State Ballet Theatre of Russia
NJPAC
December 4
In this one-afternoon-only full-scale production of Cinderella by the State Ballet Theatre of Russia, by Vladimir Vasiliev, former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Theater Ballet, see why critics have noted their "...unparalleled art of Russian ballet to countries throughout the world, and now tours the U.S. with 55 of Russia's finest dancers in Cinderella.  Find out more here
 
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT)
New York City Center
November 30 – December 31
Returning for their annual New York City Center five-week season, AAADT, under a rtistic director, Robert Battle and 32 dancers will offer over two dozen works including world premieres by Kyle Abraham (Untitled America), and Ailey dancer Hope Boykin (r-Evolution, Dream); a Company premiere by Johan Inger (Walking Mad - 2001), plus new productions by Billy Wilson (The Winter in Lisbon - 1992) and Ailey’s Masekela Langage (1969). The Opening Night Gala Benefit performance will feature Battle’s Ella – a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald preceding the 100th anniversary of her birth, a variety of one-night- only performances, plus Ailey’s signature Revelations with live musicians and singers. Other season highlights include the Family Matinee Series which runs every Saturday afternoon, plus the Christmas Eve, Christmas night and New Year’s Eve performances. Find out more here
 
Dylan rossman and Caleb Teicher & Company
Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center
December 1 – 3
As part of the ever-growing series, DoublePlus built by invited curators, Dylan Crossman Dans(c)e + Caleb Teicher & Company shares the split-bill evening.  The curator is David Parker.  Find out more here

Mystical Feet Company
14th Street Y
December 1 -18
LABA: Laboratory for Jewish Culture and present The Mar Vista, a dance/theater work described as “…a comical and heartbreaking…” written and choreographed by Yehuda Hyman in collaboration with the Mystical Feet Company.  Find out more here

Various Dance/Theatre Artists
The Theater at the 14th Street Y
December 2 –
Hanna and the Moonlit Dress, based on Izhak Scheiger-Dmi'el's book and adapted for the stage by Ronit Muszkatblit and Yoav Gal, comes to the Y as part of the Theater/Dance Series.  Find out more here
 
The Hip Hop Nutcracker with Kurtis Blow
United Palace of Cultural Arts
December 3
The contemporary version of the Tchaikovsky classic, The Hip Hop Nutcracker, makes a stop in Harlem before heading to NJPAC (12/17) Find out more here  
 
ZVIDance
BAM
November 30 – December 3
Israeli-born, NYC-based choreographer Zvi Gotheiner and his contemporary dance company ZviDance make their BAM debut in On The Road, a work inspired by Jack Kerouac’s iconic novel. Find out more here
 
Megan Sipe’s Chocolate Dances
Nuyorican Poets Café
December 4 - 11
The chocolate-making dance company led by choreographer and chocolatier, Sipe premieres Wild Women, “…based on the watercolor paintings of Sterling Witt….dancers paint the stage with character-driven movement…Throughout the performance handcrafted chocolate truffles are served,” notes the release. Find out more here
 
The Bang Group
The Yard
December 3
The Winter Yard kicks off their winter season with NUT/CRACKED, replete with “…sugar, spice, and gender-fluid mistletoe, renegade skaters, proto-punk Inuk throat-singers and the island’s home-grown dance stars…” choreographed by The Bang Group’s co-director David Parker, in collaboration with the company, according to the release. Find out more here
 
KineticArchitecture Dance Theatre
Dixon Place
December 2 - 17
The transgender performance artist, choreographer and storyteller Arrie Davidson begins the two-week run of the Dixon Place commissioned work, Wonder/Through the Looking Glass Houses which  “… skewers the tales of Lewis Carroll and creates a world of reflection and taboo transformation…” according to the release. Find out more here

PERFORMANCE I PORTRAIT 
a new project from a canary torsi

December 3 - 31
The Invisible Dog Art Center

OPENING RECEPTION - December 3 @ 6p-10p
​
LEAD COLLABORATORS
Yanira Castro/ Concept + Choreography
Kathy Couch/ Installation Artist
Stephan Moore/ Interaction Designer
Julie Wyman/ Filmmaker

PERFORMER COLLABORATORS
Anna Azrieli
Leslie Cuyjet
Peter Schmitz
David Thomson

​Find out more here

Raja Feather Kelly I the feath3r theory is a staple in DanceNow productions.  For the 2016 Dance-mopolitan weekend, November 4 – 5 at Joe’s Pub, the feath3r theory was joined by Chelsea Murphy and Magda San Milan, plus B.S. Movement: Saina Branfman and Bryan Strimpel. Not surprisingly, the evening had a theme, “National Intimacy Month,” and because of it, Kelly made sure everyone, on and off stage, was intimately involved.  Audience members had to take an “Intimacy Quiz,” and later, with Kelly, share their results before the show began.  The performers are mostly paired (couples), and everyone either talked about or showed their impression on intimacy.  Patrons at the intimate Joe’s Pub are always close to the action on stage.  There was really funny text from Murphy and Milan, powerful dancing from the rock stars of the evening Branfman and Strimpel, and in-between from Kelly and company came introspective words, daring challenges and a show-stopping text driven solo from Kelly himself.  The performers from the feath3r theory are Sara Gurevich, Amy Gernux, Beth Graczyk, Rachel Pritzlaff, Collin Ranf and Aaron Moses Robin.  

