Caryn Cooper - Page 2

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has returned to the New York City Center for their annual season in what has become a joyful holiday tradition for many-including myself! This year's season is full of new works, new productions, and familiar and beloved Ailey favorites. I was fortunate to be able to attend the performance on the evening of December 12, 2017.

Ballet Hispanico returned for their annual holiday season at the world-famous Apollo Theater for a special two-night engagement on December 1-2, 2017. The line up included three inspiring works that reflects the migration, marginalization, and resilience of the Latino culture through movement. Under the direction of Eduardo Vilaro, the company featured award-winning choreographer Ronald K. Brown, Ramon Oller, and Michelle Manzanales-in her first work for the Ballet Hispanico company.

Leyland Simmons is a rising choreographer who is on the move to big things. His dance training began at the Royal Academy School of Dance under Barbara Devereaux in Anchorage, Alaska. From there, he went on to study dance at several notable schools such as Dance Theatre of Harlem, Miami City Ballet, The School of American Ballet, and The Ailey School, among others. He is a graduate of the Professional Performing Arts High School in New York City, and is a former member of Ailey II and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. As an educator, he is a certified teacher in the American Ballet Theatre Pre-Primary to Level 3 curriculum, holds a Master's degree in Dance Education from NYU, has taught at several studios such as Steps on Broadway, and is currently the Resident Choreographer at the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA).

Project Performing Arts (PPA) is a community organization based in Harlem, NY, under the leadership of its Founding Artistic Director, Nina Klyvert-Lawson, that uses the performing arts as way to move children forward both on an everyday scale and into the future. Classes are offered throughout the year for students ages 4-17 whether for those interested in the arts as a form of recreation, as a hobby, or for the pre-professional. This year, PPA celebrates its' 5th anniversary!

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Lamentation Variations project- LamVar10: A Festival for New Work. Since its founding in 2007 by Graham Company Artistic Director Janet Eilber, the company has commissioned some of today's most noteworthy choreographers to create new works inspired by Graham's signature solo, Lamentation, originally created in 1930, on dancers of the company. These choreographers have included Lar Lubovitch, Michelle Dorrance, and Doug Varone, among others.

Every year since its inception in 2004, Fall for Dance has brought together both veteran and emerging artists to perform on the same stage on the same night. And if that wasn't enough for you, audience members have the opportunity to see all this at the low cost of $15 for any seat in the house at the lovely New York City Center! This two-week festival has had sold out performances each year and has become a cultural staple to dance lovers of all walks of life here in New York City.

Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet (MoBB), curated and founded by Theresa Ruth Howard, is an online digital platform that looks to preserve the history and tell the stories and contributions of Blacks in ballet. It also serves as a call for advocacy for diversity in the training and careers in the field of ballet. Ms. Howard and MoBB are pleased to announce the launch of And Still They Rose: The Legacy of Black Philadelphians in Ballet- an online video series that tells the stories of three great trailblazers: Judith Jamison, Joan Myers Brown, and Delores Browne.

Central Park Dance (CPD) is a dance studio based just 30 minutes outside of New York City in Westchester County. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Maria Bai and her business and life partner Mario La Strada, CPD prides itself in being committed to cultivating and training dancers to excel in the 21st century. The fall season, of 2017 marks the school's 35th anniversary. The year is full of various programs and events to celebrate this momentous occasion.

On the weekend of September 7-10 2017, the American Dance Guild (ADG) celebrated its 60th anniversary during their annual performance festival at The Ailey Citigroup Theater. This year's ADG Lifetime Achievement Awards went to three outstanding American dance masters: acclaimed and Tony-award winning choreographer, Garth Fagan; dance medicine pioneer and Dean of the American Dance Festival, Martha Myers; and Louis Mofsie, Founding Artistic Director of the renowned Thunderbird American Indian Dancers who have sustained the legacy of indigenous American Indian dances for the past 54 years.

