Caryn Cooper - Page 2

Friday, June 1, 2018 kicked off Rennie Harris Puremovement's New York engagement and return to the New Victory Theater, right in the heart of Times Square. The program featured the world premiere of the company's evening length piece: Rennie Harris: Funkedified in a multi-media work highlighting a variety of street dance styles such as Campbell locking, popping, waving, breaking, and social dances from the 1970s in collaboration with the internationally-acclaimed Hood Lockers.

On a typical Monday evening, most folks find themselves on their way home after a long day of work, beginning to unwind for the night, or enjoying the spring evening outside sitting on a bench or having a nice glass of wine. But May 7, 2018 was a special evening to celebrate the impact of Latino leaders at the Ballet Hispanico CARNAVAL gala at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. In addition to being the company's annual fundraiser, it is also a time to celebrate the impact of Ballet Hispanico in communities across the nation while honoring four pioneers and influential Latino leaders whose contributions have made them a major force in their respective fields around the world.

As the month of May began turning up the heat with unseasonable, record-breaking temperatures, Harlem Stage also turned up the audience with its E-Moves19 dance festival, May 2-5, 2018 at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse. For nearly two decades, this signature dance series has had a rich, long history of highlighting the world's cultures and contemporary dance by artists who represent various traditional dance forms and those who are creating new ones. This year's festival had a focus on contemporary African choreographers while posing the question of “how an African choreographer includes their culture within a modern or Western aesthetic?” The program explores this mash-up of cultures in an intriguing way.

On the afternoon of March 31, 2018, Aries in Flight, under the direction of Catherine Mancuso, presented its 3rd performance showcase at the TADA! Youth Theater in New York City. The showcase featured the work of thirteen emerging choreographers from the Greater NYC metropolitan area. The mission of the company is to enable dancers and performers to learn, create, and explore their craft in a safe, judgement-free environment. Ms. Mancuso is proud to celebrate diversity in dance by presenting this showcase with a wide range of dance styles and techniques.

On the evening of April 3, 2018, The Dance Factory led by Artistic Director Dada Masilo returned to The Joyce Theater following their successful season back in 2016. Masilo- who is known for her unique and innovative interpretations of classical ballets such as Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, and Swan Lake- presented the New York premiere of her latest work, Giselle. This is not the original story that audiences have come to know for generations. But rather, retells and reimagines the story from a feminist lens with a twist.

Ailey II kicked off its 2018 New York season at the Ailey Citigroup Theater with dynamic works by some of the most exciting emerging dancers and choreographers. Just as the company wraps up their 32-city world tour, this season brings audiences two thrilling programs with three world premieres along with some contemporary favorites.

Each year, the New York City Center along with other venues across New York City, have presented some of Spain's finest dancers and musicians to perform on major concert stages... Now in its 18th year, the 2018 New York Flamenco Festival has brought some of flamenco's biggest names to the New York area, for a celebration of flamenco's present and future- spanning the full spectrum of what is flamenco.

Trailblazer: The Story of Ballerina Raven Wilkinson is a new children's book, that tells the little-known story of the world-renowned Raven Wilkinson- the first African American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company. This biography was written by Leda Schubert with illustrations by Theodore Taylor III and a forward by ABT Principal dancer Misty Copeland.

On Tuesday, February 6, 2018, world-renowned dancer and choreographer, Ronald K. Brown and his groundbreaking company EVIDENCE kicked off their season at The Joyce Theater for a limited engagement through February 11th. The Brooklyn-based company, returns for the first time since its successful season back in July 2016. This occasion marks the world premiere of new works, performances of old, yet relevant pieces, and the celebration of Associate Artistic Director, Arecell Cabuag's 20th anniversary with the company.

December 19, 2017 kicked off the season of award-winning tapper, Michelle Dorrance and her internationally-acclaimed company, Dorrance Dance, at The Joyce Theater in New York City. Michelle Dorrance and Dorrance Dance are known for pushing the limits of what tap can do, while staying true to its history and traditions. The company's highly anticipated return to the Joyce stage proved not to be a disappointment!

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has returned to the New York City Center for their annual season in what has become a joyful holiday tradition for many-including myself! This year's season is full of new works, new productions, and familiar and beloved Ailey favorites. I was fortunate to be able to attend the performance on the evening of December 12, 2017.

