Dance Magazine articles from June 2009

Dance Magazine archives from June 2009

Curtain up.(Editorial)(Editorial)
June 1, 2009... During my first year out of college, I danced in a piece by Jeff Duncan, the Anna Sokolow dancer who started Dance Theater Workshop--so named because he believed in the "theater" part of dance. The piece was called Resonances, and I was...

In good company.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2009... Thank you for your article on choreographer's block ("Out of Ideas?" April). It is nice to know that I'm not the only one. I usually come to a rehearsal with an idea for a storyline but no choreography. I like to get the dancers excited about...

Inspiring pages.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2009... I love the passion and nerve of performing, as well as learning the technique in class. But after trying out for an intermediate and advanced dance class at my high school, I was placed in beginner level. I don't feel like I belong there, and...

Hightower's roles.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Thank you for your obituary on Rosella Hightower ("Transitions," Feb.). I was a soloist with the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas during the 1940s and '50s, when Hightower was also a member. As a friend of hers, I...

Camille keeps evolving.(vital signs)(Camille A. Brown)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dancer/choreographer Camille A. Brown has a strong voice that comes through in her vibrant danceworks. She wowed audiences at Fall for Dance in NYC in 2007 with The Evolution of a Secured Feminine and has made works...

Going Dutch.(vital signs)(Holland Festival, performances by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Ana Laguna)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The Holland Festival in Amsterdam opens in grand fashion this year with performances by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Ana Laguna. The pair dance together June 4-6 in the duet Place, choreographed for them by Mats Ek. Also on the program are Ek's Solo...

Arts + ideas = new dance works.(vital signs)(Wally Cardona's Phew! Really Real)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Brainy choreographer Wally Cardona's newest work is full of big issues, including youth, beauty, love, death, sex, and power. Phew! Really Real, a collaboration with composer Phil Kline, premieres at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas...

In the swing of it.(vital signs )(Benji Schwimmer in Love n' Dancing)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... If you loved watching Benji Schwimmer's West Coast swing on So You Think You Can Dance, catch him in the new feature film Love n' Dancing. Starring Amy Smart and Tom Malloy, the film is about an English teacher with dreams of being a dancer who...

Finland's faves & newbies.(vital signs)(Finnish National Ballet's performances)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This month the Finnish National Ballet performs Mats Ek's Fluke and Jiri Kylian's Stepping Stones (left) on their home turf alongside some newcomers at the 40th Kuopio Dance Festival in Finland. Nuevo Ballet EspaSol,...

Hot feet on the street.(vital signs)(dance festivals)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Summertime means dancing in the streets! Chicago, Washington, DC, and NYC all host open-air dance events. For 11 weeks, the 13th annual Chicago SummerDance offers one-hour dance classes and two hours of dancing and live music June 11-Aug. 23....

Get in TU it.(vital signs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Now in its fifth season, Minneapolis-based TU Dance, headed by former Alley dancers Uri Sands and Toni Pierce-Sands, presents two premieres this month: Sense(ability) Sketch 2 and Blue Folk. Choreographed by Uri Sands (a 2005 "25 to Watch"),...

Glittering praise.(vital signs)(Alina Somova)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maya Plisetskaya was so moved by a young ballerina dancing one of her old roles that she took off her diamond earrings and gave them to her on the spot. This extravagant gesture occurred last March as soon as the...

A Royal risk: finding a bold voice for the 21st century.(dance matters)(The Royal Ballet's works)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A great deal has happened to The Royal Ballet since its American visit in 2006. Then, the company had just pulled through the worst crisis in its 75-year history and wanted to show it was back on track. The Sleeping...

NYIBC turns 25: passing the torch.(dance matters)(New York International Ballet Competition)
June 1, 2009... Not only will June mark the 25th anniversary of the New York International Ballet Competition, but it's also a year of transition. This month, founder and executive director Ilona Copen will officially hand the reins to director Richard Chen...

40 years strong: the Windy City's Shirley Mordine & Co.(dance matters)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chicago has Polaski Day, Cubs Opening Day, and of course St. Patrick's Day, but it's never had a Dance Day until now, thanks to the talent and untiring efforts of dancer, choreographer, teacher, and producer Shirley...

Legends fly to the stage.(new york notebook)(FLY: Five First Ladies of Dance)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When a major black woman choreographer performs on our stages, it's reason to rejoice. So now it's time for a fanfare, as five history-making women--Germaine Acogny, Carmen deLavallade, Dianne Mclntyre, Bebe Miller,...

Beyond Romeo & Cinderella.(new york notebook)(American Ballet Theatre)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... There's a sense of longing in Prokofiev's music that tugs at you--and a sense of foreboding that can give you chills. It's part of the reason why no choreographer can ruin Romeo and Juliet, and why Cinderella has had such an upsurge. Even the...

