Oberon's Glade

Tag: Ailey Studios

  • At Amanda Selwyn’s Rehearsal

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    Monday January 28th, 2019 – Photographer Travis Magee and I stopped in at the Ailey Studios today where Amanda Selwyn and her dancers were rehearsing their work-in-progress, CROSSROADS. Inspired by the art of Magritte and Escher, the premiere performances will be given June 20th thru 22nd, 2019, at New York Live Arts.

    In October, we had a first look at CROSSROADS when the Company held an open rehearsal. There, we watched the individual dancers creating movement phrases which are then taught to their colleagues, and later elaborated on or modified by the ensemble, to be finally woven into the overall fabric of the dancework. 

    This process continued today, and Amanda described to me the set pieces (doors, re-arrangeable boxes) that will become part of the staging. This afternoon, the stackable boxes were in play, with the dancers getting used to using them as seats, pedestals, and springboards for athletic feats. 

    The rehearsal atmosphere is relaxed, but with a strong focus on mastering the various movements that will become part of CROSSROADS.

    The dancers of Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre are:

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    Torrey McAnena…

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    …Alex Cottone…

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    …Sarah Starkweather…

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    …Manon Hallay…

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    …Fabricio Seraphin…

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    …and Misaki Hayama. 

    And here are more of Travis Magee’s images from today’s rehearsal:

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    Sarah Starkweather

    Fabricio

    Fabricio Seraphin

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    Fabricio, Sarah, and Misaki

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    Fabricio, Sarah, Misaki

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    Fabricio

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    Alex Cottone

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    Alex and Misaki

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    Alex and Misaki

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    Torrey, with Alex and Sarah

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    Torry McAnena

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    Torrey, Manon, with Alex and Sarah

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    Manon and Misaki

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    Sarah, Manon, and Misaki

    All photos by Travis Magee

    ~ Oberon

  • At Amanda Selwyn’s Rehearsal

    0D9A2416

    Monday January 28th, 2019 – Photographer Travis Magee and I stopped in at the Ailey Studios today where Amanda Selwyn and her dancers were rehearsing their work-in-progress, CROSSROADS. Inspired by the art of Magritte and Escher, the premiere performances will be given June 20th thru 22nd, 2019, at New York Live Arts.

    In October, we had a first look at CROSSROADS when the Company held an open rehearsal. There, we watched the individual dancers creating movement phrases which are then taught to their colleagues, and later elaborated on or modified by the ensemble, to be finally woven into the overall fabric of the dancework. 

    This process continued today, and Amanda described to me the set pieces (doors, re-arrangeable boxes) that will become part of the staging. This afternoon, the stackable boxes were in play, with the dancers getting used to using them as seats, pedestals, and springboards for athletic feats. 

    The rehearsal atmosphere is relaxed, but with a strong focus on mastering the various movements that will become part of CROSSROADS.

    The dancers of Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre are:

    0D9A2746

    Torrey McAnena…

    0D9A2476

    …Alex Cottone…

    0D9A2516

    …Sarah Starkweather…

    0D9A2477

    …Manon Hallay…

    0D9A2692

    …Fabricio Seraphin…

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    …and Misaki Hayama. 

    And here are more of Travis Magee’s images from today’s rehearsal:

    0D9A2407

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    Sarah Starkweather

    Fabricio

    Fabricio Seraphin

    0D9A2443

    Fabricio, Sarah, and Misaki

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    Fabricio, Sarah, Misaki

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    Fabricio

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    Alex Cottone

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    Alex and Misaki

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    Alex and Misaki

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    Torrey, with Alex and Sarah

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    Torry McAnena

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    Torrey, Manon, with Alex and Sarah

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    Manon and Misaki

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    Sarah, Manon, and Misaki

    All photos by Travis Magee

    ~ Oberon

  • Upcoming: Lydia Johnson Dance ~ Studio Showing

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    On Sunday December 2nd at 3:00 PM, Lydia Johnson Dance will present the latest in their ongoing series of studio presentations in which excerpts from works-in-progress and from the repertory will be shown in an intimate setting.

    The event takes place at the Ailey Studios, 405 West 55th Street.

  • At Catherine Gallant’s Rehearsal

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    Saturday June 11th, 2016 – I stopped in at the Ailey Studios this afternoon where Catherine Gallant and her very attractive troupe of dancers were in rehearsal, preparing for their upcoming performances at Danspace (St. Mark’s Church, 131 East 10th Street. New York, NY). Performance dates are June 23rd – June 25th, 2016, and you can purchase tickets here.

    Retrograde Universe is the title of this world-premiere production presented by Catherine Gallant/DANCE and Dances by Isadora, led by Artistic Director and Choreographer Catherine Gallant. Retrograde Universe includes four pieces by Gallant and three Isadora Duncan works. From Isadora, we will have an historical re-animation of Duncan’s Beethoven No. 7, which has not been performed since 1979; Three Scriabin Etudes, danced by Kristen Foote of the Limón Company on opening night; and Valse Brillante. Gallant’s Retrograde Universe, Finally, The Secret and Meeting #12 will show the contemporary aspects of the Company. The performance will feature musicians Christina Courtin and Yegor Shevtsov, and a visual creation from Nadia Lesy.

    In observing these lovely women today – going about their work with such dedication and such beauty of movement and expression – one feels a direct connection both with the well-spring of modern dance and with the indomitable feminine spirit. Gallant’s company is a collective of generational diversity and highly individual personalities molded into a community by their shared devotion to dance. 

    Today’s rehearsal included detailed work on some of the pieces to be shown at Danspace as well as a run-thru of the program. The woman swiftly changed costumes between works, while speaking quietly to one another and sharing a feminine bond: the atmosphere serious, but also light of heart and spirit.

    Here are some images that I was able to capture in the studio; much of the dancing was simply too fast-paced for me to capture, but I think the distinctive personalities of this bountiful band of women show thru.

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    Ella Lang

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    Francesca Todesco in Isadora Duncan’s Mother

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    Janete Gondim and Eleanor Bunker in Catherine Gallant’s The Secret

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    Janete and Eleanor in The Secret

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    Eleanor Bunker

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    Janete and Eleanor in The Secret. I was particularly moved by this dancework, and look forward to writing more about it after seeing it in performance.

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    Michelle Cohen in Retrograde Universe

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    The ensemble in Retrograde Universe

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    Michelle Cohen

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    Loretta Thomas

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    Loretta Thomas

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    Catherine Gallant

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    Loretta Thomas

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    Loretta Thomas

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    Michele Cohen, Janete Gondim, and Margherita Tisato

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    Catherine Gallant

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    Michelle Cohen

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    Catherine Gallant, Michelle Cohen

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