The dancers emerged from the darkness, appearing to be coming from out of nowhere and began to take over the stage with their impeccable energy and phenomenal presence. This is the
Parsons Dance Company, performing at the
Joyce Theater. Lift after lift, the dancers looked light as feathers, preforming some of the most complicated lifts I have even seen on stage. The sense of ease these dancers performed with left me simply in awe. When this talented group of artists weren’t flying high with their partners, they were executing countless turns. The use of shadows, light and darkness in the first two pieces created unique formations and movement paths.
[click to continue….]Tagged as:
Dave Matthews Band,
Joyce Theater,
Parsons Dance
Dancers of "For Want of Sleep" at the Joyce Theater
The five dancers of Skybetter and Associates performed at The Joyce SoHo in a production entitled For Want of Sleep. The performance featured five related and breathtaking pieces.
Beginning with a work entitled ”The Laws of the Falling Body,” dancers merge on to the stage wearing loose black and gray outfits designed by Karen Young. They skip and run, and in many different scenarios drop, roll and jump into the arms of other performers. Their daring twirls in the air and synchronized rolls are striking. While the five dances presented were very similar to each other with repeated themes of movement, this repetition by no means detracts from the quality of the overall performance. In fact, the dances complement each other and appear to build upon each other’s ideas.
In the dances “Near Abroad” and “For Want of Sleep,” only one gender is represented compared to the other sections where men and women share the stage. In “Near Abroad,” two male dancers perform. They tumble and catch each other playing with their strengths and agility. In “For Want of Sleep,” two female dancers similarly play and spiral around each other. Interestingly in the final dance entitled “Little Boy,” men are featured wearing dresses [click to continue….]
Tagged as:
For Want of Sleep,
Jordan Isadore,
Joyce Theater,
Skybetter and Associates,
Sxip Shirey
Ariel Romage, center, Sydney Skybetter, left, and Jordan Isadora, right, and the rest of Dance TRaC make funny faces to welcome the choreographer and dancer.
Skybetter and Associates visited the Dance Teen Reviewers and Critics at their New York Live Arts home after Skybetter’s production of “For Want of Sleep” at the Joyce Soho. Jordan Isadore, dancer and collaborator, and Sydney Skybetter, artistic director fill us in on how they got from there to here and what it is to be a working artist today.
On Jordan Isadore:
Now, this is interesting.
Jordan Isadore is a Northern California boy whose mom suggested that he become involved in dance. It is rare that dancers have full support from their parents, let alone for mom or dad to recommend pursuing the art form. But Isadore tells us he was a hyperactive kid and his mom really wanted him to keep busy.
Isadore went to high school and college for dance, facing hours upon hours of intensive training. He was most influenced by his college instructor, Keith Johnson, a former Doug Varone dancer who performs and creates with his own company in California. “He was open to dance and he encouraged us to be who we are as individuals, as well as to be honest about what we do,” [click to continue….]
Tagged as:
For Want of Sleep,
Joyce Theater,
New York Live Arts,
Skybetter and Associates,
Sydney Skybetter
Keigwin + Company at the Joyce Theater this spring. (Photo: Andrea Mohin)
For their 2010 season at The Joyce Theater, Keigwin + Company provides provocative commentary on city life while still presenting accessible entertainment—their dances are quirky and full of wit. Each piece has a one-word title and works off a simple, straightforward concept. But the company’s style and innovation come from being able to revitalize old ideas, not necessarily create abstract or complex ones. [click to continue….]
Tagged as:
Dance TRaC Spring 2010,
Joyce Theater,
Keigwin + Company
Step, shuffle, step. Brush back, heel, flap.
Does this sound familiar? It would if you happened to catch the brilliant Savion Glover during his three week run at the Joyce Theater. His production, SoLo in TiMe, is a combination of his choreographed works and an infusion of flamenco styles. The show starts off with esteemed musician, Carmen Estevez, powerfully striking a cajon box drum, as Savion makes his entrance onto the stage. His unmistakable appearance makes you want to smile with familiarity, as the tall, slender figure with the thick brown dreadlocks and loose clothing begins to create a series of phenomenal sounds with the heels and toes of his feet.
There he goes, creating a whirlwind of movement and sound in just moments before your eyes. [click to continue….]
Tagged as:
Cartier Williams,
Joyce Theater,
Marshall Davis Jr.,
SoLo in TiMe
I’ve seen many great dance companies courtesy of High 5, including Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, and the New York City Ballet. I am a dance student, and in order to advance my artistry, I try to go watch as many different styles of dance as I can, which I would not be able to afford to do without High 5.
On Sunday, October 12th, I had the privilege of watching Ballet Hispanico perform at the Joyce Theater. I sat in the second row, one row closer than when I last visited the Joyce Theater to see Momix. At that performance, the closeness of my seat made me lose some of the scope and mystery of the overall performance. But this was definitely a different experience for me. Sitting so near to the stage just made me appreciate the intricacy of the dancers’ footwork even more and their dramatic facial expressions heightened the intimacy of their performance. [click to continue….]
Tagged as:
Ballet Hispanico,
Joyce Theater,
Latin Rhythm Percussion Ensemble
Last night I had the privilege and pleasure to see Parsons Dance perform at the Joyce Theater. Parsons Dance is renowned for presenting the latest and greatest of modern movement, music and artistry. And believe me when I say they live up to the hype!
The dancers are talented and visibly passionate, but they’re only one part of the show. The music is varied and the lighting outstanding. Both elements work to create a mood that enriches the experience of the performance. I’ve heard terrific things about David Parsons’ choreography, but nothing prepared me for how enraptured I would be when the performance opened with Closure. By the time Closure ended, I realized that I hadn’t yet torn my eyes away from the stage to take notes—or even blinked!
Sleep Study, another piece in the program, was just as enthralling from the moment the dancers came out in pajamas and started to toss and turn their way around the stage. It was not only entertaining, but also fascinating. [click to continue….]
Tagged as:
Joyce Theater,
Parsons Dance
‘Cause this is thrilla — thrilla night! The death of an icon can produce unprecedented shockwaves, ones that reveal the magnitude of the loss. As the lights dim, Michael Jackson’s voice of the pre-show music slowly fades and one witnesses a true invigoration of the style he created. Enter 
