By Adewale Adekanbi Jr.
NYC based DJ Boston Cherry drops a fresh Afro-Cuban vibe to remix Cardi B’s Bodak Yellow for the Manifesto NYC festival High Power. Chery mixes things up using the sinister instrumental, she adds a creative flare of afrobeat conga drums and salsa giving Cardi B more fire to her lyrics. Continue reading
Moscow Ballet soloists Sergey Chumakov and Elena Petrichenko perform the much acclaimed Arabian Variation.
Bolshoi ballet principal dancer Anna Nikulina performs the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Continue reading
California Philharmonic Dancers CalPhil with “So You Think You Can Dance” and “America’s Best Dance Crew” dancers/choreographers Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer, James “BDash” Derrick and Kevin “Konkrete” Davis are featured on Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, op. 71 (1892) movements March, Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairies (Spencer/Derrick/Davis), Spanish Dance: Chocolate (Davis), Chinese Dance: Tea (Spencer) and Russian Dance: Trepak (Derrick). Maestro Victor Vener conducts the California Philharmonic Orchestra on Christmas Concert Spectacular finale at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, CA December 12, 2015.
Royal Opera Ballet’s The Nutcracker features a sensual Coffee (Arabian Dance) a pas de quatre. Continue reading
Darci Kistler and Damian Woetze in the Grand Pas De Deux from George Balanchine’s Nutcracker (1993).
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By Walter Rutledge
NewSteps, a choreographic showcase, began the 23-year of bi-annual presentations on December 7 at the Chen Dance Center 70 Mulberry Street. The series presented 6 works by 8 choreographers Jenny Boissiere, Esmé Boyce, Keith Comley, Chelsea Hecht, Alexandra Lockhart, Emily McDaniel, Emily McDaniel, Nikki Theroux and Shannon Yu. NewSteps offers new and emerging choreographers rehearsal space, mentoring, and a stipend to create works less than 10 minutes in length. NewSteps promotes “new steps”; in other words, all of these original works are crafted for the three performance choreographic showcase. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
Newsteps begins their 35th bi-annual emerging choreographers showcase December 7 through December 9 at the Chen Dance Center, 70 Mulberry Street in Chinatown. Newsteps offers new and emerging dance makers the opportunity to develop and present works in a low pressure, nurturing environment. Each choreographer is given rehearsal space, an honorarium, mentoring from a member of the selection panel, and multiple (three) performances to give the works time to “find its own voice”. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
Michael Jackson, Jr. has spent his career working in the Black dance genre. The gifted dancer, choreographer, teacher, and this season’s Ailey “poster God” began his dance training at age 14 at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. under the direction of Charles Augins. His irrepressible curiosity, athletic physique and pliant musculature help Jackson Jr. quickly excel. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will present an excerpt of George Faison’s masterwork Suite Otis at their New York City Center season opening night gala, Wednesday, November 29 2017. Choreographed in 1971 for the George Faison Universal Dance Experience the work joined the Ailey repertoire in 1977. 40 years after it’s Ailey debut Suite Otis continues to excite and entertain audiences with verve, aplomb, fleet footed technique and imaginative Archimedean storytelling.
The company will perform the finale section set to Otis Redding’s Tenderness. The full cast section reintroduces the dancers creating a visually exciting yet compelling epilog. Throughout the work Faison (the imperial storyteller) does what every choreographer should do- invites us into his vision and delivers with clarity, focus and impeccable choreographic timing.
Balletomanes still long for the return of old fashion honest storytelling- the hallmark of Ailey’s original company. In Suite Otis Faison’s articulate use of the dance narrative genre captures the majesty and universal humanity of both Otis Redding’s music and the black dance experience. This gave him a voice in an era when Black American dance and culture had started to becoming a global force.
Suite Otis- George Faison
What Faison did (and continues to do) is to keep the dance/theatre aesthetic in the forefront of the arts conversation. Tenderness will be performed for one performance only on Wednesday, November 29 for tickets and a complete schedule of the five-week New York City season visit ailey.org.
Ghanaian artist Paa Joe has brought some of New York City’s most iconic motifs to life. As part of Superhouse NYC’s inaugural “Celestial City” exhibition, the multidisciplinary artist served up a handful of lifesize sculptures of the city’s signature signage, including pizza boxes, taxi cabs, bagels and of course, rats. 120 Walker Street, 6RGhanaian artist Paa Joe has brought some of New York City’s most iconic motifs to life. As part of Superhouse NYC’s inaugural “Celestial City” exhibition, the multidisciplinary artist served up a handful of lifesize sculptures of the city’s signature signage, including pizza boxes, taxi cabs, bagels and of course, rats. 120 Walker Street, 6R
The Dance of the Village Elders are back ! This time we exercise, dance and just have fun through the zoom platform or in-person at R.A.I.N. Nereid Ghanaian artist Paa Joe has brought some of New York City’s most iconic motifs to life. As part of Superhouse NYC’s inaugural “Celestial City” exhibition, the multidisciplinary artist served up a handful of lifesize sculptures of the city’s signature signage, including pizza boxes, taxi cabs, bagels and of course, rats. 120 Walker Street, 6RGhanaian artist Paa Joe has brought some of New York City’s most iconic motifs to life. As part of Superhouse NYC’s inaugural “Celestial City” exhibition, the multidisciplinary artist served up a handful of lifesize sculptures of the city’s signature signage, including pizza boxes, taxi cabs, bagels and of course, rats. 120 Walker Street, 6R
The Dance of the Village Elders are back ! This time we exercise, dance and just have fun through the zoom platform or in-person at R.A.I.N. Nereid 