Desmond Richardson News

 The New York City Dance Alliance Foundation (NYCDAF), a forward-thinking charity committed to shaping the future lives and training of young dancers, returned to The Joyce Theater on January 30, 2017 with Destiny Rising. A yearly fundraising performance benefiting NYCDAF's college scholarship program, the evening opened with a commissioned premiere by NYCDA's Rachel Kreiling, spotlighting 2016 scholarship recipients. The program also included guest performances from prominent professional dance companies, including Desmond Richardson, Parsons Dance, and American Ballet Theatre soloists Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell. Ten 2017 scholarships recipients were named during the program, from eight different states.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) today announced details for its 2017 regional programs, including a new long-term institutional partnership with the Center for the Art of Performance at University of California Los Angeles (CAP UCLA) that represents YoungArts' deepening roots in the area, and further expands the organization's resources and reach on the West Coast.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet, founded in 1994 by Co-Artistic Directors, Dwight Rhoden, choreographer and Desmond Richardson, legendary dancer, is currently in its second week of its season at the Joyce Theater. All works in both programs have been choreographed by Rhoden, resident choreographer. On Wednesday, February 1, 2017, I attended Program B with excited anticipation.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) today announced the nominees for the 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students who exemplify academic and artistic excellence.

Now celebrating its 10th Anniversary at Tempe Center for the Arts, the 2017 Breaking Ground Festival will be held January 27 & 28 at 7:30 pm. Tickets: $28Adults/$23 Students and Seniors at the door $25Adults/$18 Students and Seniors when purchased in advance (minimum 24 hours)

On May 7, 2017, at 3:00PM, the Greenwich Village Orchestra, led by Music Director and Conductor Barbara Yahr, will close its 30th anniversary season at Washington Irving Campus Auditorium (at 17th St. and Irving Place) with a pops concert, Broadway Downtown, featuring performances by guest artists and Broadway stars Grasan Kingsberry (The Color Purple, Motown The Musical, Nice Work if You Can Get It, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Aida) and Betsy Struxness (Hamilton, Matilda, Memphis, Wicked).

On Saturday, January 14, 2017, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) hosted its annual fundraiser in Miami, theBackyard Ball performance and gala, to help support the artistic development of the nation's most promising young artists. In addition to recognizing the talent of this year's 691 YoungArts Winners, the event honored jazz pianist Jason Moran (1993 Winner in Jazz) with the Arison Alumni Award, and choreographer Jessica Lang as the Arison Award Honoree for their vital contributions and commitment to the arts. The event also featured Javon Jones's acceptance of the inaugural 2016 Max Mara Young Visionary Award presented by Maria Giulia Maramotti, Max Mara's Director of retail for North America. 

World-renowned dance group, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, opens the second half of the 2016-17 season with their performance at Kalamazoo's Miller Auditorium today, Jan. 17, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. 

Tonight, January 14, 2017, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will host its largest annual fundraiser, the Backyard Ball performance and gala, as the culmination of the organization's signature program, National YoungArts Week, through January 15.

The New York City Dance Alliance Foundation (NYCDAF), a forward-thinking charity committed to shaping the future lives and training of young dancers, returns to The Joyce Theater, January 30, 2017 with Destiny Rising.

Overflowing with virtuosity, technique and cutting-edge choreography, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, "a matchless American dance company" (The Philadelphia Enquirer), is the future of contemporary ballet.

World-renowned dance group, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, opens the second half of the 2016-17 season with their performance at Kalamazoo's Miller Auditorium on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. 

Now celebrating its 10th Anniversary at Tempe Center for the Arts, the 2017 Breaking Ground Festival will be held January 27 & 28 at 7:30 pm. Tickets: $28Adults/$23 Students and Seniors at the door $25Adults/$18 Students and Seniors when purchased in advance (minimum 24 hours)

On Saturday, January 14, 2017, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will host its largest annual fundraiser, the Backyard Ball performance and gala, as the culmination of the organization's signature program, National YoungArts Week, from January 8 - 15.

Last night, on Tuesday, November 29th, the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) kicked off its Miami Art Week programming with the debut of two visual arts exhibitions: When We Were Young, which features rarely seen contemporary masterworks from the JPMorgan Chase Art Collection paired with newly created works by YoungArts Visual Arts alumni; and Roots, an immersive, site-specific installation of new work by Cuban-American artist Jose Parla. 

Richard Move/MoveOpolis! returns to New York Live Arts as the opening performance of Live Ideas 2017 with the world premiere of XXYY, a multilayered work conceived and directed by Move, with costumes by acclaimed theater artist Alba Clemente and an original score by Italian electronic music pioneer Martux_m. The program will also feature Martha@... 20, a special performance marking the 20th anniversary of Move's highly acclaimed performances as Martha Graham in the Martha@... series. Performances are Wednesday, March 8, to Saturday, March 11, at 7:30pm, at New York Live Arts, 219 West 19th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues), in Manhattan.

After receiving a record-breaking 145 submissions from the top national and international voices in contemporary dance, CONDER/dance announces its final selection of artists who will be featured at the 2017 Breaking Ground Contemporary Dance Festival.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) is proud to announce the 2017 YoungArts Winners-691 of the nation's most promising young artists in the literary, visual, design, and performing arts.

During this year's Art Basel Miami Beach, the National YoungArts Foundation will host two visual arts exhibitions on their Miami campus, including the debut of a new body of work by José Parlá and an installation of rarely seen masterworks from the JPMorgan Chase Art Collection, as well as a booth at PULSE Miami Beach Contemporary Art Fair. Co-curated by Naomi Fisher (1994 YoungArts Winner in Visual Art) and Luisa Munera, YoungArts Artistic Programs Coordinator, the booth will feature works by ten YoungArts alumni. 

On November 5, 2016, the National YoungArts Foundation will premiere five collaborative short films created by YoungArts alumni as the season's first Outside the Box event, which takes place outdoors and is free to the public.