Top 5 at Fall for Dance

Last week City Center's annual awesome Fall for Dance season wrapped up - and what a fun season it was! I was lucky enough to see 4 of the 5 programs this year (the most I've ever seen at these festivals) and it was such a treat to see the diversity of dance and the genuine enthusiasm of audiences across the board.

Because Fall for Dance tickets are only $10 it seems to draw a different crowd than the typical concert dance lovers. These people hoot and holler and give standing ovations to nearly every artist - and though many deserve this fanfare year-round, it's only at the festival that people really show that support. It makes for a fun atmosphere and a good time. The cheap drinks and cool people watching in the Fall for Dance lounge certainly help, too!

Though there were quite a few pieces on the various programs that stood out, here are my top 5 Fall for Dance 2010 favorites:

1. TIE: Miami City Ballet
and Dresden Semperoper Ballett
Okay, I can't decide. I just love Tharp and Miami's "The Golden Section" was thrilling! I really like their dancers and they had killer energy throughout the whole piece. It was also cool to see dance to David Byrne's music, whom I danced with at Radio City a while back! But I also enjoyed being introduced to Dresden Semperoper Ballett in the Forsythe piece "The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude." Those dancers were so smiley and looked like real people rather than cookie-cutter ballerinas. Both works are ones I'd just love to dance, and being injured made me appreciate them just a little bit more, I think.

2. Gallim DanceTheir piece "I Can See Myself in Your Pupil" was definitely a crowd pleaser and...I fell for it. Andrea Miller's super athletic go-go-go choreography is in your face. The dancers, in bright colors, each had a personality of their own that shone through strongly. They were a hit!

3. Keigwin & CompanyI like everything I see by Keigwin. It's easy to literally be blinded by the light in his piece "Megalopolis," with its set of flouresant lighting. The dancers had sparkly, robotic-looking costumes and danced in sharp, angular, otherworldly movements. Very cool.

4. Russel Maliphant CompanyI always wonder at these things why some companies choose to (or are chosen to) show a long solo at Fall for Dance. Both this year and last year there were a number of solos that just...could've been shortened or, better, cut out completely. But Maliphant's "Afterlight (Part 1)" was gorgeous! The images onstage looked like an optical illusion. The dancer spun centerstage below dim projected light patterns, his strong arms rotating fast like a flip book. It was haunting.

5. TIE: ABT and San Francisco Ballet

Both are beautiful ballet companies, and both presented gorgeous pas de deuxs. I saw ABT's "Thais Pas de Deux" at the Met with the same cast last spring (Hee Seo and Jared Matthews) and it was just as lovely. Hee Seo has the most luscious bourres and footwork. But it was my first time seeing Yuan Yuan Tan from SFB and wow, she's huge! I mean, skinny, tiny, but so tall! I sat literally in the front row center just beneath her, which I guess made her seem even more tall, but wow. Such beautiful lines and smooth partnering. The piece itself was just okay ("Diving into the Lilacs") but the dancers really make it. 

Runner-Up: Paul Taylor"Company B" is always a favorite, but I was excited to see newer works by other companies this time.

Side note: To be fair, the program I didn't see included Company Rafaela Carrasco, NYCB, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, and Companhia Urbana de Dança.

Looking forward to next year's Fall for Dance!

Fall for Dance Tonight!

The Fall for Dance season starts tonight at City Center!

I'm going this evening and really looking forward to seeing Miami City Ballet and Merce Cunningham's company...and really looking forward to seeing two other programs next week. (Oh and hey, if you haven't seen Miami City Ballet dancer Rebecca King's blog yet, you should check it out.)

If you weren't able to get tickets it sounds like there are still some partial view seats available (which aren't so bad in that theater) if you go to the box office...but I'd say go ASAP because these things go quick.

