Miami City Ballet / New York City Center / January 21-25, 2009 Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra of Miami City Ballet in Balanchine’s La Valse. Photo by Joe Gato. At Miami City Ballet’s opening night at New York City Center–the company’s long-awaited Manhattan debut–the curtain rose on a bevy of gorgeous, long-limbed young women in […]
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School of American Ballet Celebrates 75th Anniversary
New York City Ballet: School of American Ballet 75th Anniversary Tribute / David H. Koch Theater / Lincoln Center, New York City / January 14, 2009 Patricia Delgado in Balanchine’s Serenade. Photo by Paul Kolnik. I remember a time when it was informally called “The School,” as if the School of American Ballet, founded by […]
‘New Combinations’ Takes City Ballet to ‘Life’ Class
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on January 26, 2009. New York City Ballet dancers take part in a performance of “Lifecasting” in New York in this undated handout photo. Performances continue through March 1 at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater. Photographer: Paul Kolnik/NYCB via Bloomberg News Jan. 26 […]
Pink: Personal Indulgences No. 12
A young girl of my intimate acquaintance, let’s call her Eve, decided at the age of three or so that, when she grew up, she was going to be a boy. She liked to play pretend games. You may remember them from your own childhood–those acted-out narratives, full of exciting incident, that have an endless […]
Gloomy Cedar Lakers Leap Into Silly Stratosphere
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on January 9, 2009. Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) — What can money buy? Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet offers its 15 dancers most poverty-stricken artists’ dream: steady employment and health insurance, a rare luxury for American artists. The trendy young company is performing through Jan. 18 […]
Oprah Joins Jamison, Ailey Dancers in 50th Season
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on December 5, 2008. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Jamar Roberts, left; Amos J. Machanic, Jr., center; and Olivia Bowman rehearse in this photo taken on May 9, 2007. Photographer: Andrew Eccles/Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater via Bloomberg News Dec. 5 (Bloomberg) — The […]
Balanchine Casts Christmas Spell With ‘Nutcracker’
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on December 1, 2008. Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) — It’s too easy to yield to the magic of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” performed by the New York City Ballet. It’s harder to define that enchantment. Is it the Christmas tree that grows to a height […]
Thoughts on Balanchine’s “Nutcracker”
New York City Ballet: The Nutcracker / New York State Theater, NYC / November 28, 2008 – January 3, 2009 School of American Ballet students in New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Photo by Paul Kolnik. Marie awakens to witness startling transformations. The Christmas tree grows to gargantuan size. The toy soldiers, neatly arranged in […]
Richardson Brings Eye Candy, Grace to Complexions
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on November 21, 2008. Nov. 21 (Bloomberg) — The multiethnic, multicultural Complexions Contemporary Ballet, which opened its two-week season at New York’s Joyce Theater on Tuesday, is devastatingly handsome and just as slick. Founded in 1994 by former Alvin Ailey stars Dwight Rhoden and […]
What Ever Happened to Bebe Miller?
Bebe Miller Company: Necessary Beauties / Dance Theater Workshop, NYC / November 11-15, 2008 Kristina Isabelle in Bebe Miller’s Necessary Beauty. Photo by Yi-Chun. I remember the veteran dancer-choreographer Bebe Miller for two qualities: the ferocity of her performing–she was a wild, thrillingly unpredictable woman when she was dancing–and, later, for the choreography of a […]