Stars of the 21st Century / New York State Theater, NYC / February 14, 2005 Dance fans are familiar with gala bits-and-pieces programs that showcase the more obvious gifts of a company’s stars. Stars of the 21st Century, which has become an annual affair, goes the formula one better by assembling its players from an international assortment of companies, most of them big league. This year’s version was, as usual, no more than a list of items, some worthy, some not so worthy, most overly familiar. I suppose I could organize my report on … [Read more...]

Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates, Central Park, New York, 1979-2005 / February 12-27, 2005 The Gates, which I wrote about last week, will begin its vanishing act on Monday (February 27). This weekend offers a last chance to visit Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s installation—for the first time or once more. Following are a few of the observations I’ve received from AJ readers. On the opening Saturday I spent about two hours walking uphill and downhill, sitting, musing, and wandering “aimlessly” in and around the central "third" of … [Read more...]

Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates, Central Park, New York, 1979-2005 / February 12-27, 2005 How could I not be interested in The Gates? That pair of canny, visionary (oh, let's call them) artists-- born on the same day in 1935, one in Bulgaria, one in France, New York City denizens for over four decades--installed it in my backyard. And, what's more, made sure it would appeal to a dance person. For it's an artifact that, though you can scan it with pleasure (or antipathy) from outside or above, requires you to walk through it, … [Read more...]