 On Wednesday, February 17, 2016, CHULO Underwear presents "A Celebration of Culture and Community," a Fashion Showcase for Charity at The Out Hotel, 510 West 42nd Street near Ninth Ave in Midtown/Hells Kitchen NYC.
For this Charity Fashion Showcase, three designers of color will be featured: Elsie Deliz-Fonseca, the creator of Eliz-Eliz Jewelry Designs; Evetta Petty the founder of Harlem's Heaven Hats; and Ricardo Muniz, the educator and artist behind CHULO Underwear. Proceeds raised will be shared between the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, UPROSE Brooklyn (a youth climate justice program), Tropical Images' Get Kids Off The Street Project (a free youth dance program), and El Maestro, Inc (a free boxing program and cultural center in the South Bronx). The night's festivities include fashion, music, dance, art, and spoken word. Performers include writer Charles Rice-Gonzalez, the Tropical Image Dancers, singer Frankie Allday, and more! Jonathan Gonzalez is a performer and maker of sound, text, and performance as ephemera for live and recorded purposes. He is a 2015-16 BAX/Dancing While Black Fellow producing his solo the proto series, New York Live Arts 2015-16 Fresh Tracks Artist with long standing collaborator and improvisational partner EmmaGrace Skove-Epes (new work to be presented February 5 and 6, 2016. www.newyorklivearts.org.), and choreographer with The Possibility Project. His work has been shown at venues including JACK, BAAD!, Socrates Sculpture Park, and Wimbledon College of Art. He has had the pleasure to work with Patricia Hoffbauer, Gwen Welliver, Will Rawls, Urban Bush Women, and Jaamil Olawale Kosoko. He is an MFA graduate from Sarah Lawrence College. Our guest speaker is acclaimed and internationally lauded climate justice activist, Elizabeth Yeampierre, featured recently in the December 2015 issue of Vogue. Our VIP reception is from 7:15 pm to 8:00 pm. General seating begins at 8:00 pm with opening remarks at 8:15 pm .The night's festivities begin at 8:15 pm and run to approximately 10:00 pm TICKETS Cash bar, buffet-style appetizers, drink specials, and raffles with prizes will be available. And, the designers will have their own mini pop-up shops available for customers, too. Remember. Be proud. Be loud. Be you. Be a CHULO. Help us help our own community at this charity fashion showcase. CHULO is a new a line of clothing and gear that is culturally-relevant to today's marginalized youth of color. Our mission as a company is to inspire young people to invest in a brand that invests in them. Each time a young person buys, sells or works for the brand, s/he is having a direct and immediate impact on his/her own community becauseproceeds are reinvested back into a local CBO, community center, scholarship program or charity that services those very same youth. For more information on the brand or how to get involved with the CBOs with which CHULO works OR to make a purchase or your own direct donation, please visit www.CHULOunderwear.nyc.  Photo by José Carlos Teixeira of Claudia La Rocco writing her poem 173-177 [or: Facebook Is Inescapable], a site-specific wall text for Teixeira's Translation(s) at Headlands Center for the Arts. FROM DANSPACE:- As part of Danspace Project's PLATFORM 2016: A Body in Places curated by Judy Hussie-Taylor and Lydia Bell (February 17-March 23) Hussie-Taylor has invited artist Paul Chan and writer Claudia La Rocco to respond to Eiko Otake's series entitled A Body in Places series on Tuesday, February 23, 2016.
