Ballet Diary No. 1: Introduction to Ballet Diary series; New York City Ballet: Opening night gala / David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, NYC / April 29, 2010 Year after year New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, the kingpins of classical dance here in the States, insist upon competing with each other at Lincoln Center. As springtime slips into summer, the two troupes play mostly overlapping seasons--this year, eight weeks each--at abutting theaters (City Ballet will be at the David H. Koch, April 29 - June 27; ABT, at the … [Read more...]

1.2.3 Festival / Joyce Theater, NYC / April 13 - 25, 2010 Ailey II's Ghrai DeVore in Judith Jamison's Divining Photo: Eduardo Patino Opening night of the 1.2.3 Festival at the Joyce was the tasting menu. The three (count 'em) companies involved in this yearly event--ABT II, AILEY II, and Taylor 2--contributed one substantial, and revealing, dance to the program. Each little troupe is an offshoot of a top-notch, grand-scale company: American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Paul Taylor Dance Company. … [Read more...]

Trisha Brown Dance Company / Baryshnikov Arts Center, NYC / April 7 -11, 2010 Leah Morrison and Nicholas Strafaccia in Trisha Brown's Opal Loop/Cloud Installation #72503 Photo: Julieta Cervantes Trisha Brown, celebrating the 40th anniversary of her company at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, is a certified original and quite likely a genius. More often than not, her choreography has been conceptual --from the early iconoclastic task dances executed in silence to lush operatic productions. This trait makes her very popular with … [Read more...]