Letter from New York
26 January 2004.
Copyright © 2004 by
Mindy Aloff
published 26 January 2004
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Bare Bones Bournonville
The Principals and Soloists of the Royal Danish Ballet
Prudential Hall
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Newark, New Jersey
January 29, 2004
by
Nancy Dalva
copyright
2004 by Nancy Dalva
published 2 February 2004
Denmark has
long been dispatching chamber troupes as dancing ambassadors. Peter Bo
Bendixen is the artistic director of the company that came to Newark.
For the most part, they presented excerpts from the full length ballets
of nineteenth century Danish master August Bournonville–pas de trois,
pas de deux, and divertissements—in no particular order, on a bare
stage, and without sets. Thus, the Bournonville is merely of academic
interest: what the steps are, how the dancers do them, and the like; or
merely of insider interest: how X looks substituting for Y, how B looks
compared to C, how D is being featured instead of E, and so forth.
read review
The Show Goes On
Donizetti
Variations/Scotch Symphony/Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2
New York City Ballet
New York State Theater
New York, NY
January 31, 2004
by
Mary Cargill
copyright 2004 by Mary Cargill
published 2 February 2004
It
seems as if the programs for this season’s Balanchine Festival should
come with a medical update. This week yet more injuries and illnesses
resulted in an unexpected guest, Caroline Cavallo, from the Royal Danish
Ballet, who danced the injured Jennie Somogyi’s Swan Lakes and
the flu-bound Miranda Weese’s Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No.
2 on very short notice. Cavallo had danced both roles (Peter Martins’
Swan Lake was made for the Danish company) and her invitation
was a more farsighted choice that the “shove an unprepared corps
girl on” scenario we too often see.
read review
A Very Personal Vision
BUGLISI/FOREMAN
DANCE
Joyce Theater
New York, NY
January 27 & January 31
by
Susan Reiter
copyright
© 2004 by Susan Reiter
One
enters a very specific world when viewing the choreography of Jacqulyn
Buglisi and Donlin Foreman, who as artistic directors contribute equally
to the repertory of the ten-year-old Buglisi/Foreman Dance. It is a world
that is passionately committed to the full-bodied, emotionally propelled
technique and esthetic of Martha Graham, in whose company both were principal
dancers for many years. It is marked by what could be considered "old-fashioned"
values within today's dance scene—frequent use of nineteenth-century
music (often performed live), dances inspired by literary sources and
humanistic concerns. This kind of open-hearted, deeply expressive work
is certainly not trendy, but the company happily and proudly inhabits
its own realm, set apart from whatever constitutes the cutting-edge of
the moment.
read review
What's On This Week?
Balanchine 100th Birthday Events:
February
2
Balanchine and Ballet Technique
As part of New York City Ballet's 2004 seminar series, panel members Merrill
Ashley, Kay Mazzo and Suki Schorer, along with moderator Peter Boal, will
focus on George Balanchine's ballet technique. At 6pm.
New York State Theater
Lincoln Center 66th Street and
Broadway 212-870-5570 www.nycballet.com
February
3-8 (Opened in November)
New York City Ballet
The company's Balanchine Centennial Celebration continues with
three more performances of Susan Stroman's Double Feature and
three of George Balanchine's own three-acter, the sublime Jewels.
2/3 at 7:
30pm, 2/4 at 8pm, 2/5 at 8pm, 2/6 at 8pm, 2/7 at 2pm, 2/7 at 8pm, 2/8
at 3pm. New York State Theater Lincoln Center 66th Street and Broadway
212-870-5570 www.nycballet.com
February
3-29 and April 27-June 27 (opened January 6)
The Balanchine Centennial Exhibition at New York City Ballet
George Balanchine's career is covered in a photography exhibit curated
by company veteran Edward Bigelow.
