Paula Abdul honored at Choreographer’s Carnival
Feb
7
2013
Super delighted to learn the wonderful news that Paula Abdul, a career-long dancer/singer/choreographer, received a whole lotta love as well as an award at the annual Choreographer’s Carnival last week. In tribute to Paula, her dance video “Cold Hearted Snake” was recreated step by step (and you thought the Joffrey Ballet restaging of “The Rite ...
Creative team behind Music Center triumph: Joffrey Ballet in Nijinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” 1
Feb
5
2013
Lorin Johnson, Artistic Advisor for LA’s Rite; Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director for The Joffrey Ballet; Renae Williams Niles, Programming Director for The Music Center; Thor Steingraber, Vice President of Programming for The Music Center; Stephen Rountree, President & CEO for The Music Center; Millicent Hodson, Dance Historian; Kenneth Archer, Dance Historian. * * * Read my ...
John Cusack, ballet fan 1
It was not possible to miss actor John Cusack hanging out in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion lobby during intermission at the Joffrey Ballet last night. He’s quite tall, his broad face is totally open and familiar, and his coloring is vivid: jet black hair against pale white skin. He’s striking and artistic looking. I chatted ...
Review: The Joffrey Ballet’s “The Rite of Spring” at the Music Center 5
We did not hoot, we did not holler, but we let rip with a bracing “bravo!” for Vaslav Nijinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” (Le Sacre du Printemps) at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Friday night. First, because the Joffrey Ballet’s 100th anniversary reconstruction of the historic Ballets Russes production was great. But mainly because … to ...
Strong women of early L.A. dance highlighted in Dorothy Chandler Pavilion exhibition 9
It is so thrilling to have a visual arts exhibition accompanying our Joffrey Ballet performances this weekend. Installed at one end of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion’s glittering mezzanine level, the display feels like an historical moment for L.A dance. Modest in appearance but profound in impact, the exhibit gathers photographs of innovative dance that poured ...
Doug Varone & Dancers flash fun, finesse in O.C.
All hail modern dance. Not “contemporary” dance, not “contemporary modern,” but old-school barefoot modern dance, a movement language spoken, traditionally, without the aid of shoes, that is, toes gripping the ground. A conversation, via a trained and fluid body, between music (sometimes text, sometimes silence), fellow dancers, and an audience. Doug Varone, veteran choreographer and artistic ...
Apply now! Seeking new artistic director, L.A. Dance Project 2
Jan
27
2013
arts·meme got an advanced copy of the application form for the newly opened position at L.A. Dance Project. This time ’round, they’re getting it right; they are going local! APPLICATION Job Title: Artistic Director, Los Angeles Dance Project Instructions: Fill up the form #1 Fine Dining: Name three best soft-taco stands in L.A. #2 Time ...
CDA President Jane Jelenko comments on Millepied’s move to Paris 1
Jan
25
2013
We had a nice phone chat with Jane Jelenko, President of Center Dance Arts and a major backer of L.A. Dance Project, a young dance company still in its first season with upcoming performances, through the end of May, in Europe. Caught in between screenings at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Jane addressed ...
Merce lives
Jan
23
2013
It’s exciting to see the Merce Cunningham Trust kick into high gear, deploying, under strict license and supervision, the master’s iconoclastic choreography onto dance troupes around the world (Cunningham died in 2009). Over the years, it’s been controversial whether dancers without specific training in Cunningham’s rigorous technique can properly execute his choreography. Clearly, based upon ...
Catherine Turocy goes for barocco
Jan
21
2013
Such a joy to meet Catherine Turocy, an awesome arts professional and a Baroque and Renaissance dance expert. She’s shown here dancing the Passacaille d’Armide. We took a saucy dance class with Catherine as part of her recent week-long residency in southern California. Normally based in Dallas (though she’s artistic director of The New York ...