July 2014 Blog Posts (7)

Michael Rossato-Bennett's stirring new film about the connection we share with music will likely move you to tears - because it's beautiful. Rossato-Bennett explores the healing power of music and its ability to triumph or illness and disease. This is a must see documentary for the human race.

See more at http://dancerdeals.com

The All Robbins program offered this spring season by New York City Ballet is a testament to the range and depth of the choreographer’s genius. “Glass Pieces”, the 1983 work to the driving rhythms of music by Philip Glass, is an ideal opener with its masterful blend of postmodern and classical movement styles that call to mind the pulsating urgency of urban life.

On Friday, May 9^th 2014, Rebecca Krohn and Amar Ramasar were outstanding in the section of “Glass Pieces”…

On the rain-soaked evening of May 16^th 2014, ABT delivered a mood-boosting performance of “Don Quixote” for a full house of grateful dancegoers at the Koch Theater in Lincoln Center. Dazzling Gallic-flavored dancing and full-throttle comedy to the music of Minkus helped to push dire flash flood warnings out of the minds of many in the audience. I heard plenty of comments during intermissions by people who said that driving in from the suburbs or sloshing through sidewalk puddles…

A roll call of dance greats – performers, directors, critics, and historians – took the stage one after the other at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts in New York City on the evening of May 30^th 2014 to share their memories of one of the greatest of them all, Frederic Franklin.

Known to everyone as Freddie, the affable and gifted star delighted audiences during an astonishing eight-decade career beginning with his debut at 17 and closing with his portrayal…

On June 3rd 2014, The School of American Ballet’s 50th annual Workshop Performance at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Lincoln Center once again proved that Balanchine was right when he famously said “But first a school”. That remark was Mr. B’s response after Lincoln Kirstein invited him to come to the United States to co-found a ballet company in 1933. Eight decades later, as evidenced by the overall high level of talent and artistry on stage, SAB continues to deserve its reputation as this…

On June 27^th 2014 at the Koch Theatre in Lincoln Center during The Boston Ballet’s first ever engagement in New York City, the company proved to be better than the New York City Ballet at dancing Balanchine. I know I’m not alone in holding that opinion because I overheard several people seated near me express the same sentiment during the enthusiastic applause for Symphony in Three Movements. The principals and soloists were superb, but the corps de ballet was the true star…