Revolutionary on revolutionary.(new york notebook)(Sardono Kusumo's portrayal of Prince Diponegoro in Muslim Voices: Arts and Ideas festival)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Sardono Kusumo exploded onto the Indonesian arts scene in the '60s as a daring new choreographer who combined elegant Javanese court traditions with jarring contemporary ideas. For Asia Society's "Muslim Voices: Arts & Ideas" festival, he...

My body, my stress: what stress does to your body.(your body)
June 1, 2009... It's no secret that a career as a professional dancer can be unpredictable and stressful. But with the economy in a deep recession, this year has been an especially difficult one for the dance world. Many companies have been forced to cut...

Advice for dancers.(sprain treatment)(Column)
June 1, 2009... I sprained my ankle a few weeks ago during a rehearsal. It didn't seem bad, but it hasn't gotten better. My athletic trainer thinks I may have a "high" ankle sprain. What's that? Chris Philadelphia, PA You need to make an...

The return of grandeur: the Bolshoi brings classic strengths and signature stars to the U.S.(Bolshoi Ballet Company)
June 1, 2009... When Moscow's 200-year-old Bolshoi Ballet first began visiting the West in the 1950s, it thrilled audiences with its unabashed bravado and abandon. Today's troupe retains the bigness and boldness, but its performing profile has evolved...

Going inside the role: how acting can deepen your artistry.
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A fog-swept stage, a dark forest scene with a lake in the distance. One by one birds alight on the water, rise out of the lake, and transform into beautiful women. With tremulous white tutus fluttering and arms...

For love & money: in these tough times, dancers are lending a hand with fundraising.
June 1, 2009... The living has never been easy for arts organizations, but the recession has cut support sharply enough that this winter, Dance/USA conducted what it called the Rough Waters Survey, asking more than a hundred dance-based organizations how...

Dancing all day: gear you need to make it through the long hot summer: you have a summer filled with dance ahead of you. Whether you're heading off to an intensive or training closer to home, we've gathered all of the season's must-haves.(dm style)(Buyers guide)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Balanchine Variations.(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2009... Balanchine Variations By Nancy Goldner Gainesville: University Press of Florida. 2008. 144 pages, illustrated. Paper. $24.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This slender book was distilled from talks sponsored by the Balanchine Foundation...

Remembering Nureyev: The Trail of a Comet.(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2009... Remembering Nureyev: The Trail of a Comet By Rudi van Dantzig; translated by Katie de Haan. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. 2008. 304 pages. Illustrated. Cloth. $34.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What was he like, the Tatar...

A Time to Dance: The Life of Heinz Poll.(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2009... A Time to Dance: The Life of Heinz Poll By Heinz Poll; edited by Barbara Schubert. The University of Akron Press. 2008. 212 pages. Illustrated. Cloth: $29.95. Paper: $19.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each year, the city of Akron,...

Shoot Me While I'm Happy: Memories from the Tap Goddess of the Lower East Side.(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2009... Shoot Me While I'm Happy: Memories from the Tap Goddess of the Lower East Side By Jane Goldberg New York: Woodshed Productions. Illustrated. Cloth: $43.35. Paper: $27.09. www.janegoldberg.org [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jane Goldberg...

Men at work: new trends in training male dancers.(teach-learn connection)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Balanchine said "Ballet is woman," but that opinion hasn't deterred men from pursuing their passion for dance training. Dance programs at the preprofessional and university levels have ramped up their curricula in...

Strengthening your upper body.(DO's & DON'Ts)
June 1, 2009... For full versatility as a dancer, a strong upper body is key. When a teacher or choreographer throws you a high-impact lift, sustained handstand, or swooping inversion, you need to be prepared with enough power and stability to get through it....

Class, revived.(ACROSS THE FLOOR)(Dance class for less)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Dance class for only $10? In New York City? It seemed too good to be true, until CLASS came along. The new organization flashed onto NYC's contemporary dance radar this spring, hosting 12 weeks of classes and workshops at three artist-run lofts...

National Dance Institute.(Notes and News)(honoring John Lennon)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Since its founding in 1976 by former New York City Ballet star Jacques d'Amboise, the National Dance Institute (NDI) has reached over two million public school children. This month, NDI's 32nd annual Event of the Year celebrates a man who also...

Bolshoi Ballet Academy.(Notes and News)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... The Bolshoi Ballet Academy returns to NYC and Middlebury, CT, for its third annual summer intensive, June 29-Aug. 7. New York University's Tisch School of the Arts hosts two advanced levels and a male class while the Westover School in...

Rudolf Nureyev Achievement Award.(Awards & Honors )(Ted Henderson and Bradley Wong)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... In March, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School granted its Rudolf Nureyev Achievement Award to year-round pre-professional students Ted Henderson and Bradley Wong. The scholarship is given annually to exemplary male students at PBTS, two from...

Donald McKayle.(Awards & Honors)
June 1, 2009... Donald McKayle received an honorary doctorate from Juilliard at the school's commencement ceremony on May 22.