​Gina Gibney’s Folding In (November 2 – 12) at the Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, was made in collaboration with members of Gibney Dance Company/“Artistic Associates”: Nigel Campbell, Kassandra Cruz, Devin Oshiro, Brandon Welch and Associate Artistic Director & Company Manager, Amy Miller. There are  “…some personal firsts,” writes Gibney in the program: it’s her first work since 2013, her first collaboration with lighting designer (Asami Morita), with costume designer (Felicity Sargeant), and the first work for her new resident company, in the new space.  The dancers give their all.  The intention of the work, Gibney adds, was to serve as “…a meditation on the cycle of extension, resolution, and return.”  The dancer’s task, it seemed, was to take this idea to heart and as collaborators, physicalize these broodings.  They are lovely.  Their interlocking bodies against the wall, their emotional responses and repeating spatial designs in various groupings confirm that the movement building is a collaborative effort. And though Hildur Guðnadóttir’s compositions don’t really shift (it’s more like a long hum), they also used the music, maybe as indicators for whatever.  Gibney is a staple in the downtown dance scene. This performance celebrates her 25th anniversary.  

Some thoughts on Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company for AmNews

Imelda, Iveth & Irene
a new solo performance 
delving into an erotic dreamscape of 
delicious secrets
obsession 
and
the unraveling of a soul

this Saturday, November 19th @ 8pm
at BAAD! co-presented by Pepatián South Bronx as part of Open Call 2016

tickets

WestFest is a cutting edge curated festival presenting emerging and established movement artists in the historic Westbeth Artists’ Residence in the West Village.

​Applications are due January 5th for performances April 27-30.

You can find the application and more information here!

​BDF/Gibney Connect
​Tuesday, January 10 – Friday, January 13
10:00 am – 4:00 pm / 280 Broadway
Early-Bird Rate, before November 25: $175
After November 25: $240
Drop-ins for individual classes welcome
 
Gibney Dance is partnering with Bates Dance Festival for our third annual BDF/Gibney Connect! This amazing four day intensive will feature:

• Technique classes taught by Kendra Portier, member of David Dorfman Dance and founder of bandPortier
• Mid-day classes by Dante Brown, Amy Miller, Associate Artistic Director of Gibney Dance Company, Jennifer Nugent, and Jenna Riegel
• Composition and choreography class led by David Parker
• BDF accompanist Glen Fittin (for morning and midday classes)

Focused around inspired dancing and creative exchange, this intensive is designed for intermediate and advanced dancers and will include various seminars and discussions with these teachers and other professionals of the field.

The Merce Cunningham Trust (MCT), founded to preserve and extend the artistic legacy of the choreographer Merce Cunningham, is pleased to announce that Ken Tabachnick has been named its new Executive Director. Tabachnick, who has held executive and leadership positions at major New York educational and cultural institutions, including New York University and New York City Ballet, will oversee all operations of the Trust and will be instrumental in planning the Merce Cunningham Centenary celebrations, slated for 2018–2020.
 
Tabachnick comes to MCT with three decades of diverse and extensive leadership in the performing arts, including roles in higher education and non-profit management, as well as the provision of design, legal, and business services for some of the country’s major cultural organizations. Most recently, he was an independent consultant and a senior associate at AEA Consulting, working with such clients as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Film, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. He has served as Deputy Dean of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, as Dean of the School of the Arts at Purchase College, where he oversaw the Conservatories of Music, Dance, Theatre, and the School of Art+Design, and as General Manager of New York City Ballet. Tabachnick has also served on the board of directors of several arts organizations, including the Stephen Petronio Company and Dance/USA.
 
“We are delighted to welcome Ken Tabachnick, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in arts management and strategic planning to the role of Executive Director,” said Trevor Carlson, a trustee of MCT. “Ken’s long commitment to dance, as well as his broad financial and business acumen, will be invaluable as we plan the Trust’s future programs and activities.”
 
“I am thrilled to join the Merce Cunningham Trust in honoring the legacy of one of the most important and influential artists of our time,” said Tabachnick. “I look forward to working with the Trust in furthering its mission and goals, including organizing the Centenary celebration, and working with the trustees into the future.”
 
Tabachnick begins his role at MCT on November 28, 2016. He will succeed Lynn Wichern, who has served as Executive Director since 2012.