They Were There
In her new biography, The Swans of Harlem, journalist Karen Valby is witness to the testimony of five pioneering Black ballerinas intimate with the founding history of Dance Theatre of Harlem.
FREE ARTICLEWorld-class review of ballet and dance.
Century,” Amy Hall Garner’s joyful new work for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, was crafted as a present for her grandfather on the eve of his 100th birthday. Such a personal gesture is unusual for a guest choreographer, but birthday ballets are certainly not out of place at the AAADT. “Cry,” the heartbreaking solo Ailey made as a birthday tribute to his mother, was also in the company’s 2023 City Center Season rep. Ronald K. Brown’s “Dancing Spirit,” a birthday token for Judith Jamison, was in rotation too. With this move, Garner—who has become quite in-demand—has again proven her skill at adapting to local customs. She fit in musically at Ailey as well. “Century’s” jazzy mix included tunes from Count Basie, Ray Charles, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Duke Ellington. Of the 20 dances the Ailey troupe presented this season, 15 used jazz-based scores, and seven featured Ellington. With its on-trend music and its maximal, Robert Battle-esque energy, “Century” looked right at home.
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In her new biography, The Swans of Harlem, journalist Karen Valby is witness to the testimony of five pioneering Black ballerinas intimate with the founding history of Dance Theatre of Harlem.
FREE ARTICLESacramento Ballet executive and artistic director Anthony Krutzkamp dresses sharp and gives a memorable pre-curtain speech. The way he tells it, the Central California company was in rehearsals for “Swan Lake” last year when he realized he faced an enviable problem: the dancers were too good for the ballets he’d programmed under a five-year plan.
PlusIf one wants a glimpse of Joy Womack’s rock-star like schedule, take a look at her Instagram account. One day she might be dancing in Paris—her current home base—another day it’s Florence, then it’s Lagos, Guayaquil, and Melbourne.
PlusThis year marks the tenth anniversary of Cathy Weis' “Sundays on Broadway,” a performance series that welcomes experimentation from a curated group of seasoned and emerging artists hosted intimately in Weis’ SoHo loft.
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