3/31/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY- REVIEW: Ailey II- Jean Emile’s In And Out Is Outstanding

By Walter Rutledge

Shall We Dance

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Ailey II began their annual New York City 2016 season Wednesday March 30th at the Ailey Citygroup Theater, in the Joan Weill Center For Dance (405 W 55th Street). The two-week season, which runs through April 10, 2016, will offer two programs, All New and Returning Favorites. The season opened with the All New program, featuring four works by Kyle “JustSole” Clark, Jean Emile, Ray Mercer, and Jamar Roberts. Continue reading

3/26/16 O&A NYC DANCE: A Conversation With Debbie Blunden- Diggs Rainbow Round My Shoulder

By Walter Rutledge

Rainbow Round My Shoulder (part one)

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) will perform Donald McKayle’s Rainbow Round My Shoulder tonight with Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance at the Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. This is the second season of the new initiative by the Taylor Company to showcase works by emerging choreographer and modern dance masters during their New York City season. O&A NYC Magazine talked with DCDC Artistic Director Debbie Blunden- Diggs about the work and the New York City performances. Continue reading

3/23/16 O&A NYC DANCE: Donald McKayle and Rainbow Round My Shoulder honored at Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance Performance

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On Tuesday March 22 the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company performed Donald McKayle’s 1959 modern dance classic Rainbow Round My Shoulder during Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance New York City season. The presentation is part of the Taylor Company’s initiative to present new works by emerging choreographers and modern dance masters. This is the second season of the initiative; season one featured an impressive performance of Doris Humphrey’s Passacaglia and Fugue by the Jose Limon Dance Company.

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Following the performance a reception honoring McKayle was held at the Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. McKayle (84) was greeted by well wishers, and a surprising number of dancers who had performed the work over the past 56 years including former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performers Donna Wood, Elizabeth Roxas, Ailey 2 Artistic Director Emerita Sylvia Waters and Tony Award Winner George Faison. You have two more opportunities to see Rainbow Round My Shoulder on Thursday, March 24 and Saturday March 26. DON’T MISS IT! (Review of Rainbow Round My Shoulder and related interviews to follow shortly.) For tickets visit www.boxoffice.dance.

 

Rainbow Round My Shoulder photo by Sara D. Davis/ ADF 2011

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3/21/16 O&A NYC DANCE: A Conversation With Michelle Fleet- The Diversion Of Angels

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To honor the Martha Graham Dance Company’s 90th Anniversary Celebration Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance will perform Graham’s Diversion of Angels during the New York City season at the Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. Former Graham principal dancers Blakeley White-McGuire and Tadej Brdnik restaged the work on the Taylor Company; which has been maintained by Linda Hodes. Hodes, a former member of both the Graham and Taylor Companies, performed the work with Taylor and in 1993 became the Founding Director of Taylor 2. Continue reading

3/19/16 O&A NYC DANCE: Eric Underwood (repost)

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Eric Underwood, Soloist with The Royal Ballet and Washington, D.C., native trained locally under the direction of Barbara Marks. After only eight months (there were no other boys at the school) Eric moved to the School of American Ballet in New York. Continue reading

3/18/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Paul Taylor- Promethean Fire (Toccata & Fugue)

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Promethean Fire (2002) danced to the music of three of Leopold Stokowski’s famous Bach transcriptions (Opus 116). The ensemble work is one of Paul Taylor’s six ballets set to the music of the baroque master. This excerpt is the first movement choreographed to the celebrated Toccata and Fugue in D minor.   Continue reading

3/14/16 O&A NYC DANCE: Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance New York Season Begins Tuesday March 15

By Walter Rutledge

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Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance (PTAMD) begins its annual New York City Season Tuesday, March 15 at the David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. The three-week, twenty-one performance spring offering runs thru April 3 and will include two New York premieres by Taylor, Sullivaniana and Dilly Dilly- his 143rd and 144th works for the company. The performances will feature live music performed by the renowned Orchestra of St. Luke’s, conducted by long-time Taylor Music Director, Donald York. Continue reading

3/12/16 O&A NYC DANCE: The Vortex- From Alvin Ailey’s The River

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Jennifer Gelfand performs the Vortex section of Alvin Ailey’s The River. Originally set on American Ballet Theatre in 1970 the work was performed by Gelfand during a tour entitled  Vortex section of Alvin Ailey’s The RiverFernando Bujones and Stars of the Boston Ballet in 1993. The work was set to music by Duke Ellington.  Continue reading