Morris has made some of my favorite works. But this is not one of them. Here's my review from Newsday: Henry Purcell's 1691 "King Arthur" wasn't ever an opera, exactly. Proud of their theater tradition and suspicious of this Italian business of singing your way through a story, the 17th century English preferred the semi-opera, a play in "blank verse, adorn'd with scenes, machines, songs and … [Read more...]
GO: Paul Taylor at City Center (Updated Saturday)
Okay, I admit it, I have mixed feelings about the two dreamscape premieres: there are moments when Taylor achieves an impressive surreality and other times when the dance devolves into a series of discrete shards. But I do think he's experimenting with new ways to put a dance together--impressive for anyone, but especially someone who's been at this business for more than 50 years. And the New … [Read more...]
GO– to Long Island or New Jersey for the Perm Tchaikovsky Ballet’s “Romeo and Juliet”
This version of the ballet, by Russian choreographer Nikolai Boyarchikov to the Prokofiev score, inspired all sorts of thoughts that had no place in a short preview. Was wondering whether the Russians have a greater comfort with symbolism, with showing us the inner workings of the mind or the outer workings of fate--larger or smaller than the social. It made me think, on the good side, of … [Read more...]
GO: Juliette Mapp at Danspace Project
Juliette Mapp breaks Foot contributor Eva Yaa Asantewaa's heart again--in a good way this time. Eva writes: Juliette Mapp's "Anna, Ikea and I"--the kinetic-aural memoir of her development in dance--is huge. Simply huge. And beautiful. And arguably the most assured, definitive presentation--and certainly the most emotionally affecting, as I see it--in this season's round of contemporary dance. … [Read more...]
Go: Ronald K. Brown at the Joyce this week
Our very own Eva Yaa Asantewaa says it great in this Times feature by Felicia Lee: His message is never under the surface; he's never been shy about saying it's spiritual. That's what I think makes Ron's work so special: people look at it and get it. He always picks the juiciest music, and his dancers are just fantastic. At the Joyce through Sunday. Check it out. … [Read more...]
The second coming of… (plus–added Wednesday–the farewells of…)
She's a version of Nureyev. Or something like. Or would be in another era. Anyway, my essayette for New York magazine on peripatetic Kirov/ABT star Diana Vishneva, who's having a real season here in New York this year. And, here, my review for Newsday of Christopher Wheeldon's final dance as resident choreographer for New York City Ballet, "Rococo Variaitions," and Nikolaj Hubbe's moving farewell. … [Read more...]
One of Queens’ best-kept secrets…
...The Jaurena family of tangoistas: with Raul leading the band (he just won a Latin Grammy for his tango tunes--long overdue), his daughter Carolina dancing, and his wife, Marga, singing. I go to lots of tango shows in the city--and I've never heard music as rich and various as this. Here's my featurette for Newsday on the family. … [Read more...]
Trisha Brown even works hard at interviews
Here's my feature for Newsday on the lovely pomo choreographer Trisha Brown. The focus is on nature in her life and work. (Newsday has become very Long Island-focused, and Brown has a cottage in the woods on the island, so it was a natural direction to take.) She's one of those interview subjects you want to kiss afterwards, because she keeps handing you these great quotes. In her case, I could … [Read more...]
Time for modern dance to admit its age
The Martha Graham company's artistic director, Janet Eilber, believes modern dance needs to have a plan for its past--and the fact that modern dance is as much about throwing out the old and embracing the new as any modern art movement is no excuse. Here's the feature I wrote for Newsday. (For those of you who have been following the trials--indeed--and tribulations of the Graham company, some, … [Read more...]
January dances in New York (addition, 1/4)
I've got a busy month coming up and won't be around here much, so I thought I'd leave you with some shows to see (those of you in New York, at least). For a long time, New York City Ballet has begun its winter rep season just after New Year's, so January has long been rich in ballet. What's a recent development is downtown theaters bringing back some of their best work from the past year. (No … [Read more...]