“Stravinsky Violin Concerto,” “Mercuric Tidings,” “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"
Miami City Ballet
Adrienne Arsht Center
Miami
October 18-20, 2019

Miami City Ballet’s 2019-2020 season-opener “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue,” debuted October 18-20 at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. All three performances shared exceptional contributions from the men (many new to the company), inspired contrasts between the works, and a depth of talent where first and second casts forwarded equally strong performances.

George Balanchine’s “Stravinsky Violin Concerto” headlined the

Ase Dance Theatre Collective
ODC Theater
San Francisco, CA
October 17, 2019

A dance artist’s most difficult task (besides nailing down the money) is to find a framework that can house and support expressive content Some rethink and reshape established formats — Ballet and Flamenco. Others become more radical–dance theater, installations. Adia Tamar Whitaker called her “Have K(NO!)w Fear ” for her Ase Dance Theatre Collective a “Bluessical”, for which she choreographed, wrote lyrics, composed music and danced

“Theme and Variations", "A Gathering of Ghosts", "The Seasons"
American Ballet Theatre
David H. Koch Theater
New York, New York
October 19, 2019 evening

“Apollo", "Some Assembly Required", "Let Me Sing Forevermore", "Deuce Coupe"
American Ballet Theatre
David H. Koch Theater
New York, New York
October 20, 2019

Balanchine, Tharp, Ratmansky at night with Balanchine and Tharp anchoring a quadruple bill the next afternoon had all the makings of a choreographically rich weekend at American Ballet Theatre. "Theme and Variations"

Sonezaki Shinju (The Love Suicides at Sonezaki)
Sugimoto Bunraku Puppet Theater
Rose Theater, Lincoln Center, New York
October 19, 2019

"The Love Suicides at Sonezaki," which opened Lincoln's Center's tenth annual White Light Festival, tells the tale of a young Osaka shop clerk and a teenage prostitute who kill themselves rather than face life apart. It was banned in Japan in 1723 after a wave of copycat love suicides, and not performed again until 1955. The US premiere

"Void and Vessel," "Mogari," "Hildergardis”
The New York Butoh Institute Festival 2019
Theater for the New City, New York
October 19, 2019

Butoh is an art form that rose from the ruins of the atom bombing of Japan – an event that recalled the Big Bang at the beginning of time, and presaged the Resurrection of the Dead. Both were evoked last night at the second annual New York Butoh Institute Festival.

This year’s festival features 14 performers,

"Theme and Variations", "Let Me Sing Forevermore", "A Gathering of Ghosts"
American Ballet Theatre
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, New York
October 16, 2019

ABT's Fall gala abandoned the usual trappings – not a fouetté in sight – though there were some extended speeches, especially the one from Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, the president of Celebrity Cruises, in which she quoted statistics showing the small number of current female choreographers and touting the fact that the ABT gala featured works by

“Opus 19/The Dreamer,” “Lineage,” “The Shaded Line,” “Symphony in C”
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center
New York
October 13, 2019

Lauren Lovette doesn’t look like a person who makes waves; the word “adorable” could have been invented for her. There is evidence, though, in her dancing, that she can recreate herself, as she did on Sunday in Jerome Robbins’ “Opus 19/The Dreamer,” where she became almost feral in a nightmarish segment of

“At the Wrong Time,” “Dust Duet,” “Dare to Wreck,” “Lazarus” (Act II)
Fall For Dance Festival - Program 3
The Mariinsky Ballet, English National Ballet, Skånes Dansteater, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
New York City Center
New York, NY
October 6, 2019

The third program of this year’s Fall For Dance Festival followed what is now an expected formula: there was a range of dance styles on display, at least one work on pointe, and at least one crowd

“Paquita”
The Mariinsky Ballet
Opera House
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
October 8 and 10, 2019

The tastes and skills for this 2017 production of the ballet “Paquita” span several centuries. The story derives from the writings of Spain’s Miguel Cervantez (1547 – 1616). The first dance version premiered 1846 in Paris, choreographed by Joseph Mazilier to music by Edouard Deldevez. The work is named for its principal character: Paquita appears to be a

“Serenade,” “Summerspace,” “Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2”
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center
New York
October 10, 2019

Throughout the dance world this year, celebrations are taking place to mark the centenary of Merce Cunningham’s birth. New York City Ballet has had Cunningham’s “Summerspace” (1958) in its repertory since 1966, so it is logical that the company would bring it back as its own way of honoring the great modern dance innovator. The work

"Dances at a Gathering,” “Everywhere We Go”
New York City Ballet
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center
New York, New York
October 8, 2019

In 1969, when Jerome Robbins returned to New York City Ballet after a twelve-year hiatus, he created “Dances at a Gathering.” He had intended to make a pas de deux and ended with an hour-long series of dances, the ease of invention surprising even him. The ballet was an instant success and has remained so to

“A Picture of You Falling,” “Rise,” “Ash,” “Bzzzz”
Fall for Dance 2019 – Program 1
City Center
New York, NY
October 1, 2019

With City Center’s annual “Fall for Dance” festival in full swing, the New York dance season is officially open. The first program included two world premiere City Center Commissions, including a new work by Kyle Abraham for Misty Copeland. An American company and an international company filled in the evening, and – always aiming to please the crowd