Shall We Dance Friday: Les Twins – San Diego 2010 World of Dance

Shall We Dance

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Les Twins are identical twin brothers Laurent and Larry Bourgeois, born on December 6, 1988, are French dancers, choreographers, and models. This self-taught dance duo were born and raised in Sarcelles, France. They became the darlings of the French audience in 2008 as finalists on the popular television show Incroyable Talent. Continue reading

Kymera Dance 2014 New York Season

By Walter Rutledge

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Kymera Dance began their 2014 New York season on Sunday, May 25 at the Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Family Auditorium, JCC in Manhattan. The season featured two world premieres by commissioned artist Amy Hall Garner and Artistic Director William Isaac. The performance was a well-balanced and artistically succinct program, which successfully conveyed both choreographers’ intents and individual styles. Continue reading

The World According To Sidra Bell

By Walter Rutledge

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Sidra Bell Dance New York presented the New York premiere of garment Thursday May 15 at the Baruch College Performance Arts Center.  The work by choreographer Sidra Bell had a running time of 60 minutes without an intermission. In many situations a protracted work of this length would have been an intolerable dirge, whose only redeeming quality was that it allowed the audience a short early evening nap. But this was the world according to Sidra Bell, and in her environmental fantasy fest we were on a non-stop roll coaster ride of subliminal and metaphoric imagery. Continue reading

Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center begins Spring Season May 1

By Walter Rutledge

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The Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center (THPAC) will begin their spring season with PEEKS Works In Progress on Thursday, May 1, 7:30pm at the Actors Fund Arts Center, 160 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn. The hour-long presentation will showcase works in development by Ranardo-Domeico Grays and William Isaac. Continue reading

A Conversation with Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director Virginia Johnson (originally posted 2/1/2012)

By Walter Rutledge

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Dance Theatre of Harlem will present their second New York season April 23 through April 27 at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center. The company can best be described as a “Phoenix Rising”. Continue reading

(REPOST) O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Maurice Bejart: Bolero featuring Jorge Donn

Shall We Dance

Maurice Bejart choreographed Bolero in 1960 for the Ballet du XXe Siècle (Ballet of the Twentieth Century). In Bolero Béjart returns to the spirit of his 1959 Rite of Spring, by negating the easy choices of a picturesque exterior in favor of a stripped down simplicity. He gives the central role, the Melody, to a solo dancer and the ensemble is described as the Rhythm. Argentinian dancer Jorge Donn was best known for his work with Bejart. His theatricality and androgynous attack epitomized the 80’s.

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4/4/14 O&A NYC DANCE: Rudolf Nureyev as Valentino (1977) Tango Scene ft. Rudolf Nureyev & Anthony Dowell

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Rudolph Nureyev as Valentino. A biographical drama film very loosely based on the life of Rudolph Valentino, directed by Ken Russell in 1977. In this scene former dance hall performer Rudolpho Valentino dances a tango with dance legend Ballet Russe star Vaslav Nijinsky. Continue reading

(Repost) 4/1/14 O&A NYC DANCE: Martha Graham – Appalachian Spring and Rite of Spring

By Walter Rutledge

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The recent all too-short season of the Martha Graham Dance Company at New York City Center was a resounding artistic success. The company performed two programs of Graham classics and stunning new works by Nacho Duato and Andonis Foniadakis. The Saturday March 22 evening program included two Graham classics Appalachian Spring (1944) and Rite of Spring (1984).  Both works reinforced the fact that Graham was not only as a master craftsman, but also as an artist with a strong sense of classic form, structure and design. Continue reading