Dances for a Variable Population occupies Times Square

Dance
“We were in the middle of the most chaotic place in the world. A place that when you are there you want to leave. We’re there and people are taking the moment in and participating like crazy. Our workshops are so crowded. People get inspired by seeing seniors dance, it’s really moving. They want to ...

The unlikely coaches of classical ballet 1

Dance
Tamara Karsavina coaches Margot Fonteyn in “Le Spectre de la Rose”   Joan Lawson teaches Royal Ballet boys (courtesy Richard Slaughter)   Nijinska rehearses Les Noces for the Royal Ballet revival of 1966. (Thank you, Richard Slaughter, former Royal Ballet principal dancer)

Investing in artists: winners of the 2012 Alpert Awards

Dance · Film · Music · Theater · Visual arts
Los Angeles arts honchos gathered at the oh-so-cool Santa Monica digs of the Herb Alpert Foundation for a joyous occasion on Friday April 10. A generous buffet luncheon celebrated 18 years of Herb Alpert and Lani Hall’s philanthropy. And Irene Borger, the award program’s long-time director, gave her annual recognition to five deserving mid-career creators ...

Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, outstanding arts philanthropists, oversee 2012 Alpert Awards

Dance · Film · Music · Theater · Visual arts
The Herb Alpert Foundation and California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) have awarded the 18th annual Alpert Award in the Arts to five exceptional mid–career artists. The award, a prize of $75,000, recognizes past performance and future promise to artists working in Dance, Film/Video, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts. Herb Alpert, the legendary musician and ...

“Choreography by Jack Cole” on TCM September 10 4

Dance
by 
On Monday, September 10, 2012 Turner Classic Movies will dedicate an evening to the brilliant creativity of Jack Cole. The evening features four films choreographed by Cole  — he himself dances in two of them. I co-host the September broadcast with TCM’s Robert Osborne. Films on the slate: Tonight & Every Night (1945) – 8 ...

Robin Williams’ “eclectic celebration of the dance” in “The Birdcage” 2

Dance · Film

Miriam Rochlin’s handstand

Dance
Dear Miriam Rochlin, the lifelong dancer and Los Angeles dance instructor who died not two weeks ago, had a wonderful way of keeping fit. Thank you, Karen Goodman, for sharing the photo. Karen’s essay on Miriam’s life here. Obituary in the  Los Angeles Jewish Journal.

Yes, concentration camp. Yes, Abu Ghraib. Yes, disturbing. Choreography by Hofesh Shechter.

Dance
The most interesting guy out there, an Israeli-born dance maker who came out of Ohad Naharin’s shop at Batsheva Dance Company. His “Violet Kid” took Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet to another level. Read my review in the Los Angeles Times.

“Fly out!” cried Miriam Rochlin. The L.A. dancer/dance teacher has died. 6

Dance
Miriam Rochlin was born in Bonn in 1920 and she died last week in Los Angeles, a huge lifetime later. I knew Miriam only slightly, but knowing her at all was a great privilege. Choreographer Karen Goodman, pictured below chatting with her, knew the incandescent dancer well. The film, “Come Let Us Dance,” directed by ...

Get ready for Hofesh Shechter’s “Violet Kid” @ UCLA Live

Dance
I’m a movement junkie. I like to watch the body in motion and I respond well to a lot of form and structure. I also like work that goes to the dark side. That’s why I’m so attracted to the choreography of the Israeli-born London-based Hofesh Shechter. His “Violet Kid” will be danced by Cedar ...