Mikhail Baryshnikov News

The iconic Twyla Tharp is celebrating the 50th anniversary of her 1965 choreographic debut of Tank Dive with an American tour that includes one special stop in Toronto at the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts.  It has been over two decades since Twyla Tharp Dance last performed in Toronto.

The Ruth Page Civic Ballet is proud to present its annual production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Ruth Page and co-directed by Victor Alexander and Dolores Lipinski Long. This production, celebrating its 50th anniversary this holiday season, will be performed at Northeastern Illinois University, 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue in Chicago, Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 1 and 5 p.m. and at the Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road in Highland Park Dec 13 at 3 and 6 p.m. Tickets for NEIU are $25 for general admission, $20 for seniors and children under the age of 12 and $10 for NEIU students, faculty and staff, one ticket per I.D. card. Also available is 'Tea with Clara,' a delightful tea party which patrons can enjoy with their favorite The Nutcracker characters from 3:15 - 4:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. Tickets for 'Tea with Clara' include admission to the tea party and either 1 or 5 p.m. show, are $85 for adults and $50 for children under the age of 12. Tickets for the Ravinia performances are $10 reserved seating. Performance tickets are now on sale and may be purchased at www.ruthpage.org. 'Tea with Clara' tickets may also be purchased at www.ruthpage.org.

Producers Daniel Nardicio and Andy Brattain will honor Edith Piaf, the iconic French songstress on her actual 100th Birthday with PIAF: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION with stars from Broadway, London's West End, Jazz, Cabaret and Rock 'n' Roll. Starring Elaine Paige, Christine Ebersole, Marilyn Maye, Vivian Reed, Little Annie, Gay Marshall, Molly Pope, Amber Martin, Aaron Weinstein and Meow Meow, the concert will take place on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall(123 West 43rd Street).

Break The Floor Productions and Portland Ovations are pleased to announce that North America's hottest new dance show --  SHAPING SOUND -- will perform one night only at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, Friday, November 13th at 8PM.  Tickets are on sale now. Experience the exhilarating collaboration of North America's newest dance visionaries as they mash-up music genres and dance styles in an explosive dance theater experience perfect for all ages.

According to a 1998 review of ABT by Jack Anderson in The New York Times, publicists for the company in the early days used to call the troupe 'a museum of the dance.' Anderson commented that this is a good phrase to describe the company 'provided one realizes that great museums can encourage new art as well as preserve old'. I heartily concur. As I've mentioned before, I always remind my ballet students that we can hang a Rembrandt or a Picasso on a museum wall for posterity, but each generation of dancers must be capable performing both the old and the new if we are to keep our history alive. Fortunately, true to ABT's founding mission 'to develop a repertoire of the best ballets from the past and to encourage the creation of new works by gifted young choreographers,' this national treasure continues to present accurate historical reconstructions as well as new works by today's choreographers.

On October 23 & 24, Persona, a new opera from composer Keeril Makan and adaptor / librettist / director Jay Scheib, will make its world premiere at National Sawdust. Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects and National Sawdust, and adapted by Scheib from Ingmar Bergman's film of the same name, Persona is a provocative, highly cerebral, and artistically complex depiction of human frailty, cruelty and identity. These world premiere performances—which represent the first opera staged at National Sawdust—feature music direction by Evan Ziporyn and music by the ensemble Either/Or.

(Boston) Celebrity Series of Boston will present poet Billy Collins and singer-songwriter Aimee Mann on Saturday, November 21, 2015, at 8:00pm at Sanders Theatre, Memorial Hall, Harvard University, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge. 

On October 23 & 24, Persona, a new opera from composer Keeril Makan and adaptor / librettist / director Jay Scheib, will make its world premiere at National Sawdust. Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects and National Sawdust, and adapted by Scheib from Ingmar Bergman's film of the same name, Persona is a provocative, highly cerebral, and artistically complex depiction of human frailty, cruelty and identity. These world premiere performances-which represent the first opera staged at National Sawdust-feature music direction by Evan Ziporyn and music by the ensemble Either/Or.

