Category Archives: Reviews

SYTYCan…Criticize?

August 6th, 2010 | Posted in Education, Reviews, Skill, Sport, Technique, Television, choreography, culture, dance, history, video, website

AdeChicke Torbert - solo

I had to refrain from blogging about SYTYCD season 7, which turned out to be quite a bore with a few exceptions. Let’s begin with the audition elimination. When judges failed to choose two superb male dancers that auditioned in NY, the injured Anthony Burrell and D.J. Smart (who later featured his amazing audition choreography in episode 21), I asked myself “o.k. now where is this program going?” Anthony, D.J and slated season 7 winner Alex Wong, would have offered a highly polished performance quality, perhaps as an unfair advantage to the other contestants. But why was the later injured and  eliminated Alex chosen over the other two? Was this a deliberate casting angle?

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Passing the Torch: The Boys of Bharata Natyam/The New Generation of Rangoli

August 1st, 2010 | Posted in Education, Everything Else, Reviews, Skill, Spirituality, Sport, Technique, calendar, choreography, culture, dance, history, video, website

Chirag and Dhruv of Rangoli Dance Company

August will see a roster of Arangetrams* presented by Artistic Director Malathi Iyengar from the Rangoli Dance Company (*the debut performance of a Classical Dancer, the time when a disciple proves talents and knowledge taken from their Guru)  article by Prem Kishore of IndiaPost – California

These live performances of Bharata Natyam with mesmerizing , intricate rhythms, unique narrative, and  powerful movements,  always engage, enrich and  showcase  the best traditions of Indian classical dance Iyengar is a cherished  and innovative choreographer, dancer/artist of our times and it is with an exhilarating anticipation that one looks forward to the debut of her amazingly  versatile,  gifted  young dancers. 

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National Day of Dance: Saturday July 31st

July 28th, 2010 | Posted in Education, Reviews, Skill, Spirituality, Sport, Technique, Television, calendar, culture, dance, history, video, website

Artscape Baltimore

Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe of So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD), started a grassroots initiative declaring July 31st as National Dance Day. Encouraging individuals, communities and organizations to dance! This initiative has reached the interests of the politician Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes introducing a resolution to promote dance education as well as physical fitness.
The idea is to get individuals off the sofa and into a lifestyle of physical activity. SYTYCD is encouraging national dance parties to be filmed and submitted to the network (Click here to upload your video)

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Dance Brazil: Joyce Theater NYC March 23 to April 4th

March 14th, 2010 | Posted in Africa, Afro-Brazilian, Brazilian, Education, Latin, Reviews, Samba, Skill, Spirituality, Sport, Technique, calendar, choreography, culture, dance, history, video, website

The Company
In 1977 DanceBrazil was founded by Jelon Vieira after evolving from grass-roots workshops at the Clark Center for the Arts in NYC. Alvin Ailey joined the board of directors in 1980 and helped focus the objectives of DanceBrazil, emphasizing the company’s ability to speak to a broad North American community. Within a few years, DanceBrazil premiered at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. In 1985, DanceBrazil premiered Orfeo Negro at the Riverside Dance Festival to critical and popular acclaim.

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CARMEN & GEOFFREY: LIVING LEGENDS

April 15th, 2009 | Posted in Caribbean, Education, Jazz, Reviews, Technique, black history, choreography, culture, dance

carmengeoffrey11
I have had the greatest pleasure in viewing the limited release documentary “Carmen and Geoffrey”, the living legacy of Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder. The couple, a pair of extraordinary and exceptional talents of the 1950’s, play a vital part in the Black Dance Vernacular and Broadway Theater.

Director Linda Atkinson, through archival film footage of their illustrious careers, and filming over a three year time span, chronicles the life and times of this dynamic duo as they live life, love, reminisce and dance. Sustained by a 47 year long marriage and creative partnership, this film allows the viewer to look back with Carmen and Geoffrey as they reflect on a journey of two confident humble individuals and their invaluable contributions to black history through the arts.

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She’s back…again…with a vengeance!

October 27th, 2008 | Posted in Reviews, Television, black history, choreography, culture, dance, video
 
Beyonce "Single Ladies(Put a Ring on it!)
Beyonce
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BLACK TO THE FUTURE…..DC’S OWN “HAND DANCING”

October 5th, 2008 | Posted in Education, Reviews, Technique, Television, black history, culture, dance

 

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Cidade dos Homens – The Series

September 22nd, 2008 | Posted in Brazilian, Education, Reviews, Television, culture

 

 

 Acerola and Laranjinho

This past weekend I viewed the entire 19 episodes of the Brazilian Television series “Cidade dos Homens” (City of Men). I was first introduced to this story through the American released film “Cidade de Deus” (City of God), which, is a loose depiction of the television series.   

The story of two childhood friends Acerola and Laranjinho named Cherry and Little Orange played by Douglas Silva and Darlan Cunha telling tales of friendship and family on the gritty streets of Rio de Janiero. Growing up in a culture dictated by violence and run by street gangs, these friends develop in the 19 episodes, into young adults questioning their role as men and the challenges they face having grown up without a father.

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