Ballet Hispanico returned for their annual holiday season at the world-famous Apollo Theater for a special two-night engagement on December 1-2, 2017. The line up included three inspiring works that reflects the migration, marginalization, and resilience of the Latino culture through movement. Under the direction of Eduardo Vilaro, the company featured award-winning choreographer Ronald K. Brown, Ramon Oller, and Michelle Manzanales-in her first work for the Ballet Hispanico company.

Leyland Simmons is a rising choreographer who is on the move to big things. His dance training began at the Royal Academy School of Dance under Barbara Devereaux in Anchorage, Alaska. From there, he went on to study dance at several notable schools such as Dance Theatre of Harlem, Miami City Ballet, The School of American Ballet, and The Ailey School, among others. He is a graduate of the Professional Performing Arts High School in New York City, and is a former member of Ailey II and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. As an educator, he is a certified teacher in the American Ballet Theatre Pre-Primary to Level 3 curriculum, holds a Master's degree in Dance Education from NYU, has taught at several studios such as Steps on Broadway, and is currently the Resident Choreographer at the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA).

Project Performing Arts (PPA) is a community organization based in Harlem, NY, under the leadership of its Founding Artistic Director, Nina Klyvert-Lawson, that uses the performing arts as way to move children forward both on an everyday scale and into the future. Classes are offered throughout the year for students ages 4-17 whether for those interested in the arts as a form of recreation, as a hobby, or for the pre-professional. This year, PPA celebrates its' 5th anniversary!

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Lamentation Variations project- LamVar10: A Festival for New Work. Since its founding in 2007 by Graham Company Artistic Director Janet Eilber, the company has commissioned some of today's most noteworthy choreographers to create new works inspired by Graham's signature solo, Lamentation, originally created in 1930, on dancers of the company. These choreographers have included Lar Lubovitch, Michelle Dorrance, and Doug Varone, among others.

Every year since its inception in 2004, Fall for Dance has brought together both veteran and emerging artists to perform on the same stage on the same night. And if that wasn't enough for you, audience members have the opportunity to see all this at the low cost of $15 for any seat in the house at the lovely New York City Center! This two-week festival has had sold out performances each year and has become a cultural staple to dance lovers of all walks of life here in New York City.

Memoirs of Blacks in Ballet (MoBB), curated and founded by Theresa Ruth Howard, is an online digital platform that looks to preserve the history and tell the stories and contributions of Blacks in ballet. It also serves as a call for advocacy for diversity in the training and careers in the field of ballet. Ms. Howard and MoBB are pleased to announce the launch of And Still They Rose: The Legacy of Black Philadelphians in Ballet- an online video series that tells the stories of three great trailblazers: Judith Jamison, Joan Myers Brown, and Delores Browne.

Central Park Dance (CPD) is a dance studio based just 30 minutes outside of New York City in Westchester County. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Maria Bai and her business and life partner Mario La Strada, CPD prides itself in being committed to cultivating and training dancers to excel in the 21st century. The fall season, of 2017 marks the school's 35th anniversary. The year is full of various programs and events to celebrate this momentous occasion.

On the weekend of September 7-10 2017, the American Dance Guild (ADG) celebrated its 60th anniversary during their annual performance festival at The Ailey Citigroup Theater. This year's ADG Lifetime Achievement Awards went to three outstanding American dance masters: acclaimed and Tony-award winning choreographer, Garth Fagan; dance medicine pioneer and Dean of the American Dance Festival, Martha Myers; and Louis Mofsie, Founding Artistic Director of the renowned Thunderbird American Indian Dancers who have sustained the legacy of indigenous American Indian dances for the past 54 years.

Let's Dance! is an immersive exhibit for children and their families that showcases the joy, beauty, and diversity of dance across New York City and the world. The exhibition, slated to run from July 1st to December 1st 2017, features a number of opportunities to learn about dance through daily live performances, various workshops, and a dance-portal projection dome! In conjunction with the ongoing initiative of the Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), Gateway to the Arts, this project is designed to introduce children to dance as an art form, an expression of diverse cultures and traditions, and as a healthy physical activity.