Caryn Cooper - Page 3

April 27-30, 2017 was a special limited engagement to celebrate the history and scope of Indian dance in America at the Theater at the 14th Street Y. The production is part of the a series of dances by the collective, From the Horse's Mouth, conceived and directed by Tina Croll and Jamie Cunningham. This particular program was curated by Rajika Puri- an internationally acclaimed Indian classical dancer. The show was dedicated to the late Balasaraswati- a celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer who was instrumental in making the South Indian classical dance style popular throughout different parts of India and around the world.

Carissa Laurel is a NYC-based dancer who began her training in her home country in the Philippines. I had the opportunity to speak to her about her unique background, experience and success in the dance world.

Peridance Capezio Center is a leading New York City based dance school that is known to be a home for all styles of dance and for all ages. The teachers are world renowned and the center is a place where toddlers, teenagers, adults and International students from around the world can learn alongside professional dancers. Peridance Capezio Center (more affectionately known as Peridance) is dedicated to offering accessible dance classes of the highest caliber- with over 250 weekly classes for adults and children in a nurturing and professional environment; providing dancers the opportunity to learn and work with acclaimed master teachers and guest artists; giving access to affordable high-quality rehearsal studios and performance spaces for artists to create and perform; all while maintaining a strong national and international presence in the dance education community to positively influence future generations of artists.

The legendary Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) returned to their “stage home” for their annual NYC season at the New York City Center, April 19-22, 2017. Some highlights of the season included a special performance by Grammy-Winning Recording Artist India.Arie, NY and DTH premieres by Robert Garland, Francesca Harper, and José Limón, and the return of other favorites by Dianne McIntyre and Darrell Grand Moultrie.

MJM Dance, under the artistic direction of Megan J. Minturn, presented their first evening-length piece entitled Monopoly: The Landlord's Game April 13-14, 2017 at the Mark Morris Dance Center. Here, Ms. Minturn in collaboration with her dancers- Leah Antonellis, Michelle Applebaum, Kelli Chapman, Cantata Chen Fan, Anna Johannes, Mara Katz, Chie Kurokawa, and Beverly Lopez, came together to tell the little known history of the game of Monopoly while exposing the injustices of our society and economic system.

As part of the Tilt Kids Festival, Montreal-based circus- The 7 Fingers (Les 7 Doigts) brought a mix of circus, dance, theater, and a side of cooking to the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts stage April 11-16, 2017. You may remember this company as they were behind the Tony-Award winning production of Pippin and had appearances on the popular TV show-America's Got Talent and the opening ceremony of the Sotchi Olympics! The Tilt Kids Festival is a cultural event for families presented by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy and the French Institute presenting a series of forward-thinking events in dance, circus, visual art, music, and theater to stimulate and inspire audiences.

Broadway Dance Center (BDC), affectionately known as a dancer's “home away from home,” is one of New York City's most popular dance studios. Located in the heart of the theater district in Manhattan at 322 West 45th Street, BDC prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming environment for ALL dancers to train and learn.

The American Tap Dance Foundation (ATDF), under the artistic direction of Tony Waag, presented its 5th yearly showcase Rhythm in Motion, March 29-April 2, 2017 at the Duke on 42nd Street. The series featured two distinct programs of fresh, groundbreaking tap dance choreography, with some strong and emotional statements. This is a very interesting time for tap dance as “the world has finally realized that tap dance and tap choreography can also test the audience, tell a story, be influenced by world issues and express anger, fear, sadness, and spirituality” said Mr. Waag, ATDF Artistic/Executive Director and curator of this show. The program featured some of the best and emerging tap dancers/choreographers of this time.

Following their 25-city world tour, Ailey II returned to the Big Apple for their annual New York City season and debut at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, March 29-April 2 2017. The company performed two distinct programs, including four world premieres. Ailey II is a universally renowned group of young performers who are fantastic dancers, with amazing technique and energy. I had the privilege to attend the “All New” program, which truly showcased why they are one of the most popular dance companies in the country.

MJM Dance, under the artistic direction of Megan J. Minturn, is a New York City based company that fuses movement with intention and creativity as a means to express, speak, and reveal. On April 13 and 14, 2017, the company will have its world premiere (and first evening length work) of their latest dance entitled Monopoly: The Landlord's Game at the Mark Morris Dance Center located at 3 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. Based on the ever popular classic board game Monopoly and its little known founder, Lizzie Magie, this piece seeks to consider the injustices of for-profit prisons, poorly paid work, and inadequate housing caused by our current “game board rules.”

