Category: Choreography
How a Johannesburg Choreographer Created an African Opera
By SUSAN REITER
Gregory Vuyani Maqoma's singular Cion comes to The Joyce Theater
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Most choreographers who've set dances to Maurice Ravel's Boléro lean into its sensuality and drama. But when South African choreographer Gregory Vuyani Maqoma first heard the iconic orchestral piece, he interpreted it in a different way.
"It felt like a lament," he says....
You've Never Seen a 'Nutcracker' Like This
By SUSAN REITER
Tap genius Michelle Dorrance puts her stamp on the famous Christmas ballet
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There is a cornucopia of Nutcrackers twirling all over New York this holiday season, but none as exuberant as Michelle Dorrance's tap-dancing take on the Christmas staple. Set to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's jazzy interpretation of Tchaikovsky's iconic score, The...
How Do You Explore the Tulsa Race Massacre Through Dance?
By JUAN MICHAEL PORTER II
Veteran choreographer Donald Byrd discusses his politically charged world premiere for Alvin Ailey
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When Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater commissioned acclaimed choreographer Donald Byrd to create his fifth piece for the company, he knew immediately that he wanted to go back to the troupe's roots. "In the early days, the work was about the black...
What Type of Choreography Does a Ballet Dancer, Drag Queen, Pop Star Do?
By SUSAN REITER
Veteran principal dancer James Whiteside makes his American Ballet Theatre choreographic debut
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American Ballet Theatre's fall season is a two-week whirlwind of revelations. The troupe's full-length story ballets are in storage until next spring. From October 16 to 27 at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater, ABT's focus is on the fresh and unanticipated.
The...
Edwaard Liang's Exciting Return to His New York City Ballet Roots
By SUSAN REITER
The former NYCB soloist on his circuitous journey from dancer to choreographer for the company that launched his career
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The past and present are colliding for Edwaard Liang. The former New York City Ballet soloist, now a prolific choreographer and artistic director of BalletMet, has created his first work for the company that set his career in...
Fusing Break Dancing, Ballet and Modern Moves
By SUSAN REITER
The Montreal-based RUBBERBAND makes its Joyce Theater debut
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Choreographer Victor Quijada's eclectic background accounts for his signature fusion style. The son of Mexican immigrants, he was raised in Los Angeles where he began break dancing in his youth. Later, at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, he studied with post-modern master...
A Dance Show for Theatre Lovers
By SUSAN REITER
Emmy-nominated choreographer Al Blackstone makes his Joyce Theater debut with Freddie Falls in Love
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Three years ago, when a job Al Blackstone had fell through, the choreographer decided to put his unexpected free time to good use by focusing on his passion project: Freddie Falls in Love, a 75-minute dance-theatre piece told entirely through...
Why Modern Dance Master Mark Morris Is Busier Than Ever
By SUSAN REITER
The venerable choreographer discusses his latest world premiere at the Mostly Mozart Festival
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When a new dance by legendary choreographer Mark Morris is announced, his choice of music is always very telling. That's because he approaches scores with a musician's sophisticated ear and understanding, showcasing his deep historical knowledge of each...