THE “MOURNING” AFTER THE ELECTION SCORE
* ENTER, SAY HELLO
* FIND A SPOT, CRASH
* PICK YOURSELF UP, BRUSH YOURSELF OFF
* PRAY
* MOVE FORWARD
Peace,
Anna
World-class review of ballet and dance.
My favorite books of 2024 offer dance history from the artist’s point of view. Perhaps there is nothing too unusual about this, and yet, something about this trend feels special as we step with trepidation into the first days of 2025. Their pages are filled with lessons in disruption, epistolary inspiration, and creative approaches to the archives of our art. In short, they are all task-oriented scores, seemingly filled with notes from an artistic staff that has been watching our performance and has ideas for how we can improve in the new year.
Co. Un Yamada, a dance company and creative collective established in Tokyo in 2002, returned to the New National Theatre Tokyo last week to reprise their popular family-friendly production from 2021, “Obachetta.”
PlusVous les voyez, les étoiles dans la salle?” the woman next to me whispered as the lights dimmed. And indeed, the stalls glittered with former stars of the Paris Opéra Ballet— dancers I recognised, visibly moved and deep in conversation during the interval.
PlusThere is probably no more beloved ballet, by audiences and dancers alike, than “Romeo and Juliet.”
PlusIn 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.”
Plus
Wonderful! Thanks for this reminder for my book list. You make me want to read them all, most especially Jill Johnston.