On October 23 & 24, Persona, a new opera from composer Keeril Makan and adaptor / librettist / director Jay Scheib, will make its world premiere at National Sawdust. Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects and National Sawdust, and adapted by Scheib from Ingmar Bergman's film of the same name, Persona is a provocative, highly cerebral, and artistically complex depiction of human frailty, cruelty and identity. These world premiere performances—which represent the first opera staged at National Sawdust—feature music direction by Evan Ziporyn and music by the ensemble Either/Or.

'A Celebration of American Creativity: In Performance at the White House' is a PBS music special taped in the East Room of the White House. President and Mrs. Obama will host the all-star music tribute celebrating the cultural resonance of art and literature in unique American musical forms.

The Jazz Foundation of America's 'Lifetime Achievement Award' to Sonny Rollins featuring performances by Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan),Jimmy Heath, Jack DeJohnette, Gary Bartz, Billy Harper, Randy Brecker, Clifton Anderson, Alex Blake, Kenny Garrett, Ravi Coltrane,Buster Williams, Al Foster, James Carter, Bob Cranshaw, Cecil Bridgewater Big Band, and more.

MARENA PEREZ, principal dancer of the Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico, and ROBERTO VEGA, former first soloist of the National Ballet of Cuba, will appear as guest artists in the Alameda Civic Ballet's production of The Nutcracker on December 19 and 20, 2015 at the Kofman Theatre in Alameda, California.

Toilet Fire: Rectums in the Rectory is Eliza Bent's ceremony and celebration of the one thing that unites us all: our need to go. Using the structure of an ancient religious ritual to talk about matters of digestion, philosophy, and faith, Toilet Fire written and performed by Bent, with direction by Kevin Laibson and music accompaniment by Alaina Ferris, explodes with song, story, audience participation, and unexpected textual twists.

Puppeteer provocateur Ronnie Burkett, internationally acclaimed as North America's most daring puppeteer, will bring his latest marionette creation, The Daisy Theatre, to Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC)'s Jerome Robbins Theater, 450 West 37th Street, for a two-week engagement tonight, September 30, through Saturday, October 10. The Daisy Theatre is part of BAC's 10th anniversary celebration in 2015.

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) announces the award of a $3 million gift from the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation to create the Rudolf Nureyev Endowment and to name the Rudolf Nureyev Studio. This is the first endowment gift to Baryshnikov Arts Center, made as it celebrates its 10th Anniversary this year. It is specifically designated to support dance activity at BAC and to name BAC's Studio 4A the Rudolf Nureyev Studio in perpetuity. The gift was announced by Barry L. Weinstein, the Chairman of the Board of the Rudolf Nureyev Dance Foundation at BAC's 10th Anniversary Fall Fete on September 28, held at the Center.

The National YoungArts Foundation today announces a dynamic roster of public programs for its 35th anniversary season encompassing a series of new performances, showcases, exhibitions, and interdisciplinary collaborations across a broad range of art forms-from the organization's first resident dance company Complexions Contemporary Ballet; and "Pairings at Ted's," a new dinner and performance  series; to site-specific installations and public discussions with creative leaders such as Daniel Arsham, Franklin Sirmans and Fab 5 Freddy. The season underscores YoungArts' longstanding commitment to supporting the nation's next generation of artists by providing transformative educational and professional opportunities, including master classes, workshops, and mentorship programs with such renowned arts leaders as Carrie Mae Weems, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Frank Gehry, Wynton Marsalis, Jeff Koons, Kerry Washington, Robert Redford, and Placido Domingo, among others.

The World Premiere of 'Cinderella' by Company XIV will be at Minetta Lane in New York City through November 15th. The show is conceived, directed and choreographed by Austin McCormick. Broadwayworld.com interviewed Davon Rainey who will play the role of the Evil Stepmother.

Multi-platinum recording artist received assistance from the National YoungArts Foundation as a 1999 YoungArts Winner in Theater.

Past YoungArts award winners help raise awareness of the foundation's support of young artists.