A Tale of Woe
There is probably no more beloved ballet, by audiences and dancers alike, than “Romeo and Juliet.”
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The story began with an impulse to go back and give something back—to the performing arts traditions of India. Acclaimed British dancer and choreographer of Bangladeshi descent, Akram Khan, long known for dancing between worlds—contemporary dance and classical Kathak, decided to return to his roots. He and his close colleague Mavin Khoo assembled a group of master artists and students back in 2022 in the temple town of Swamimalai in Tamil Nadu, India, for a creative lab called “Seeking Satori.” Satori is a Japanese Buddhist term meaning “sudden enlightenment.” The objective of the week-long, residential intensive was to create an opportunity to reflect, share, immerse, re-invest, and enhance their relationship with their classical Indian art forms. From the initial gathering, an idea grew to create a production involving these master performers and their dance forms: Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Kutiyattam. But rather than a collection of disparate classical solos, which would be the usual outcome of a production involving individual classical artists, the creative endeavor would instead be a collaborative act of storytelling combining their particular forms.
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There is probably no more beloved ballet, by audiences and dancers alike, than “Romeo and Juliet.”
Continue ReadingIn 2017 Virginie Mécène reimagined the lost Martha Graham solo “Ekstatis.” A review from that Martha Graham Dance Company premiere ended with a strong vote of confidence from critic Gia Kourlas: “Ms. Mécène should keep going.”
Continue ReadingOn one of the first spring-like days this year in NYC, I arrive at Barnard College to observe rehearsal for John Jasperse’s new piece, “Tides,” which will open the LaMama Moves! Dance Festival on April 10.
Continue ReadingBooks are banned, DEI scuttled, and Africanist studies scaled back. Yet, the irrepressible spirit of African American artists is not extinguished.
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Vivid, persuasive reporting of a complex production. Brava, Karen.