOMECOMING twice in succession aboard the ship. Kokyat’s photo at the top: dancers Taylor Gordon, Michael Wright and Lisa Fitzgerald.

Waiting at home: Adrienne Cousineau clings to the shirt of her husband. Mundane items like articles of clothing…

…or photographs of the servicemen keep a connection for spouses, mothers and girlfriends.

Above: dancers Aaron Atkins and Adrienne Cousineau. The joy of reunited couples is offset by the emptiness of those whose loved ones do not return from the war, or return with life-shattering injuries.

Taylor Gordon searches among the returning troops for her missing soldier.

Roman Baca enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2000 and served in Fallujah, Iraq. Returning home, he picked up his dance career where it had left off. The resonances of his wartime experience prompted him to start work on HOMECOMING; he formed Exit 12 Dance Company to pursue his choreographic vision.

Sgt Baca has a deep personal interest in and commitment to US servicemen and -women returning from the mid-East wars who suffer from the psychological effects of their experience. His primary focus is on homelessness and suicidal tendencies among the veterans, stemming from frustration with the government’s increasing unwillingness to fittingly honor their service with care and compassion. Sadly, our troops are still abroad and at risk every day while being largely forgotten here at home.

A recent development in the situation shows some promise.

The USS Intrepid is docked at 150 12th Avenue, near West 23rd Street. A ticket to the Intrepid museum gets you aboard for the performance and you can stay on all day for Fleet Week activities.

These images are from the rehearsal; Kokyat also plans to shoot on the Intrepid where we spent a memorable evening last Autumn.

The dancers in HOMECOMING are: Taylor Gordon, Adrienne Cousineau, Lisa Fitzgerald, Jackie Koehler, Joanna Priwieziencew, Michael Wright, Aaron Atkins and Preston Bradley. More of Kokyat’s images from this rehearsal will follow shortly.

No matter what your stance on the war and the USA’s involvement in these far away lands, HOMECOMING is something everyone should experience.

May 28, 2011
HOMECOMING Aboard the USS Intrepid: Gallery

Here are some of Kokyat’s images from the May 28th, 2011 performances of Roman Baca’s HOMECOMING on board the USS Intrepid. The dancework was presented as part of the ship’s Fleet Week activities over the Memorial Day weekend. Read about the event here. Above: Preston Bradley.

Taylor Gordon

Taylor Gordon, Michael Wright, Lisa Fitzgerald

Adrienne Cousineau

Joanna Priwieziencew

Adrienne Cousineau

Lisa Fitzgerald

Michael Wright

Adrienne Cousineau, Aaron Atkins

Lisa Fitzgerald

Taylor Gordon

Sgt Roman Baca, choreographer and artistic director of Exit 12 Dance Company.

All photos by Kokyat.

May 28, 2011
2280 Pints!

Friday May 27, 2011 – From the many invitations that I receive each week to dance events, this one from The Neta Dance Company caught my eye because of the title of the work they are presenting: 2280 Pints! Described as a dancework for seventeen dancers and 57 5-gallon plastic buckets, it just sounded so quirky that I had to give it a go.

On entering the space at Dance Theater Workshop, we find the dancers posed like living statues as the music of Chopin’s second piano concerto fills the air. Each dancer has a white plactic bucket. Coins are distributed to the incoming audience members who then wander among the dancers, pressing pennies into the dancers’ open palms or dropping them into the buckets. A bell rings; suddenly the dancers break their poses and rush into the audience, grabbing people at random. Each dancer takes a guest onto the stage and arranges him/her in a statuesque pose. Thus did my friend Kokyat make his New York stage debut.

From there, a roller-coaster ride of movement and music commences. Neta Pulvermacher deploys her squad of dancers and their fifty-seven buckets in a richly imaginative series of danced and mimed tableaux, set to a musical smorgasbord that runs the gamut from Mozart to Sonny & Cher.

The buckets are arranged, stacked, knocked over, sent skidding across the floor; they become hats, shoes, podiums, spotlights, drums, sinks, stepping-stones; they are hoisted and lowered over the playing area. The dancers come and go as each musical number unfolds; sometimes there are big ensembles with everyone moving in unison and playing the buckets like percussionists kits. Other moments are more intimate: a girl sings the old Charlie Chaplin tune “Smile” (sings it really well, too) while four dancers simply raise and lower buckets over their faces, revealing their features as droll masks.

Does it sound like a mish-mash? To an extent, it is. What saves it and makes it brilliant is the musicality of Neta’s choreographic style and the sheer energy and commitment of her dancers. One or two segments seem to stretch out a bit long but at those times one can focus on the individual personalities of the very attractive young performers. A giant plus to the production comes from the lighting by B. Lussier.

I loved running into Taylor Gordon (either I go for months without seeing Taylor or I see her every day for a week) and to see Deborah Wingert and Matthew Westerby again. Many thanks to Alessandra Larson for inviting us to this really enjoyable evening.

2280 Pints! continues at Dance Theater Workshop (on West 19th off 8th Avenue) thru Saturday evening. Kids over 5 will get a kick out of it at a Saturday matinee. Details here, with a video trailer.

May 26, 2011
HOMECOMING Aboard the USS Intrepid

On Saturday May 28 at 11:30 AM, Roman Baca’s HOMECOMING will be performed aboard the USS Intrepid. This brief but extraordinarily moving work is performed to a haunting John Corigliano score (from the film THE RED VIOLIN) over-laid by the reading of letters sent from home to US servicemen on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Earlier in the week, Kokyat and I stopped by the DANY Studios where Roman and his dancers were brushing up the work for its Intrepid premiere. They will dance HOMECOMING twice in succession aboard the ship. Kokyat’s photo at the top: dancers Taylor Gordon, Michael Wright and Lisa Fitzgerald.

Waiting at home: Adrienne Cousineau clings to the shirt of her husband. Mundane items like articles of clothing…

…or photographs of the servicemen keep a connection for spouses, mothers and girlfriends.

Above: dancers Aaron Atkins and Adrienne Cousineau. The joy of reunited couples is offset by the emptiness of those whose loved ones do not return from the war, or return with life-shattering injuries.

Taylor Gordon searches among the returning troops for her missing soldier.

Roman Baca enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2000 and served in Fallujah, Iraq. Returning home, he picked up his dance career where it had left off. The resonances of his wartime experience prompted him to start work on HOMECOMING; he formed Exit 12 Dance Company to pursue his choreographic vision.

Sgt Baca has a deep personal interest in and commitment to US servicemen and -women returning from the mid-East wars who suffer from the psychological effects of their experience. His primary focus is on homelessness and suicidal tendencies among the veterans, stemming from frustration with the government’s increasing unwillingness to fittingly honor their service with care and compassion. Sadly, our troops are still abroad and at risk every day while being largely forgotten here at home.

A recent development in the situation shows some promise.

The USS Intrepid is docked at 150 12th Avenue, near West 23rd Street. A ticket to the Intrepid museum gets you aboard for the performance and you can stay on all day for Fleet Week activities.

These images are from the rehearsal; Kokyat also plans to shoot on the Intrepid where we spent a memorable evening last Autumn.

The dancers in HOMECOMING are: Taylor Gordon, Adrienne Cousineau, Lisa Fitzgerald, Jackie Koehler, Joanna Priwieziencew, Michael Wright, Aaron Atkins and Preston Bradley. More of Kokyat’s images from this rehearsal will follow shortly.

No matter what your stance on the war and the USA’s involvement in these far away lands, HOMECOMING is something everyone should experience.

May 25, 2011