Frederic Franklin News

Last week, The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) presented a classic but eclectic program of four ballets at the Miller Outdoor Theatre. To my surprise, they gave me something I could feel. The performance reminded me that ballet can be fun, art should be communal and a coloratura soprano singing 'Domine Deus, Rex caelestis' is just as electrifying as James Brown singing 'Mother Popcorn.'

'America's not used to seeing a black face in this particular art form,' says 16-year-old Naazir Muhammad about ballet. He should know. He and his twin brother, Shaakir, both practice ballet at the American Ballet Theatre School in New York. Both are aware that ballet is expected to have a certain face. The Dance Theatre of Harlem defies these expectations. Because of this, the company is special in two ways. It is innovative and radical in existing as well as being innovative and radical in dance. Aretha Franklin en point? You never.

Casting for the seventh and eighth weeks of American Ballet Theatre's 2014 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

A roll call of dance greats - performers, directors, critics, and historians - took the stage one after the other at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts in New York City on the evening of May 30th 2014 to share their memories of one of the greatest of them all, Frederic Franklin.

After collaborations in 2012 and 2013 with an all-male cast, Tina Croll and Jamie Cunningham's The Men Dancers: From the Horse's Mouth make their return to New York today, May 30 through June 1 in honor of ballet great Frederic Franklin (1914-2013) in what would have been his centenary year. This celebration will take place at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts (3 Spruce Street, between Park Row and Gold Street) and is presented by Pace University.

Balanchine and Massine on the same program on February 20, 2014? I can't remember that last time I saw that. I wonder if the two would approve. But there is one fundamental difference separating the two choreographers. Balanchine, even 30 years after his death, is still in the forefront of modern ballet choreography, and most of Massine's ballets have fallen into oblivion. To be honest, the only Massine ballets I have seen prior to this were Parade and The Three Cornered Hat, both of which I enjoyed. I'd like to see The Good Natured Ladies, Le Beau Danube, La Boutique Fantasque, Rouge et Noir, Choreartium and Les Presages one of these days, but the chances are very slim. As the old saying goes, keep dreaming.

After collaborations in 2012 and 2013 with an all-male cast, Tina Croll and Jamie Cunningham's The Men Dancers: From the Horse's Mouth make their return to New York May 30 through June 1 in honor of ballet great Frederic Franklin (1914-2013) in what would have been his centenary year. This celebration will take place at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts (3 Spruce Street, between Park Row and Gold Street) and is presented by Pace University.

On Friday, April 25th, the new Dance Theater of Harlem, now in its second year, presented three ballets. Pas De Dix, a set of dances taken from the last act of the full-length ballet Raymonda, choreography by Marius Petipas and originally staged for DTH by Frederic Franklin, offered this young company the opportunity to delve into the world of the classics. The dancers worked diligently to execute the steps and the feeling required for such a work. In the second variation Nayara Lopes was fresh and sweet, while Linsey Croop demonstrated qualities both strong and cute in the in the fourth variation. In general, however, while potential was evident, the dancers lack the experience and maturity to make the most of this ballet. I expect that in a few years they will be giving more assured, even exciting performances.

Casting for the first two weeks of American Ballet Theatre's 2014 Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie.

In celebration of its 45th anniversary, Dance Theatre of Harlem's 2014 New York City season at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall was announced today by executive director Laveen Naidu and artistic director Virginia Johnson. There will be six performances from today, April 23 through April 27.

In celebration of its 45th anniversary, Dance Theatre of Harlem's 2014 New York City season at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall was announced today by executive director Laveen Naidu and artistic director Virginia Johnson. There will be six performances from April 23 through April 27.

American Ballet Theatre's 2014 season at the Metropolitan Opera House, May 12-July 5, will be highlighted by the Company Premiere of Frederick Ashton's Cinderella and a Shakespeare Celebration to include Ashton's The Dream and Alexei Ratmansky's The Tempest. Season revivals include Leonide Massine's Gaite Parisienne and Kenneth MacMillan's Manon. Tickets for ABT's Spring Season at the Metropolitan Opera House go on sale at the box office on Sunday, March 30 at Noon.