Each Tuesday evening throughout the PLATFORM, Eiko will install images, objects, and videos related to her solo project in the sanctuary at St. Mark's Church, home of Danspace Project. The installation will change, accumulate, and evolve weekly with lighting created in collaboration with Kathy Kaufmann. For the first Tuesday event on February 23, Hussie-Taylor has invited Chan and La Rocco to respond to three of Eiko's artistic concerns: 1) the relationship of a body to a place; 2) artist as wanderer; 3) how we bear witness to change. Chan's and La Rocco's artistic responses will be presented at Danspace Project inside St. Mark's Church alongside Eiko's Church Installation. "Eiko did not, until recently, know Paul Chan or Claudia La Rocco," explains Hussie-Taylor. "It's a bit idiosyncratic but I thought they shared some common ground. They are all productively critical while at the same time quietly hopeful, sometimes even romantic, in their sensibilities. They are not making work collaboratively but rather are creating autonomous works which will jostle more than congeal." Chan and La Rocco will create new work specifically for the event. La Rocco writes, "My words and Paul's sculptures weren't made together, or even formally introduced. Maybe we could say they are on a blind date, set up by two friends who have a deep fondness for and interest in each other, and a hunch about certain combustible possibilities around one-night stands-especially those that take place in the house of God. Or, rather, I am saying this; Paul probably will disagree." Chan writes, "I'm honored to disagree with Claudia in form and in spirit, and for the thrill of responding to Eiko's work and legacy." Since returning from Hong Kong and Chile, Eiko has been in conversation with Chan and La Rocco. "Perhaps," says Hussie-Taylor, "this is now a three-way 'blind date' on February 23!" On Tuesday, March 1 Simone White of The Poetry Project has curated an evening of poetry with Eiko. On Tuesday, March 8 Lydia Bell and guest curator Shin Otake have invited rapper, R&B singer, and painter DonChristian to respond in words and music to Eiko's work. Jones' performance will be followed by a conversation with Jones, Eiko, Shin Otake, with Bell moderating, about the role of performance in addressing violence, anger, and identity. The Chuck Davis Emerging Choreographer Fellowship supports travel to Africa or its diaspora to study dance; inaugural recipient to be announced at this year’s DanceAfrica celebration, May 27—30
BAM announces call for applications for the Chuck Davis Emerging Choreographer Fellowship, established with support of the SHS Foundation. The fellowship, which was first announced last year, honors Charles “Chuck” Davis’ contribution to DanceAfrica, the annual festival that he founded in 1977 and for which served as artistic director until 2015. The fellowship offers up to $9,000 for emerging choreographers to travel to Africa or its diaspora and study with experts in the field of African dance. The first recipient will be announced during this year’s DanceAfrica festival, taking place over Memorial Day weekend. The Chuck Davis Emerging Choreographer Fellowship is the first that BAM has created. Joseph V. Mellilo, BAM executive producer, says: “Chuck has devoted his artistic life to promoting African dance, first through his own company, then DanceAfrica, which started at BAM and has since expanded to many cities. Countless people have come to enjoy African dance as a result of his enthusiasm and energy. The fellowship will be a lasting tribute to his invaluable contribution to this field.” Davis, who remains artistic director emeritus of DanceAfrica, said, “I am heartened by the generosity of BAM and the SHS Foundation. This fellowship will provide an in-depth opportunity to young choreographers to learn African dance styles from where they originated and how they are still practiced. This will also afford a chance to foster vibrant cross-continental and cross-cultural conversations leading to deeper understanding of people and their relationship to each other. I strongly encourage all young choreographers to apply.” US citizens or permanent residents with specialized training and interest in the field are encouraged to apply. The deadline of this year’s applications is March 18. Please go to www.BAM.org/Davis for details. Twenty-four Collaborations Between Artists and Arts Organizations Receive Support for Projects