Interview with Hubbard Street 2 Dancer Alice Klock

Hubbard Street 2 Dancer Alice Klock is one ballet dancer who's made the move to modern. She trained at Interlochen Arts Academy before entering the BFA program at Alonzo King/LINES Ballet, with summers at prestigious ballet programs including Miami City Ballet (where we were roommates, once upon a time!). She joined Chicago's contemporary Hubbard Street 2 last year and was recently featured in Dance Spirit Magazine.


Read my interview with Alice about the switch from ballet to modern below.
---
What's it like dancing with Hubbard Street 2? What does your typical schedule look like?

Working at Hubbard is an inspiration everyday. Just the energy in the building is enough to get me thrilled for the dancing that is to be done. Everyone is dedicated and excited about what goes on at HSDC and because of this there is a collective commitment and drive to do great work. This atmosphere encourages artists to fearlessly take dance to the next level. A typical day with HS2 includes a morning ballet class with the main company beginning at 10 and then rehearsals from 11:35 – 6 with a lunch break at 2. It’s a full day but the time flies as there is always much to be done.

How often and in what respect do you get to work with the main company? What is that like?

When we are not touring, the second company and the main company take class together everyday. These classes are wonderful learning experiences for me as each and every Hubbard dancer is uniquely gifted. Each has their own way of preparing for a day of rehearsals. Observing this has helped me immensely, not only on a technical level but also with figuring out how to prepare my body through classical from to rehearse work that is often far from balletic.

Each year the second company performs with the main company during one of their home seasons. Last year's performance was quite an experience as there is a certain artistic potency that only exists on stage and for the two companies to experience that together was a lovely thing. We also performed together in an event called Inside/Out, which is a yearly show composed of works that the dancer’s choreograph on each other.

What are some of your favorite things you've danced with HS2?


I must say that the duet "I can see myself in your Pupil" choreographed by Andrea Miller is particularly fun for me to dance as it is very physical, rather crazy, and character driven. I like dancing things that require me to use all that I have, that demand 100% and nothing less. Those pieces are always an adventure.

Alice, top, with members of Hubbard Street 2 last year

You came from a ballet background - how has that helped (or not helped) the adjustment to more modern/contemporary work?

Interesting question, for I must admit that when I first arrived here I was very frustrated with certain aspects of my balletic training that were getting in the way of the choreography. Honestly though, without my ballet training I may never have been hired by Hubbard. I was not an impressive modern dancer, so ballet and repertoire were the vehicles through which I showed my character, my work ethic, and my personal artistry. Working here I have had to focus on reprogramming myself to respond to movement in a more grounded fashion, to be stronger, more powerful and more honest. This is a continuing project of mine, one I am enjoying exploring.


What are some of your dance goals for the future? Do you hope to stay with Hubbard Street?


I find I have a difficult time setting goals as far as my future is concerned for both the dance world and I as an artist are ever shifting entities. To be vague but truthful my goal is to continue to dance professionally, to do good work, and to feel fulfilled and happy about my contributions to the planet. I would be thrilled if that meant staying at Hubbard Street. If it does not, then I shall take whatever step seems most appropriate and continue to enjoy life.

Alice, left, and I, right, at Miami City Ballet summer intensive 2004 (?!)

Miami City Ballet in NY

This weekend Miami City Ballet is performing on Long Island. I so would love to go see them but my weekend is already jam packed with performance-going, so I can't make it...

Take a look at this Newsday feature on MCB principal Jennifer Kronenberg by Apollinaire. Jennifer is absolutely gorgeous and amazing! When I went to MCB for their summer intensive a few years ago (2004? wow, a lifetime ago it seems!) she was my level's main teach and she staged the friends dance from Copelia on us, and I (and another girl) got to do Swanhilda. It was so wonderful working with her...she's an incredible dancer and she is so sweet! And a great teacher. I would love to see her perform...those of you who are going to their Long Island performance, let me know how it goes. They're doing Twyla Tharp's "In the Upper Room" which is an amazing piece I saw ABT do a while ago. Should be a great performance.