Pace Presents will bring an exciting season of dance this spring to the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University. Six critically acclaimed dance companies will captivate Schimmel Center audiences with an eclectic range of dance styles and virtuosic performances from some of the world's most talented dancers. They are Brian Sanders' JUNK from March 6-March 8; LA CURVA Israel Galvan from March 13 to March 14; RUBBERBANDance Group from March 20-22; ABT Studio Company on March 28; Taylor 2 from April 24 to April 26; and From the Horse's Mouth Tickets for all companies range from $25 to $55 and can be purchased by calling (866) 811-4111 or by vvisiting http://schimmel.pace.edu. Brian Sanders' JUNK (March 6-March 8) Experimental dance-theatre company JUNK, formed by MOMIX alumnus, Brian Sanders makes it's NY is known for their ingenious use of found objects and clever inventions that bridge the gap between dance and physical theatre. Sanders' choreography blends traditional dance theatre with an inventiveness and physicality that gives reason for critics to hail JUNK as 'Philly's most imaginative perpetrator of dare-devilish physical theatre' and declare Sanders as 'the city's most exciting choreographer.'

In celebration of its 45th anniversary, Dance Theatre of Harlem's 2014 New York City season at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall was announced today by executive director Laveen Naidu and artistic director Virginia Johnson. There will be six performances from April 23 through April 27. The season will be highlighted by the New York City premieres of three new works. The first, past-carry-forward choreographed by Thaddeus Davis and Tanya Wideman Davis, considers the legacy of the Great Migration of African Americans from the agrarian South to the industrial North in the early part of the twentieth-century. The second is the acclaimed Dancing On The Front Porch of Heaven, which will be seen for the first time in New York since it was created in 1993 by Ulysses Dove for the Royal Swedish Ballet. Subtitled 'Ode to Love and Loss,' it was choreographed during a challenging period in Ulysses Dove's life, during which he lost 13 close friends and relatives, including his father. The New York premiere of Pas de Dix From Raymonda, choreographed by Marius Petipa with music by Alexander Glazunov, will be a special tribute to the late Frederic Franklin, who was an artistic advisor to DTH.

The winners of the 4th Annual Clive Barnes Award were announced Monday, January 6 at The Walter Reade Theatre, Lincoln Centre. This year's Theatre Award, presented by Susan Stroman was given to Jonny Orsini for his performance in The Nance. This year's Dance Award, presented by Wendy Whelan, was given to Lloyd Mayor of Martha Graham Dance Company.

Susan Stroman and Wendy Whelan are set to host the 2014 Clive Barnes Awards, which will be held on January 6 (3pm), at the Walter Reade Theatre. This years' nominees for theatre are Aaron Clifton Moten for his performance in The Flick, Jonny Orsini for his performance in The Nance, Phillipa Soo for her performance in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, and Amber Iman for her performance in Soul Doctor. This year's nominees for dance are Talli Jackson (Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company), Lloyd Mayor (Martha Graham Dance Company), Xiaochuan Xie (Martha Graham Dance Company), and Calvin Royal III(American Ballet THeatre.)

HOUSTON, TEXAS - From November 29 - December 29, 2013, Houston Ballet celebrates the holidays with Ben Stevenson's breathtaking production of The Nutcracker, seen by over 1,000,000 people since its premiere 26 years ago. The beloved ballet tells the story of a little girl named Clara who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. She encounters the frightful King Rat before embarking on a wondrous journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Young and old alike will experience the many special effects, including the Christmas tree which 'grows' to 40 feet, 200 pounds of 'snow' falling during the snow scene, and the firing of cannon onstage. Houston Ballet will give 34 performances of The Nutcracker, to a live orchestra, in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713-227-2787 or logging on to www.houstonballet.org.

The Clive Barnes Foundation has announced the nominees for the 2012 Clive Barnes Awards, a distinguished annual honor recognizing the work of young actors and dancers in New York City.

From November 29 - December 29, 2013, Houston Ballet celebrates the holidays with Ben Stevenson's breathtaking production of The Nutcracker, seen by over 1,000,000 people since its premiere 26 years ago. The beloved ballet tells the story of a little girl named Clara who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. She encounters the frightful King Rat before embarking on a wondrous journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Young and old alike will experience the many special effects, including the Christmas tree which "grows" to 40 feet, 200 pounds of "snow" falling during the snow scene, and the firing of cannon onstage. Houston Ballet will give 34 performances of The Nutcracker, to a live orchestra, in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713-227-2787 or logging on to www.houstonballet.org.

HOUSTON, TEXAS - From November 29 - December 29, 2013, Houston Ballet celebrates the holidays with Ben Stevenson's breathtaking production of The Nutcracker, seen by over 1,000,000 people since its premiere 26 years ago. The beloved ballet tells the story of a little girl named Clara who is given a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. She encounters the frightful King Rat before embarking on a wondrous journey through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Young and old alike will experience the many special effects, including the Christmas tree which "grows" to 40 feet, 200 pounds of "snow" falling during the snow scene, and the firing of cannon onstage. Houston Ballet will give 34 performances of The Nutcracker, to a live orchestra, in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713-227-2787 or logging on to www.houstonballet.org.