That Will Reach New Audiences and Increase Demand for Jazz, Dance and Theatre The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) today announced the 24 pairs of artists and arts organizations nationwide receiving a total of $2,430,000 in Implementation grants for projects that aim to drive public demand for jazz, theatre and/or contemporary dance. This funding is part of DDCF’s Building Demand for the Arts program, which launched in 2013 and supports partnerships focused on using the performing arts in unique ways to develop meaningful connections with targeted audiences. Implementation grants support organizations working with artists, during a 90-day residency over a period of three years, to implement previously crafted initiatives and projects that have strong potential to spark demand for the arts in their communities. Each grant also includes an extra $5,000 dedicated specifically to evaluation of the funded project. “We believe that strong, creative partnerships between artists and organizations have the potential to nurture a public that is deeply invested in and understanding of the way the performing arts enriches it,” said Cheryl Ikemiya, senior program officer for the Arts at DDCF. “We are delighted to support this outstanding cohort of grantees and are confident that they will act upon this shared belief and engage their communities in bold and unconventional ways.” The recipients of the 2016 Building Demand for the Arts Implementation grants are:
About the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation The mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) is to improve the quality of people's lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke's properties. The Arts Program of DDCF focuses its support on contemporary dance, jazz and theatre artists, and the organizations that nurture, present and produce them. For more information, please visit www.ddcf.org. In all his flamboyance, (wigs, unitards and dangerously high heels, light- up tutu and more), Raja Feather Kelly was a gracious host for an evening of wild and wonderful works by 14 artists (Jordan Isadore, Dante Brown, Effy Falck, Nicole Wolcott + Casey Bobbitt, Cameron McKinney / Kizuna Dance, Lisa Fagan DanceProblems, Cori Olinghouse, Gierre Godley, Larissa Velez-Jackson, the feath3r theory, Melissa Toogood, Messiah Mesihovic / Circuit Debris, BS Movement and Jadd Tank). Presented by Kelly and Brooklyn Dance Club at Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center, the evening was titled “Lyrical Dances For A Lost Generation.” Lights dim, a red carpet is rolled out and a “show-and- tell” with what lyrical dance is followed: Kelly gave words and Isadore responded with lyrical movements that matched the words. The audience roared. The evening was informal and each artists was as much a participant as they were cheering audience members. Introductions of each by Kelly were spur- of- the- moment fun (he would way, “selection #9969, selection #111, or #54P”) until the end. Though some works were a bit too long for this showcase of fun, Walcott + Bobbitt were lyrically lovely, Fagan’s DanceProblems was a cool twist on two bodies moving together, Toogood’s jazz hands and legs that fly to the show stopping Broadway number from La Cage aux Folles “I am what I am” was a nice surprise and Mesihovic’s Circuit Debris was solid. By far, Kelly’s company, the feath3r theory, in his funky and complimentary homage to pioneers in dance rocked the evening – only here would it be ok to hear Rihanna’s “Bitch Betta Have My Money” accompanying Paul Taylor’s choreography! Bring on the second annual!
 Commissioned Dance Performance inspired by
EYE ON DANCE educational video Screening/Dance Performance/Panel discussion NYU Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre/ 1 Washington Place NYU Gallatin Interdisciplinary Arts Program commissions a new dance inspired by EYE ON DANCE February 11 at 6:30pm “African American Footprints Leading to the Future” A screening, discussion, and performance In a novel twist, EYE ON DANCE (EOD), the television series that captured the stories of thousands of artists and was recently named an “Irreplaceable National Dance Treasure,” becomes the touchstone of new piece by choreographer Chafin Seymour. Program curators Celia Ipiotis and Julie Malnig designed the evening “African American Footprints Leading to the Future” to include the EOD screening, live dance performance and panel discussion. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the EOD episode (shot in 1981) features David Roussseve and Pat Hall Smith discussing an artist’s understanding of cultural and racial identity through family narratives and how the creative process re-routes lifelong confrontations with racism. Moderated by EYE ON DANCE creator and producer, Celia Ipiotis, the program is peppered with performance excerpts by Rousseve and Smith. NYU Gallatin Interdisciplinary Arts Program commissioned Chafin Seymour to create a new work inspired by the issues raised in the EYE ON DANCE episode. Founder of seymour//dancecollective, modern dancer Seymour mines material from music, literature, and pop culture. Panel: The evening will conclude with a panel discussion moderated by Celia Ipiotis featuring Chafin Seymour, David Roussève, and NYU professors Julie Malnig and Michael Dinwiddie. Date: February 11 at 6:30pm Location: The Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre for the Performing Arts theater, 1 Washington Place, NY 10003 Tickets: Free RSVP: Gallatin professor and playwright and cultural historian of African American life. Eye on Dance creator and producer professor of Choreography/Performance at UCLA’s World Arts and Culture Program Gallatin professor, dance historian, and editor of Ballroom, Boogie, Shimmy Sham, Shake: A Social and Popular Dance Reader  Alwin Nikolais Celebration Photo: Brent Herridge
