Back in February, I received the fun assignment to look at the choreography created for the dozens of horses in "Odysseo," the new $30 million touring production from Cavalia. As usual, the show is a popular hit -- originally slated for a 3-week run in March, it keeps getting one extension after another after another. As of now, the end date is … [Read more...]
Archives for 2013
Buried Love Affair Evokes Elusive Moment in American Ballet History
With ballet’s 15th-century Renaissance origins still somewhat imaginable, it’s hard to keep in mind that American ballet -- born in 1940s New York City -- is still less than 100 years old. The two pillars of American ballet -- George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet and Lucia Chase’s American Ballet Theatre -- both arose in that same urban, … [Read more...]
Krump Choreography, Coming to a Stage Near You
Over three months, I followed pioneer krumpers Lil' C and Miss Prissy (from "Rize") during the gestational year of The Underground, the first-ever krump-based concert-dance company which they're building with street dance artists from Los Angeles and beyond. I saw their concert, talked to them at Miss Prissy's house on South Wilton Place, and … [Read more...]
Doug Varone the Painter-Choreographer
"I'm like a painter," said choreographer Doug Varone during his opening remarks for "Stripped/Dressed," the unique program on choreographic process and performance that he and his company of dancers brought to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts' Off-Center Festival in Costa Mesa on January 25-26 2013. The phrase sounds a little poetic (wouldn't a … [Read more...]