Let's Dance! is an immersive exhibit for children and their families that showcases the joy, beauty, and diversity of dance across New York City and the world. The exhibition, slated to run from July 1st to December 1st 2017, features a number of opportunities to learn about dance through daily live performances, various workshops, and a dance-portal projection dome! In conjunction with the ongoing initiative of the Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), Gateway to the Arts, this project is designed to introduce children to dance as an art form, an expression of diverse cultures and traditions, and as a healthy physical activity.

Dancewave is a Brooklyn-based school/organization that focuses on the development of the whole person through an accessible dance education experience. Being located in New York City- one of the most vibrant cities in the country -- Dancewave offers students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to learn, create and perform dance together. Since its founding in 1995 by Artistic & Executive Director Diane Jacobowitz, it is their vision to see a world where through access to the dance experience, our youth become empowered individuals who contribute to the fabrics of their communities and beyond.

Jersey Tap Fest is a dance festival that features world-class tap dancers, faculty, and an exceptional extravaganza to celebrate the life and legacy of tap dance in New Jersey. Since its founding in 2010 by Hillary-Marie, this annual festival has become a way to bring the tap dance community together, teach its history, preserve its unique percussive and improvisational style, and increase respect for this cherished American dance form.

On the evening of July 28, 2017, as part of the Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival, Paul Taylor Dance Company (PTDC) with special guests DUCHESS and Vuyo Sotashe performed at the Damrosch Park Bandshell. It was quite the popular event as people lined up down the block and around the corner to see the anticipated show. It was a full house as pretty much every seat was taken! But, I could see why so many folks came out. It was a nice night, not too hot, not too humid, with a gentle breeze. The perfect night to be out and enjoy a show.

Kangseon “Sun” Kim, is a female hip hop dancer who specializes in the style of popping from South Korea. She was a member of a dance crew, and won several dance battle competitions. Some of her performance credits include dancing with 45 DEGREES/Cirque de Soleli and producing her own show, entitled WHO YOU ARE, that focuses on overcoming inner battles to find your true self.

Ballet Tech is a unique partnership between the Ballet Tech Foundation, Inc. and the New York City Department of Education. Here students beginning in grade 4 have the opportunity to combine professional tuition-free arts instruction with a public school education. With approximately 180 students enrolled, Ballet Tech is dedicated to introducing children of NYC to the beauty and rigor of classical dance, while producing a new generation of dancers whose diversity reflects the full-spectrum of the American community.

NYC Dance Week is a 10-day festival to promote the joy and diversity of dance in New York City, providing the public access to free and discounted dance and fitness classes at various dance schools and studios across the area. The goal is to engage the community to experience dance in a way that encourages them to live active and healthy lifestyles. Today, nearly 40 studios offering over 100 classes are partnering with the organization to promote and support dance. This year, NYC Dance Week takes place from June 15-June 24, 2017.

Bare Feet is a 3-time New York Emmy® Award-winning travel and dance series. The show follows executive producer, dancer, and host Mickela Mallozzi, as she travels throughout different parts of the world. What makes this show unique, is that she features, discovers, and highlights the rich dance and cultural traditions of the locals of each region she visits.

Carolyn Dorfman Dance prides itself in being a multi-ethnic dance company that is dedicated to the creation and presentation of contemporary dance that reveals the individual uniqueness and commonality of the human experience. Her choreography has been known to be bold and dramatic that connects life and movement. It also broadens students' knowledge and appreciation of dance in the classroom, in after school programs and curriculum building throughout communities across the country while speaking to contemporary issues.

The Step Crew is a production that celebrates the rich Celtic culture through dynamic music and dance. What makes this group stand out? They bring you the traditions of Irish Stepdance, Modern Tap, and Ottawa Valley Stepdancing along with a modern fusion of all three percussive dance styles! In addition, this is all performed to the live music of a five-piece band including vocals and spectacular fiddlers.

As part of their spring NYC season, New York City Ballet (NYCB) presents the Here/Now Festival featuring ten specially curated programs. This is an opportunity for audiences to see the breadth, quality, and range of works that have been developed over the past three decades. On the evening of May 3, 2017, I had the opportunity to see program number 3- dedicated to the repertory of Resident Choreographer, Justin Peck.