Loretta Abbott was one of three former Ailey principle dancers to perform in the On The Block (After Bearden). The work is a story ballet set on a Harlem neighborhood from the 1950’s through the present day. Loretta, Dudley Williams and Hope Clark shared their exstensive character development expertise with the cast. And I gained the artistic respect and friendship of Loretta and Dudley, which lasted throughout the balance of their lives. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
Clark Center NYC will present a week of dance and related activities Monday September 28 through Friday October 2 at City College Center for the Arts, Aaron Davis Hall. The event is part of the “rebirth” of the Clark Center for the Performing Arts; the venerable New York City dance institution that closed 26 years ago. The new Clark Center NYC returns as a virtual dance center instead of a brick and mortar facility. Its mission is to not just honor past accomplishments but to offer opportunities to the next generation of dancers and dance makers. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
The Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center concludes their 2015 Souls Of Our Feet Dance Festival with two events Monday, June 29 and Tuesday, June 30 at the Actors Fund Arts Center 160 Schermerhorn Street in downtown Brooklyn, 7:30 pm. On Monday the third dance presentation will featured three New York based Hip Hop companies, Full Circle Souljah, Jendog/YalinDream and Special Ops/Flatbush Bullies. Tickets for this event are $20 and can be purchased online at wwwthelmahill.com and at the box office prior to the performance.
Each group brings a different favor of this American art form that was born in urban NYC. Full Circle Souljahs, under the direction of Bronx native Rokafella, blends Hip-Hop with traditional dance styles and compositional forms to produce dances ranging from pure street dance to concert style urban dance narratives. Jendog/YalinDream are a music with a message duet that combines rap, spoken word and hip hop imagery. Special Ops/Flatbush Bullies mixes flexing, bone breaking, and break dance in a street battle format , this high-energy “in your face” style will make you want to bust a sag and pull your hoodie over your head. In Lieu of a formal post performance Q&A, each company director will provide brief statements detailing their organization’s mission and aesthetic philosophy.
On Tuesday June 30 at 7pm the series will conclude with A Dancer’s Life, a conversation with dancer Loretta Abbott. Abbott, whose career spans over six decades. Abbott holds the distinction of dancing the Wade In The Water section of Alvin Ailey’s masterwork Revelations with Ailey himself (she was Ailey’s last partner). In addition to concert dance she was in the original Broadway cast of Purlie, Raisin and Liza With A Z. Abbott will discuss her career and artistry with Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center Artistic Advisor, and Out and About NYC Magazine Editor in Chief Walter Rutledge.
Abbott and Rutledge will open the evening with a duet entitled Sentimental Reasons. The work choreographed by Rutledge and commissioned by Dancers For A Variable Population 10027 Project is a tribute to the partnership of Abbott and the late Al Perryman. Named the Dynamic Duo they had special onstage chemistry, and impeccable comedic timing. This free event will include a closing night reception. For more information visit thelmahill@msn.com or call (718) 875- 9710.
By Bruce Hawkins
Last night was another magical night orchestrated by Carmen De Lavallade and Leo Holder to celebrate the home going of her husband and his Father, the brilliant and talented Geoffrey Holder. Everyone was instructed to wear colorful clothing. No black. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
Dance of the Village Elders, a dance and fitness class designed for senior citizens, will hold their end of year demonstration and performance on Tuesday, July 1, 6:30pm at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Joan Weill Center for Dance, 455 West 55 Street at 9th Avenue in Studio 5A/5B. The 60-minute presentation will include a demonstration of the fitness training and movement program, the audience is encouraged to join in. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
Dances For a Variable Population (DVP) will present Solstice Steps for three free performances Friday, June 20 at 6pm and Saturday, June 21 at 5pm and 7pm at the West Harlem Piers Park. Presented as part of the Riverside Park’s Summer on the Hudson series Harlem Dances, the production will feature a cast of over 50 performers and ranging in age from 25 to 85; including professional dancers, dance luminaries and community-based senior citizens. The world premiere performances features choreography by DVP’s Founder and Artistic Director Naomi Goldberg Haas, and invited guest choreographers and performers including Loretta Abbott, George Faison, Sandra Genter, Dyane Harvey, Walter Rutledge, Dudley Williams and Robin Williams. Continue reading
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, 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 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 