The Pershing Square Signature Center, New York, NY. July 12, 2024. Ain’t Done Bad, the new dance theater production conceived, directed, choreographed and performed by Jakob Karr opened at the Off-Broadway house Signature Center in NYC in mid-July. The show is set to the music of country artist Orville Peck with no spoken dialogue or live singing, the story told solely through dance. A few months ago, I wrote about another show, Illinoise, that followed the same format but with the use of live musicians, and it’s interesting to see other interpretations of the structure. The seven-member casts ..read more

Ain’t Done Bad is a hybrid theatrical dance experience conceived, directed and choreographed by Jakob Karr (So You Think You Can Dance) and featuring the music of country star Orville Peck. The show will play a limited engagement at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd Street) with previews beginning July 9, opening July 14, and running through September 1. Ain’t Done Bad tells the powerful heartwarming story of coming out, falling in love and finding one’s true voice as a queer person in the South. Told entirely through contemporary da ..read more

Lake Tahoe Dance Collective celebrates the 12th anniversary of its summer festival from July 23-26. The 12th annual Lake Tahoe Dance Festival kicks off with an opening night gala in Tahoe City, followed by Tahoe City Community Night, Kings Beach Community Night and concludes in a closing night gala in Incline Village, featuring new commissions and performances from artists from New York City Ballet, Broadway, L.A. Dance Project, Boston Ballet and more! The Lake Tahoe Dance Festival was started by longtime friends Christin Hanna and Constantine Baecher in 2013, to present the fin ..read more

Symphony Space, New York, NY. June 28, 2024. It’s sometimes said that the upcoming generation of dance artists is continuously upping the technical ante – faster, higher, more intricate, more turns – and also finding their own unique daring with concept and aesthetic. I observed clear evidence for those claims at the 13th Annual Young Choreographer’s Festival (YCF). The athleticism and originality on offer were undeniably dazzling.  On the other hand, some will ask what we may lose when we push for the bigger, faster, more aesthetically daring. I also thought about those concerns with thi ..read more

The Theatre at St. Jeans, New York, NY. June 26, 2024. AVID, the new dance company of collaborative artists, premiered its inaugural season in NYC in late June. AVID (Artistic Ventures In Dance) is the brainchild of Emily Speed and Tanya Trembly. The company aims to deepen the connection between audience and artist, as well as provide opportunities for seasoned and new artists alike. The evening opened to a live musical overture for piano, flute and cello. Live musicians make dance better – period. Audiences were treated to this union of live music and dance for several of the pieces presented ..read more

New York Live Arts, New York, NY. June 22, 2024. YY Dance Company (YYDC) premiered the evening-length SOMEWHERE at New York Live Arts in late June. The work is the second of a trilogy – the first, NOWHERE, premiered at Chelsea Factory in the summer of 2023. The four performances over three days brought nearly full houses to the theater. On the night of my attendance, closing night, the bows enjoyed a lengthy standing ovation, the likes of which I’ve not seen in some time. This time, however, SOMEWHERE had arrived and the response was enthusiastic.  Artistic Director Yue Yin’s choreog ..read more

When tragedy strikes, it’s human nature to try to make sense of it all and engage in things that foster healing for those affected. In Raffaella, the new full-length story ballet, the goal is just that: to embody the idea that “beauty will save the world.” Claire Kretzschmar, Isabella LaFreniere and Jonatan Lujan. Photo by Megan L.C. McNally, courtesy of ‘Raffaella’ ballet. In 2018, the professional ballet dancer Raffaella Stroik died by drowning in a lake near where she lived. At 23, she had just started her life and career, and was known to be a bright light in the world. Her parents, an art ..read more

Broadway, located in New York City, is synonymous with American theater and is known globally for its vibrant, influential and exciting musicals and productions. Early beginnings Origins: Broadway’s roots trace back to the early 19th century. The term “Broadway” originally referred to the street itself, which is one of the oldest thoroughfares in New York City, dating back to the Dutch colonial era. Early theaters: The first significant theatre on Broadway was the Park Theatre, opened in 1798. It was followed by the Bowery Theatre in 1826, and the Astor Place Theatre in 1847, which contributed ..read more

As another school year comes to an end and recitals and other dance concerts take their final bows, summer is underway not only for students but for dance teachers and studio owners alike. Although the work is never done as a teacher, there is still a desire to work in some relaxation along with planning for the next dance season. Dance Teacher Web Conference & Expo is back in full swing this August to offer that balance of relaxation and enrichment in one of the most exciting cities in the U.S. — Las Vegas. Steve Sirico, founder of Dance Teacher Web (DTW), talks to Dance Informa about the ..read more

In the city of New York, every dancer knows the name Gibney. A studio with two locations, a professional contemporary company and a community outreach division comprise the sizable organization founded by Gina Gibney in 1991. Dance Informa had the chance to sit down with both Gina Gibney, and Director of Gibney Company Gilbert T Small II to discuss the history of the Gibney Dance organization, what makes the company different, inclusivity, and the value of educating and engaging audiences in new ways. The Gibney organization champions itself for elevating inclusivity in all its many forms. Thi ..read more