"Etudes", "Piano Concerto #1", "Petite Mort"
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
November 15, 2019

The National Ballet of Canada latest triple bill brought a balanced mix of pure classical ballet technique and more contem- porary movement. Between Harald Lander's "Etudes", Alexei Ratmansky's "Piano Concerto #1", and Jiří Kylián's "Petite Mort", the program played to the strengths of the company's corps de ballet and highlighted many principal dancers

“The Day”
Wendy Whelan and Maya Beiser in
choreography by Lucinda Childs to
music and poetry by David Lang,
Eisenhower Theater,
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
Washington, DC
December 6, 2019

At the start of the 20th Century, Diaghilev’s ballet dancers such as Pavlova, Nijinsky, Karsavina, Bolm et al. did “moderne” numbers on their comcert programs. Nijinsky, of course, has been considered an innovative modern dance choreographer as well as a classic-romantic performer. If

Herman Cornejo: Celebrating 20 Years
Act II pas de deux from "Giselle", Second solo from "Apollo", "Sinatra Suite"
Studio 5
New York City Center
New York, New York
December 2, 2019

Alastair Macaulay's too brief stint as Studio 55 programmer ended with a salute to ABT dancer Herman Cornejo's twenty year career with the company.  Cornejo himself selected the repertoire and the dancers (Skylar Brandt in "Giselle" and Luciana Paris in "Sinatra Suite"), which with characteristic modesty

“The Nutcracker”
Atlanta Ballet
Opera House
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, D.C.
November 27, 2019

Washington balletgoers took part in something special last week when the Atlanta Ballet — a regional troupe never before seen at the Kennedy Center — unveiled a new “Nutcracker” that made an old story glisten with intrigue and wonder. The stunning $3.7 million production, conceived by Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin and choreographed by Yuri Possokhov, marries timeless tradition with 21

"Orpheus Alive", "Chaconne"
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
November 15, 2019

The Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice has inspired countless creative works over the years. The National Ballet of Canada's choreographic associate, Robert Binet, is the latest dancemaker to interpret this classic love story with his ballet "Orpheus Alive". It is a sweeping, large-scale work with a cast of 45 dancers and a running time of 73 minutes.

"The Art of Partnering"
Studio 5
New York City Center
New York, New York
November 25, 2019

The intimate and imaginative Studio 5 presentations give the audience, who sit in a semi-circle around the artists, fascinating glimpses into the creative process.  This evening Alastair Macaulay, the former Chief Dance Critic of the "New York Times", put together a discussion on ballet partnering in three works by Balanchine with Jonathan Stafford, the Artistic Director of the New York City

“Under the Olive Tree” and "Genus"
Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami
South Miami Dade Cultural Center
Cutler Bay, FL
November 16, 2019

Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami opened its 2019-2020 season with “Ballet Sculpture and Serenity” at the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center November 16th at 8:00pm to a mostly full house.  Two company premieres and a world premiere headlined a program of works united by the theme of metamorphosis and classical Greece in the

“Taiten: Noh & Kyogen”
Japan Society
New York
November 14-16, 2019

Japanese Noh is said to be the oldest living theatrical form, its roots going back to the fourteenth century. It is bound by the minutest of rules, every gesture and step refined to abstraction. Its subject matter, too, was developed centuries ago and deals with an unreal world of warriors, ghosts, madwomen, angels, gods, and priests. Although Noh may be deeply conservative, the performance of “Taiten” last week

“Pepperland”
Mark Morris Dance Group
Eisenhower Theater
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
November 16, 2019

When I first heard Mark Morris had choreographed a work to Beatles music, I was surprised and a bit skeptical. There are a lot of strong feelings about the Beatles. Some people believe it is a crime not to love their work. After seeing this show, I believe it is a crime not to gain some sort of enjoyment

"Giselle"
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
November 6, 2019

The National Ballet of Canada opened their 2019-2020 season with a respectful look to the past. "Giselle" is an iconic touchstone for any classical company. Sir Peter Wright's production keeps the story of love and forgiveness front and centre, told through unadorned movement and mime. Whether the narrative, involving a nobleman in disguise, forest spirits, and death by dancing, comes

"Signals from the West: Bay Area Artists in Conversation with Merce Cunningham at 100"
Hope Mohr Dancer: The Bridge Project with SFMOMA's Open Space
ODC Theater
San Francisco, CA
November 8, 2019

The most recent Hope Mohr Dance Bridge Project, the ambitious, challenging and often mesmerizing “Signals from the West: Bay Area Artists in Conversation with Merce Cunningham at 100” is Mohr’s contribution to the many celebrations of the choreographer’s birthday. Almost three-months long, it brought