New York State Theater Lincoln Center 66th Street and Broadway 212-870-5570
www.nycballet.com
February
3-March 7 (Opened December 6)
A Celebration of George Balanchine:
Selected Television Work
George Balanchine took full advantage of the advent of television, and
many of his greatest works - and performances of his dancers - have been
captured on video. In this 100th-year anniversary of the great choreographer's
birthday, The Museum of Television & Radio presents a series of showings
of some incredible footage. The fifth installment, shown from 2/3-8, is
the Live from Lincoln Center 1978 broadcast of Coppélia, choreographed
by Balanchine and Alexandra Danilova, stars Patricia McBride, Helgi Tomasson,
Shaun O'Brien and the New York City Ballet. (150 minutes) Screening Times:
Tuesdays to Sunday at 12:30 pm Evening Screenings:
Thursdays at 6pm The Museum of Television & Radio 25 West
52 Street 212-621-6800
February
3-April 24 (Opened December 10)
The Enduring Legacy of George Balanchine
A multi-media exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of
George Balanchine. It features photographs, designs, manuscript music
and correspondence, costumes, set pieces, and models, along with showings
of videotaped performances and rehearsals. The New York Public Library
for the Performing Arts Donald and Mary Oenslager Gallery 40 Lincoln Center
Plaza 212-870-1630
Ballet and Dance Events:
February
3, 5-7
Bill T.Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
The 20th-anniversary season of Bill T. Jones' company presents three New
York premieres among two programs. Program A (2/3, 2/6 at 7:30pm) is comprised
of Chaconne, Mercy 10 x 8 on a Circle, Reading, and Mercy and
the Artificial Nigger. The evening features special guest actress
Susan Sarandon. The Gift/No God Logic (2/5 only), Continuous Replay
( at 2/7 only), There Were..., The Phantom Project: Still/Here Looking
On make up Program B (at 2/5, 2/7 at 7:30. Special guests for these
performances are Cassandra Wilson and Vernon Reid, and Vernon Reid and
DJ Spooky. There also will be dialogues with Jones after the 2/5-6 performances.
February
3-8
Doug Varone and Dancers
Varone's group performs the premiere of Castles, a revival of
Rise, and the Earth Far Below.
The Joyce Theater 175 Eighth Ave. at 19th St. 212-242-0880 www.joyce.
org
February
5
Lunar New Year
Chinese Folk Dance Company
The the full moon of the Chinese Lantern Festival will be celebrated with
swirling silk, flashing swords, and frolicking lions in this evening of
dance, acrobatics and Peking Opera. At 7pm.
Winter Garden
World Financial Center
220 Vesey Street between North End Avenue and West Street 212-945-0505
February
5-7
De Facto Dance
The group performs Cinderzilla, a dance-theater piece that weaves together
the stories of Cinderella and Godzilla. At 8pm.
Williamsburg Arts Nexus
205 North 7th Street between Driggs Avenue and Roebling Street.
718-599-7997
February
5-7
Deborah Hay Dance Company
Danspace Project Hay choreographs The Match, a quartet experimenting with
self- reflection and intimacy in performance.
St. Mark's Church in the Bowery
Second Avenue at 10th Street
212-674-8194
February
5-8 (Opened January 22)
Dusara Dance
Bill Clark launches his own dance company with performances of Place
Poems. La MaMa E.T.C. Annex Theare 74A East 4th Street between Bowery
and Second Avenue 212-475-7710
February
5-8
Makram Hamdan
Hamdan presents the New York premieres of Back Yard and two solos,
I on You and Pleurs Jai Soif. Performed by Jean Feebury, Makram Hamdan
& Katharine Livingston, Music by Brian Nishii, Westwell Production.
Joyce Soho
155 Mercer Street between Houston and Prince Streets 212-334-7479
February
6
A Tribute to Tap Giants of the Stage and Screen With Harold "Stumpy"
Cromer, the Young Hoofers, Eric Offner and the Sidney Bechet Society Band,
Byron Stripling and Carrie Smith. At 8pm.
Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street
212-840-2824
February
6-7 (Opened January 28)
David Parker/Bang Group
Parker presents a retelling of the Nutcracker - Cracked, Slapstick, and
Enough. At 7pm.
Dance Theater Workshop
219 West 19th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
February
6-March 4
Wow Moves Dance Fest
The Monster Baby Project, a series of solos adapted from Anne Gadwa's
I Dream of Monster Babies, is performed.
Wow Cafe Theater
59-61 East 4th Street between Bowery and Second Avenue
4th Floor
212-777-4280
Flamenco
Vivo/Carlota Santana
Three works by Robert Lorca are restaged.
Brooklyn Center for the Preforming Arts at Brooklyn College. At 8pm.
Flatbush and Nostrand Avenues
718-951-4500
February 7-9
Nayikas Dance Theater Company
New York's first resident classical Indian Odissi dance theater
company performs works by Myna Mukherjee. At 8pm.
Baruch Center for the Performing Arts
Nagelberg Theater
55 Lexington Avenue at 25th Street
646-312-4085
January 30-February
1
Imago Dance Theater
A Day in the Life is performed.
1/30 at 9pm, 1/31-2/1 at 8pm.
Cunningham Studio
55 Bethune Street
212-613-8456
— Dale Brauner
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