The Joyce Theater News

The Joyce Theater (Linda Shelton, Executive Director), the nation's most prestigious theater devoted to modern dance, announced today the organization's programming for its 2015 Spring/Summer season, featuring a wide array of extraordinary companies, including return engagements of fan favorites and introductions to new companies making their Joyce debuts.

Radio host Ira Glass of This American Life collaborates with dancers Monica Bill Barnes and Anna Bass in Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host, a hilarious and quirky pairing of dance and radio, which will be performed in Mesa Arts Center's Ikeda Theater tonight, October 11 at 8:00 p.m.

Applauded worldwide for its athleticism, kinetic artistry, and deep humanity, Doug Varone and Dancers returns to The Joyce Theater from December 2-7 with a program featuring a world premiere, a beloved revival, and a new solo performed by Doug Varone himself.

The Joyce Theater will present the return of Spain's most successful and authentic flamenco touring company, Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca, after three acclaimed engagements since 2011. Under the direction of Martín Santangelo, the company will present a program entitled Noche Flamenca y Antigona from October 29 – November 9. Tickets, ranging in price from $10 - $59, can be purchased through JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or online at www.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.

Linda Shelton, Executive Director of The Joyce Theater Foundation, today announced that The Joyce has selected world-renowned, award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp as its Artist-in-Residence.

The Argentine writer Leopold Marcecchal (1900-1970) wrote that 'tango has infinite possibilities.' These possibilities are explored and brought to an extremely successful and entertaining fruition in Nuit Blanche (Sleepless Night), presented by Cia.Unión Tanguera at the Joyce Theater, September 23rd-October 5th.

La Bestia: Sweet Mother, An Immigrant's Tale is a musical and dance performance which was developed and debuted in New York's East Village in 2014, having played at Theater for the New City, as well as the 14th Street Y Theater. The show comes to The Theater at the Takoma Park Community Center (7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912) tonight, September 27, 2014 at 7:30 pm.

Radio host Ira Glass of This American Life collaborates with dancers Monica Bill Barnes and Anna Bass in Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host, a hilarious and quirky pairing of dance and radio, which will be performed in Mesa Arts Center's Ikeda Theater on October 11 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the Mesa Arts Center Box Office, mesaartscenter.com, or at 480-644-6500.

The Joyce Theater is thrilled to present the NYC debut of the France and Argentina-based tango company Cia. Unión Tanguera for a two-week engagement from tonight, September 23 – October 5. Under the direction of Esteban Moreno and Claudia Codega, Cia. Unión Tanguera will perform the NYC premiere of Nuit Blanche (Sleepless Night), an evening-length work of stunning tango danced by the company's seven members, and accompanied by its four live musicians. Tickets range in price from $10-$49 ($26-$37 for Joyce Theater members), and can be purchased through JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or via the internet at www.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.

Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch announced touring plans for both Houston Ballet and Houston Ballet II, the second company featuring exciting young dancers from around the globe launching their careers, for the 2014-2015 season today.

Pacific Northwest Ballet Artistic Director Peter Boal and principal dancer Carla Körbes have announcedthat Ms. Körbes will retire from the Company at the end of PNB's 2014-2015 season. Ms. Körbes joined PNB as a soloist in 2005 and was promoted to principal in 2006.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) today announced the participants of the third cycle of the BAM Professional Development Program (BAM PDP), led by BAM and the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland. The companies for this session represent mixed disciplines ranging from dance to theater to opera. Chosen by a BAM-convened panel, the organizations taking part in this session are Encompass New Opera Theatre, Satellite Collective, Summation Dance, and Treehouse Shakers. As with the previous sessions, the DeVos Institute extended invitations to a group of organizations to apply for the training portion of the BAM PDP-expanding the program's reach beyond Brooklyn-based companies. These additional organizations taking part in the program areBalletNext, Beth Morrison Projects, S? Percussion, and Zvi Dance.

The Joyce Theater is proud to present the Seattle-based Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB), under the direction of former New York City Ballet dancer Peter Boal, returning after a wildly successful sold-out 2010 engagement, from October 8 - 12. With this return engagement, PNB will present two East Coast premieres by choreographers Christopher Wheeldon and Alejandro Cerrudo, and a preview of a brand new work by New York City Ballet principal dancer and acclaimed choreographer Justin Peck. Tickets, starting at $10, can be purchased through JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or online at www.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.

From today, September 18-28, 2014, Houston Ballet offers up its fall mixed repertory program titled From Houston to the World with ballets choreographed for Houston Ballet dancers. Finnish choreographer Jorma Elo brings wit and humor to the extreme virtuosity that he demands in ONE/end/ONE.

On September 9th 2014, opening night of the NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA's six-day run at the Koch Theater in Lincoln Center presented by the Joyce Theater Foundation, I found myself enchanted by most of Christopher Wheeldon's choreography for the evening-length production of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". I was also delighted overall with the inventive score by Joby Talbott as well as the elaborate costumes and sets by Bob Crowley. The dancing was first rate, too. What wasn't so wonderful was the silly love story that dramaturge Nicholas Wright felt compelled to introduce into Lewis Carroll's deservedly iconic childhood tale of a plucky young heroine off on her own for a great adventure in dreamland.

New York City Center's 11th annual Fall for Dance Festival will feature free performances in Central Park and 24 acclaimed dance companies and artists from around the world, in six unique programs in September and October 2014. In keeping with the Festival's commitment to make dance accessible to everyone, the Festival will kick off with two FREE evenings of dance at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, in association with The Public Theater, today and tomorrow, September 12 and 13 (rain date, September 14) and will continue at City Center from October 8 - October 19 with all tickets at $15. The Festival's many free pre-show events will include dance lessons and panels by choreographers, artists and dance educators. Tickets will go on sale Sunday, September 14 at 11 a.m.

La Bestia: Sweet Mother, An Immigrant's Tale is a musical and dance performance which was developed and debuted in New York's East Village in 2014, having played at Theater for the New City, as well as the 14th Street Y Theater. The show comes to The Theater at the Takoma Park Community Center (7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912) on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 7:30 pm.

BalletCollective will present two world premiere ballets that showcase the company's commitment to artistic collaboration on October 29 and 30 at NYU Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square. The program will also include The Impulse Wants Company (2013). All three works will be accompanied by live music performed by the ensemble Hotel Elefant and feature lighting design by Brandon Stirling Baker.

Monica Bill Barnes & Company and Ira Glass, host of This American Life, will present their show Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host at The Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street) for a three-night-only run, tonight, September 10, through September 12 at 8pm. Since April 2013, they've been on a 30-city national tour, appearing in one or two cities per month.