4/13/18 O&A NYC DANCE: O&A NYC Picks Of The Week

New York City is the dance capital of the world! This week we have modern masters in Manhattan, Hip- Hop Downtown, and Burlesque in Brooklyn. Here are a few events guaranteed to keep you Out and About.

Arthur Mitchell with Darren Walker: A Stellar Life in Dance Arthur Mitchell will take place on Friday at Noon Series at the 92 Street Y. Founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem and former New York City Ballet principal dancer, joins Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, to reflect on Mr. Mitchell’s lifelong commitment to diversity, social justice and excellence in dance. The special 2-hour program  features performances of George Balanchine’s Agon with New York City Ballet principal dancers Maria Kowroski and Amar Ramasar, Arthur Mitchell’s Balm in Gilead performed by former Dance Theatre of Harlem principal dancer Paunika Jones, Royston Maldoom’s Doina performed by Paunika Jones and Jamal Story, and Flight of the Bumble Bee performed by Rasta Thomas; a conversation between Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Walker moderated by award-winning arts advocate Donna Walker-Kuhne; remarks by former New York Times Chief Dance Critic Anna Kisselgoff about the early years of Dance Theatre of Harlem; and a panel of early Dance Theatre of Harlem collaborators including the company’s first prima ballerina, Lydia Abarca Mitchell, soloist Sheila Rohan and conductor and composer Tania León facilitated by archivist Gillian Lipton, accompanied by archival images.

The renowned Martha Graham Dance Company brings Sacred/Profane to New York City Center (55th street between 6th &7th Avenues) April 11th through 14th after its acclaimed international tour. Experience the powerhouse Graham dancers in this season’s world premiere and recent commissions by choreographers Lucinda Childs and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, with a special presentation of Lar Lubovitch’s Legend of Ten in celebration of his Company’s 50th anniversary. Rediscover Graham’s genius through her visceral masterwork The Rite of Spring, her powerful anti-war statement Chronicle, and sly melodrama Embattled Garden. Explore the origin of Graham’s technique with the captivating solo Ekstasis, and with over 30 local dance students in the tour de force Panorama, from 1935. 

Ballet Hispánico at the Joyce Theater April 10 through 15, offers two distinct Spanish choreographers’ takes on the literary icon Federico Garcia Lorca, as choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, who has made work for Nederlands Dans Theater, delves into the life of the celebrated Spanish poet and playwright during his time in New York City in 1929. And Carlos Pons Guerra, who has created work for Rambert, reimagines Lorca’s 1936 play, The House of Bernanda Alba, infusing the tale of family intrigue with the theatricality of Latin film. 

Love Heals All Wounds by the remarkable Lil Buck and Jon Boogz at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts for two shows on Saturday, April 14 shares an approach to urban-dance choreography and performance that is alternately loose and uncannily precise. Their company, MAI (Movement Art Is), aims to expand the educational and social power of dance; this piece explores issues including diversity, violence, police brutality and empathy. Spoken-word artist Robin Sanders is among those joining the main duo onstage.

Lar Lubovitch is one of America’s most revered master choreographers, this year he celebrates his company’s 50th anniversary at the Joyce Theater (April 17 through 21) with two programs that highlight his “ravishing…complicated and mysterious” work (The New Yorker). Lubovitch presents a haunting world premiere, set to seldom-heard choral music by Schubert, as well as signature works, like Men’s Stories. During the run, the Martha Graham Dance Company and The Joffrey Ballet will also take the stage to perform seminal Lubovitch dances, in honor of this rare milestone.

Marýa Wethers curates this series at Gibney Dance (280 Broadway) devoted to intersections among blackness, queerness and indigeneity. Participating artists include Mayfield Brooks (Apr 10–14), Jumatatu M. Poe (Apr 19–21) and I Moving Lab (Apr 26–28). 

Cinderella by choreographer Austin McCormick and his Company XIV has created a luxe, cirque-flavored event that take the burlesque experience—a series of episodic teases or acts—and extend it into a full evening’s entertainment. This year’s dance-drama, Cinderella, has a super cast, full of charismatic performers and extraordinary dancers. The production runs Thursdays through Sundays: April 12 – 15, April 19- 22 and April 26- 29 at Theatre XIV 383 Troutman Street, Brooklyn.

 

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Out & About NYC Magazine was founded to offer the arts and lifestyle enthusiast a fresh new look at New York City. We will showcase the established and the emerging, the traditional and the trendy. And we will do it with élan, and panache with a dash of fun.
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