On the evening of March 17, 2017, the Paul Taylor American Modern Dance (PTAMD) company continued its spring season at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. In 2014, Mr. Taylor expanded his company, then known as the Paul Taylor Dance Company to PTAMD, to create a home for great American modern dance. This is done by presenting dances of the past and present, Mr. Taylor's own repertoire, all alongside new works commissioned by a new generation of choreographers. And this evening's performance showcased that.

Dante Brown/Warehouse Dance (DB/WD) will be hosting its first annual workshop May 19-21, 2017 at the Gowanus Loft in Brooklyn, NY. Over the course of three days, professional artists (ages 18 and over) will be able to interact with a range of choreographers who are leaders in the dance community, making provocative work. The artists will lead a workshop based on their choreographic interests as well as share excerpts of their work in an evening performance. Partial proceeds from the program will be donated to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The International Human Rights Arts Festival took place on the weekend of March 3-5, 2017 at Dixon Place in New York City. The festival featured more than 70 artists producing more than 40 events, all oriented in the theme of advocacy. Artistic media ranged from theater, dance, music, photography, film, spoken word, and much more. This festival is under the curation of Tom Block, Jessica Chen, Karla Puno Garcia, Julia Levine, Heather Robles, and Thomas Tsai.

On the evening of March 3, 2017, the Kathak Ensemble & Friends, under the artistic direction of Janki Patrik, presented a new Indian-influenced contemporary dance at the Danspace Project at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery. This new work entitled WE SINFUL WOMEN, draws upon the theme of universal repression of women. The choreography is performed to the words of female Urdu poets Ishrat Aafreen, Kishwar Naheed, Zehra Nigah, and Fahmida Riaz along with an original music score by two-time Canadian Grammy-winner and composer Kiran Ahluwalia.

Internationally acclaimed dancer, writer, and advocate Theresa Ruth Howard has a diverse and multifaceted career as an artist. She began her dance training at the Philadelphia Civic Ballet School and went on to dance with the notable Dance Theatre of Harlem, collaborating with Donald Byrd and the New York City Opera, was a guest artist with Complexions, and a founding member of Armitage Gone! Dance. Her writings have been published in a number of media such as Dance Magazine, Pointe, One World Magazine, and Italian dance magazine- Expressions. She has taught at several colleges and universities including Sarah Lawrence College, New Haven University, The Ailey School, and the American Dance Festival.

Joya Powell is the 2016 Bessie Award winner for Outstanding Emerging Choreographer and Artistic Director of the acclaimed Movement of the People Dance Company. She along with a number of other artists across artistic mediums such as theatre, dance, spoken word, music, photography, literary arts, discussions, and more will showcase their work at the International Human Rights Arts Festival. This unique event, in conjunction with the Institute of Prophetic Activist Art, builds on the idea of using art to raise awareness of different social, cultural, and political issues through a thoughtful lens of beauty and critical thinking. Produced and curated by arts activists Tom Block, Jessica Chen, and Karla Puno Garcia, brings the program to the Big Apple, being the first arts-advocacy festival of its kind in New York City, to Dixon Place on March 3-5, 2017.

Thursday, February 16, 2017, in a one night only engagement, brought together MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance and Bessie Award winner Nicholas Van Young for the world premiere of the inaugural Works & Process Rotunda Project at the Guggenheim Museum. This is a new residency and commissioning initiative that invites artists to create site-specific work for the iconic Guggenheim rotunda. This culminating residency performance that features the dancers and musicians from Michelle's company Dorrance Dance with special guests Ephrat 'Bounce' Asherie and Matthew 'Mega Watts' West combines dance and percussion to create a performative soundscape while incorporating the rotunda as a musical instrument.

As part of its' second annual American Dance Platform, The Joyce Theater has been showcasing eight of America's most captivating dance companies over the past week. This year's platform was curated by Alicia B. Adams, VP of International Programming and Dance at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I again had the opportunity to attend another performance on Friday, January 6, 2017. The evening featured a double bill with dances by Lucky Plush Productions and the Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

Beginning the first week of 2017, The Joyce Theater presents its second annual American Dance Platform, a showcase of eight companies over one week. This gives audiences an opportunity to enjoy a rich sampling of dance companies from across the U.S. Each year, The Joyce selects a guest curator to pick an esteemed roster of artists for the platform. This year's curator is Alicia B. Adams, VP of International Programming and Dance at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Adams' focus for this series was to reflect what is "American" dance while highlighting the various people and cultures that imprint their unique experiences and heritages.

December 13, 2016 continued the favorite return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for their joyous annual five-week holiday engagement at the New York City Center. Under the artistic direction of Robert Battle, the company continues to reach audiences of all ages, while using dance as a platform to unify and educate. This evening's program did just that!