Jack Anderson News

When it comes to music, the most important element for the Austin based band Trouble in The Streets is to create something new. Their sound is uniquely their own pulling from influences like Rage Against the Machine, Beats Antique, to Hiatus Kaiyote. The multi-talented band, Trouble in The Streets has dubbed this signature sound Electro Tribe, a vibe that masterfully blends electronic music, international sounds, with hip-hop, rock and R&B. Their debut EP Electro Tribe is set to be physically distributed on October 6, 2017, everywhere.

Trisha Brown Dance Company (TBDC) performs at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the Ted Shawn Theatre, August 16-20, representing the work of one of the seminal choreographers of the 20th century. Since Brown's passing this past March, witnessing TBDC in an evening-length program is an increasingly rare experience. Echoing Brown's choreographic innovation, timeless aesthetic, and 1960s postmodern approach to dance making, TBDC will perform a version of Opal Loop (1980) prepared especially for Jacob's Pillow, featuring former dancers of the company and an original cast member. Acknowledging Brown's more recent choreography, TBDC will also perform Groove and Countermove (2000) and L'Amour au théâtre (2009). As the company ventures into a new era, viewing Brown's work in a proscenium venue “feel[s] increasingly essential” (The New Yorker).

A few years ago I bought a recording of Schlagobers, which had been written by the venerable Richard Strauss for the Vienna State Opera Ballet in 1924. I had a difficult time listening to the music-it didn't gel, nor did it leave any imprint on my mind. I suppose there was a reason for it not having many recordings-compare this with Rosenkavalier. I remember doing some research on this project: Strauss was serving as co-director of the Vienna State Opera with Franz Schalk and wanted to raise the prestige of the ballet wing after it had been decimated in the First World War. As a devoted admirer of Diaghilev company, for which he had once written Josephslegende, Strauss went about composing and writing his own libretto for what was to become Schlagobers, choreographed by Heinrich Kröller, who devised a mass spectacle that required 287 costumes at a cost of four billion kronnen, becoming known as the 'billionaire's ballet.' And at a time when inflation was climbing minute by minute.

From March 16 - 26, Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program Director's Choice: Legends and Prodigy, featuring three company, dancer and audience favorites. Hans van Manen's Grosse Fuge showcases Houston Ballet's strong male lineup and proves unequivocally why he is Holland's most famous choreographer. Ji?i Kylian created Stepping Stones during a visit to Australia as a reflection on man's desire to preserve his heritage. Justin Peck joins Houston Ballet's repertoire with Year of the Rabbit, a ballet that showcases the corps de ballet.

Ring in the New Year - Year of the Rooster - with one of Chen Dance Center's delightful Teahouse Performances, February 16, 7 PM at Chen Dance Center, 70 Mulberry Street, in NYC's Chinatown.

Ring in the New Year - Year of the Rooster - with one of Chen Dance Center's delightful Teahouse Performances, February 16, 7 PM at Chen Dance Center, 70 Mulberry Street, in NYC's Chinatown.

Join EAG this Today night for a fascinating evening all about the ups, downs, and magical moments that come with founding and leading a dance company in the modern era.

 Join EAG this Thursday night for a fascinating evening all about the ups, downs, and magical moments that come with founding and leading a dance company in the modern era.  

Join EAG this Thursday night for a fascinating evening all about the ups, downs, and magical moments that come with founding and leading a dance company in the modern era.

New York Theatre Ballet will present a new installment of its highly acclaimed Legends & Visionaries series at Danspace Project (131 E 10th St, NYC, 10003) on October 6 and 8, 2016 at 8pm, as part of Danspace Project's Community ACCESS series*.  The evenings will include the World Premiere of a new piece by Antonia Franceschi set to an original musical score by Claire van Kampen.  

NEW YORK THEATRE BALLET Announces 2016-17 Season New York Theatre Ballet announces the 2016-17 season, which will include repertory performances throughout the year.

New York Theatre Ballet will present a new installment of its highly acclaimed Legends & Visionaries series at Danspace Project (131 E 10th St, NYC, 10003) on October 6 and 8, 2016 at 8pm, as part of Danspace Project's Community ACCESS series*.  The evenings will include the World Premiere of a new piece by Antonia Franceschi set to an original musical score by Claire van Kampen.  

NEW YORK THEATRE BALLET Announces 2016-17 Season New York Theatre Ballet announces the 2016-17 season, which will include repertory performances throughout the year.

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival presents the world premiere engagement of And Still You Must Swing with three of the world's most celebrated tap dance luminaries—Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Jason Samuels Smith, and Derick K. Grant—July    6-10 in the intimate Doris Duke Theatre. The program embraces masterful technique, musicality, and improvisation including a live onstage band and a star-studded cast with critically-acclaimed guest artist and 2016 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award recipient Camille A. Brown.

New York Theatre Ballet will perform two works at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the Doris Duke Theatre from August 3- 7, 2016. Jacob's Pillow, a National Historic Landmark, National Medal of Arts recipient, and home to America's longest-running dance festival, is located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts at 358 George Carter Road in Becket.

LG Hensel, a first time author, has completed her new book 'LYCAN The See'er': a gripping and potent story that throws a young woman's life into a downward spiral. Who should Maggie trust?

In Language of the Future: Letters to Jack, Anderson's new work uses a blend of prose and poetry with punches of other worldly orchestral sounds of Kodheli's married with Anderson's electronic sounds.

Houston Ballet offers up its Winter Mixed Repertory Program which introduces three masterpieces into the company's repertory in a thrilling evening of dance. 

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.

The Academy just announced this year's Student Academy Awards finalists.