Capital New York

David Dorfman's tribute to Sly and the Family Stone has plenty of nostalgia, not much substance

The performance, while enthusiastic, suffered from a lack of direction and looked more like a Soul Train episode than a serious attempt at examining an era or even the inner politics of the famed rock band. That said, Dorfman’s dancers all seemed to be having a grand old time during what must have been a fun production.  More

Postedsdf

By Christopher Atamian

Filming about dance: At Lincoln Center, a linchpin of the annual dance calendar unspools

Perhaps the best example of the best of the 40th Anniversary Dance on Camera Festival is the informative and touching 2011 documentary Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance, which will ultimately screen in 40 theaters across the country. Director Bob Hercules takes the viewer through Joffrey’s early career and his relationship and collaboration with Gerald Arpino. The film also demonstrates the complexity of running one’s own dance troupe. Many of the challenges that dogged the Joffrey after its namesake died of AIDS in 1988—financial woes, Arpino’s takeover as artistic director, a move to Chicago—would have felled a lesser group of working artists. Along the way, one rediscovers Joffrey’s immense accomplishment in making ballet truly American. More

Postedsdf

By Christopher Atamian

Rocking my world: Parsons Dance make the best of simple pleasures at the Joyce

Part of my interest in attending the Parsons Dance company’s current presentation at the Joyce lay in the remarkably negative reviews that it has received from other dance critics, a few of whom I quite respect. I have seen a lot of bad contemporary dance, mind you: could Parsons really be so shallow, gimmicky and downright awful as some have claimed? At least based on what I saw Monday night, the answer is no. More

Postedsdf

By Christopher Atamian

A farewell to Merce Cunningham: 'The Legacy Tour' at the Brooklyn Academy of Music

The Legacy Tour, which presented Roaratorio on Wednesday and a dynamic Program B comprised of Second Hand (1970) and Biped (1999) last night, continues Friday and Saturday night with Program C, which includes Pond Way (1998), Rainforest (1968) and Split Sides (2003). Second Hand, with costumes by Jasper Johns, has no décor, while Split Sides is set to music by Sigur Rós and Radiohead, and Rainforest showcases dancers who move around silver pillows designed by Andy Warhol—each piece is fabulous in its own, original way.

  More

Postedsdf

By Christopher Atamian