On June 26, the American Dance Festival presents its 2009 Distinguished Teaching Award.(Awards & Honors)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... On June 26, the American Dance Festival presents its 2009 Distinguished Teaching Award jointly to former Paul Taylor dancers Carolyn Adams, Ruth Andrien, and Sharon Kinney for their contributions as teachers and innovators in the field of...

Victor Ullate: getting the most out of every detail.(teacher's wisdom)(Interview)
June 1, 2009... Victor Ullate has a reputation for being a "challenging" teacher. But would one expect anything less from the man who has launched the careers of Angel Corolla, Tamara Rojo, and Joaquin De Luz? Since 1983, when he founded his Madrid-based...

Nicole Graniero: her effortless lyricism and musicality make this ABT corps member shine.(on the rise)(American Ballet Theatre )
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You know her when you see her. She's the woman in the corps de ballet with the eye-catching artistry: the soft lyricism, the rich musicality, and the aura of a blossoming ballerina. That would be Nicole Graniero,...

Rock on! Three dancers give hair tossing their all in a salute to '80s heavy metal.(on broadway)(Angel Reed, Savannah Wise, and Katherine Tokarz in Happy Days: The Musical to the in-your-face Rock of Ages)
June 1, 2009... "The great thing about the performing arts industry," says Angel Reed, a 28-year-old dancer who trained in Reno, Nevada, set up shop in Los Angeles, and moved to New York just a few months ago, "is you never know where it will take you. Who...

Paul Taylor Dance Company.
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New York City Center, NYC * February 25-March 15, 2009 Amid the many tributes to the Ballets Russes in its centennial year, one arrived unheralded: the Paul Taylor Dance Company's warm-hearted and exciting...

Royal Danish Ballet.
June 1, 2009... Royal Danish Ballet Operaen, Main Stage Copenhagen, Denmark March 14-April 1, 2009 A revitalized Royal Danish Ballet--ponytails whiplashing and limbs gobbling space--blazed specta cularly through the company premiere of...

Louisville Ballet.
June 1, 2009... Louisville Ballet Whitney Hall Kentucky Center for the Arts Louisville, KY April 3-4, 2009 Guest artist Wendy Whelan's white-hot performance in the lead of Adam Hougland's new Rite of Spring was spellbinding. From the...

Chan Hon Goh.(RETIREMENTS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I have no regrets," says Chan Hon Goh, after more than 20 years with the National Ballet of Canada, 15 as a principal ballerina. Goh, 40, incurred whiplash in a car accident three years ago--driving to class as she...

Pearl Lang (1921-2007).(DEATHS)(In memoriam)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Full of passion and fraught with emotionality, renowned Martha Graham soloist, master teacher, and choreographer Pearl Lang died in March. Born to Russian-Jewish parents, at age 4 she was enthralled by the bold skipping of an Isadora...

Flemming Flindt (1936-2009).(DEATHS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Throughout his eventful career, Danish dancer/choreographer Flemming Flindt could not help but make news. Trained at the Royal Danish Ballet School, he proved himself an outstanding danseur noble early on. Yet...

Mary Saludares (1989-2009).(DEATHS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Washington Ballet studio company member Mary Saludares was killed by a car in February while on tour. Born in the Philippines, she attended the School of American Ballet and the Washington School of Ballet before joining the studio company....

Anzia Kubicek Arsenault (1926-2009).(DEATHS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Former artistic director of the Tampa Ballet and founder of the dance program at the University of Tampa, Anzia Kubicek Arsenault died in March. She studied with Gluck Sandor (Jerome Robbins' mentor). She choreographed and performed with the...

Fernando Schaffenburg (1925-2009).(DEATHS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Schaffenburg was a dancer with the Ballet of the City of Mexico and American Ballet Theatre in the 1940s, partnering Alexandra Danilova and Maria Tallchief, among others. He also performed with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and on Broadway in My...

Infernal informance.(dance finder: a career & learning resource guide)(Colorado College Dance Festival)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As July begins most of us will be trying to stay cool, but Colorado College will be turning up the heat. On June 29 the school launches its sixth annual Colorado College Dance Festival, offering three weeks of daily...

International.(dance finder: a career & learning resource guide)(Directory)
June 1, 2009... HOW TO LIST IN THE DANCE FINDER A Dance Finder Listing Is Your Business Card to the world of Dance. For rates and an annual contract to list, please email Dee Dee Castro at dcastro@dancemagazine.com Next Deadline to List: 1st of...

Somatic/movement.(dance finder: a career & learning resource guide)(Directory)
June 1, 2009... HOW TO LIST IN THE DANCE FINDER A Dance Finder Listing Is Your Business Card to the world of Dance. For rates and an annual contract to list, please email Dee Dee Castro at dcastro@dancemagazine.com Next Deadline to List: 1st of...

Why I dance.(from the heart)
June 1, 2009... Since 2005 Paloma McGregor has brought her intense quality to Urban Bush Women in Brooklyn. She embodies Jawole Willa Jo Zollar's marriage of power and sensuality, with moments of sharpness thrown in--almost like she could pop and lock. She's...