Ballet West Capitol Theatre Salt Lake City, UT April 18, 2024 “Love and War” Program: Blake Works 1, Red Angels, The Green Table Dean Speer How wonderful it is to be in a city that not only boasts a pair of very large crocodiles named Hillary and Bill at its Hogle Zoo – whom I got to visit on an afternoon off, and whom I was told were, yes, acquired during the Clinton Administration, but that also boasts three professional dance companies, a nationally respected dance department at the University of Utah, the Leonardo Art Museum, and many other unique attractions. Francis, my spousal unit, and ..read more

Nederlands Dans Theater National Arts Centre Ottawa, Canada March 27, 2024 The Point Being, One Flat Thing, reproduced, and Jakie Sheenagh Pietrobruno The evening begins with The Point Being, by the sensational sibling choreographic team of Imre van Opstal and Marne van Opstal in collaboration with designer Lonneke Gordjijn and DRIFT. The van Opstals are multifaceted creatives who have worked beyond dance in fashion and design. A shimmering transparent curtain descends as its divisions of vertical translucent strings scintillate in the lighting by Tom Visser. The dancers, visible behind the gl ..read more

Estonia Opera House Tallinn 25th April 2024 Stuart Sweeney Carnival of the Animals is a 35 minute ballet for children, choregraphed by Marina Kesler and set to Camille Saint-Saëns eponymous suite. I learned from the programme notes that the music was written for a private event and the composer refused to allow it to be played in public for fear that it would damage his reputation. How ironic that it was only widely heard after his death and is now his most popular work. Carnival of the Animals Photo by Tanel Meos The audience, dancers and the small chamber orchestra are all on the Opera Hou ..read more

[Apologies for the lengthy delay posting this. Sometimes life gets in the way. And for its length; it grew.] Youth America Grand Prix, 2024David H. Koch TheaterLincoln CenterNew York, New York April 17, 2024Finals Competition April 18 and 19, 202425th Anniversary Gala; Stars of Today Meet Stars of Tomorrow Gala The Elephant in the Room – Commentary Jerry Hochman The capstone of Youth America Grand Prix’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, featuring its return to NYC for its Finals Competition (affectionately known as the Final Finals) and two celebratory Galas at the Koch Theater at Lincoln Center ..read more

Sadler’s Wells London 18th April 2024 Stuart Sweeney Sadler’s Wells has concluded their Elixir Festival, celebrating older people in dance and bringing young and not so young performers together. Paco Peña’s Solera has a similar perspective, combining dancers, guitarists and singers across the generations. And who better to deliver this concept than 81 year old Paco Peña. The title derives from a vineyard technique where young wine is slowly matured in a series of barrels until it finally takes on the characteristics of a mature, delicious wine. Director, Jude Kelly, has created an innovative ..read more

Sadler’s Wells London 13th April 2024 Stuart Sweeney The Elixir Festival was a Sadler’s Wells initiative bringing together performers across the age spectrum. Their website explains, “How do we express our changing bodies and minds as we grow and age? Elixir Festival challenges perceptions around dance and age with works by iconic artists from around the world alongside inspiring performances from dancers drawn from our local communities in north and east London.” The Festival provided two weeks of performances, films and talks and the opportunity to take part in workshops to experience a new ..read more

Sydney Dance CompanyThe Joyce TheaterNew York, New York April 16, 2024ab [intra] Jerry Hochman On April 16, the opening night of Sydney Dance Company’s week-long engagement at the Joyce Theater, I took my seat looking forward to seeing the company again. Although I was critical of some of the three dances then presented (seven years ago), I had nothing but praise for the company’s dancers. Judged by the one piece presented here, ab [intra], a 70-minute dance choreographed by the company’s Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela, the situation hasn’t changed much. The dancers, though different from ..read more

In Conversation with Maria Khoreva, Episode Two April 14, 2024 Jerry Hochman When I last saw Maria Khoreva in person, the Mariinsky First Soloist had only recently joined the company following her graduation from the Vaganova Academy. The occasion that prompted the interview was her appearance in City Center’s 2018 Celebration of George Balanchine. I saw her the evening before her first New York appearance on November 1st, performing as Terpsichore in Balanchine’s Apollo (together with two other Vaganova graduates from the same class who had also been accepted into the company, Anastasia Nuiki ..read more

Megan Williams Dance Projects & Eve BeglarianMark Morris Dance CenterJames and Martha Duffy Performance SpaceNew York, NY  April 7, 2024Smile, though your heart is aching Kristen Hedberg Smile, though your heart is aching, a vibrant performance creation, speaks to perseverance through sorrow. The companionship between live music and dance builds a bright world, even while showcasing the shadows of heartbreak. Megan Williams/Megan Williams Dance Projects and composer Eve Beglarian premiered Smile, though your heart is aching April 5-7, 2024 at the James and Martha Duffy Performance Spa ..read more

Megan Williams Dance Projects & Eve BeglarianMark Morris Dance CenterJames and Martha Duffy Performance SpaceNew York, NY  April 7, 2024Smile, though your heart is aching Kristen Hedberg Smile, though your heart is aching, a vibrant performance creation, speaks to perseverance through sorrow. The companionship between live music and dance builds a bright world, even while showcasing the shadows of heartbreak. Megan Williams/Megan Williams Dance Projects and composer Eve Beglarian premiered Smile, though your heart is aching April 5-7, 2024 at the James and Martha Duffy Performance Spa ..read more