Alwin Nikolais Celebration The Joyce Theater February 9-14 In memory of the late Murray Louis, and under the artistic direction of Alberto del Saz, the work of Alwin Nikolais will be presented at The Joyce for the first time since their 2010 worldwide centennial celebration. Included on the program are performances by The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company: Tensile Involvement (1955), Gallery (1978), Mechanical Organ III (1983), and Crucible (1985). “A true dance luminary, a choreographer, designer, composer of electronic music and a pioneer of multi-media dance” (The New York Times). Find out more here Various Artists Roulette February 8 – 12 Jennifer Lafferty returns to Roulette to curate their February [DANCEROULETTE] series, New Movement, which features 15 artists presenting experimental work in dance and choreography. Find out more here The Kathryn Posin Dance Company 92nd Street Y February 11-12 The Kathryn Posin Dance Company opens the 2016 "Harkness Dance Festival" with dancers from the New York City Ballet and other companies in revivals by Laurie Spiegel, Eliot Feld, Alvin Ailey, Jiri Kylian and Meredith Monk. Find out more here LMnO3’s (Deborah Lohse, Cori Marquis, and Donnell Oakley) Joe’s Pub February 12 – 13 DANCE NOW presents the premiere of LMnO3's first evening-length work, B.A.N.G.S.: made in america, “…a kaleidoscopic pageant of status, attention, categorization, and femininity," according to the release. Find out more here Girl Be Heard Here February 11-21 The company, Girl Be Heard “… which empowers young women to tell their stories,” brings their new theatre, dance work, Embodi(ED) to Here. The work “…deals with the American distorted perception of body images and the multi-billion dollar industry that profits from insecurities affecting both men and women,” notes the release. Find out more here Weekend of Tap American Tap Dance Foundation February 12 - 14 The new Library of Congress interactive archive by tap dance historian Constance Valis Hill will kick off a weekend of discussions, films, master classes, jams and concert performance in honor of the publication of this milestone collection. Find out more here Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company Queens Theatre February 13 – 14 The Company will present Body Against Body “…an intimate and focused collection of duet works drawn from the Company’s 30 year history,” notes the release. Find out more here The Love Show The Slipper Room February 14 GO F♥CK YOURSELF! is the Valentine's Day performance by The Love Show described as a “…rollicking, rocking evening of dance, circus, burlesque, magic & song, delving into all the heart's desires." Find out more here Various Artists Movement Research February 15 Don’t miss this free, ongoing, Monday night performance series of experimentation and works-in-progress. This week’s featured artists are: Evvie Allison, Antonio Ramos and the Gang Bangers, Katiana Rangel and João Paulo Nascimento and Vincent Yong. Find out more here Give Love Dance Jam with Christina Robson Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center February 15 This donation-based performance “…is a free dance party in partnership with The Playground, led by Christina Robson. Proceeds from the event will support Day One, our Community Action partner organization. Find out more here  Kyle Marshall Kyle Marshall - Named “Dance on the Lawn’s (DOTL) 2016 Emerging Commissioned New Jersey Choreographer"
DOTL's second recipient, Kyle Marshall will create a New Work for final presentation at "Dance on the Lawn (DOTL) 2016" Kyle will present a “work-in-progress” on Saturday, May 14, 2016 @ St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s Assembly Hall, and the final work during “Dance on the Lawn” 2016, Saturday, September 10, 2016 @ on the lawn of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. See more here DOTL Panelists: Randy James (10 Hairy Legs) Paul McRae (New Jersey Ballet) Donna Scro (Freespace Dance) Marlies Yearby (Director/choreographer) |
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AuthorI am a performer, historian, consultant and dance writer. I am a Empire State College's online program Center for Distance Learning. I am also a former faculty member at The Ailey School and the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University dance major program, Hunter College, Sarah Lawrence College (Guest), Kean University and The Joffrey Ballet School's Jazz and Contemporary Trainee Program. I write on dance for The Amsterdam News, Dance Magazine and various publications. Click below to read more about me at my home page - "About Me." |
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