This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on January 25, 2006. Jan. 25 (Bloomberg) — Trailing its mooring ropes across a dark stage framed in black velour drapes, a Paris Opera-style crystal chandelier lies crashed on the floor. Ten dancers, costumed with necrophiliac glamour, pace, embrace and fall to the opening […]
CONJURING A MODERN UTOPIA STRAIGHT OUT OF ANCIENT GREECE
This article originally appeared in the Arts & Leisure section of the New York Times on January 8, 2006. WITH a new dance-theater production, “Aristophanes in Birdonia,” on view beginning this week at Danspace Project, the veteran postmodernist David Gordon confirms a recent shift in his subject matter. Once best known for constructions that brooded […]
YOU CAN’T GIVE ‘EM AWAY: THOUGHTS ON LIBRARIES PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2005/06 issue (Vol. 14, No. 4) of Dance Now. As far as I can recall, the first dance book I owned was Tamara Karsavina’s memoir, Theatre Street. My favourite uncle gave it to me when I was a child—I don’t know why. Uncle Harry was cheerfully free from […]
SAVION GLOVER PREACHES GOSPEL OF TAP IN `VISIONS OF A BIBLE’
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on December 27, 2005. Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) — The program for Savion Glover’s new show at New York’s Joyce Theater contains a 25-word biography of the legendary dancer that ends: “Praise almighty God.” Witnesses to the tireless rhythmic invention and dazzling technical prowess of […]
AND IN THE CENTER RING, GRACE AT 14
This article originally appeared in the Arts & Leisure section of the New York Times on December 18, 2005. THE boy on the platform faces a pair of curlicued bronze candelabra bearing scarlet candles. He removes the central taper from one of them, inserts the index finger of his right hand into the metal hollow, […]
ALVIN AILEY’S DANCERS DAZZLE, EVEN WHEN CHOREOGRAPHY FALTERS
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on December 9, 2005. Dec. 9 (Bloomberg) — The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been lucky in its association with the young black choreographer Ronald K. Brown. His previous works for the company, “Grace” (1999) and “Serving Nia” (2001), showed promising skill and […]
`NUTCRACKER’ DELIGHTS WITH DANCING SNOWFLAKES, TOYS, 40 KIDS
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on November 28, 2005. Nov. 28 (Bloomberg) — With its old-fashioned Christmas Eve party, a strange old uncle who might be a wizard, and a tree that grows to towering height, the New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” remains the […]
SUZANNE FARRELL’S BALANCHINE IN D.C. IS MUSIC MADE VISIBLE
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on November 23, 2005. Nov. 23 (Bloomberg) — Suzanne Farrell, George Balanchine’s last and arguably most potent muse, now stages some of the most luminous renditions of the master choreographer’s works. Excluded from using her gifts at the New York City Ballet — where […]
AN INVISIBLE DIRECTOR GETS PHYSICAL
This article originally appeared in the Arts & Leisure section of the New York Times on November 13, 2005. WHEN Johannes Wieland gave his dance company no name but his own – just that, Johannes Wieland – it may have been the only ego-driven act of his career. More typically, this postmodern choreographer, whose austere […]
DIAGHILEV BALLETS GET GLAM, MODERN LOOK BY BIGONZETTI AT BAM
This article originally appeared in the Culture section of Bloomberg News on November 10, 2005. Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) — Mauro Bigonzetti, the intrepid Italian choreographer who heads the Reggio Emilia-based Compagnia Aterballetto, has re-imagined two ballets central to the classical-dance canon for his troupe. Both can be seen in a double-barreled program that runs through […]