
New York Live Arts
December 8 – 9
Now in its 53rd year, the legendary “Fresh Tracks” performance and residency program continues its commitment to bringing new voices to the forefront with Nora Alami in maktoub, Brendan Drake in The Big Finish, Lisa Fagan in Pencil, Alethea Pace in trying to sweep back the ocean with a broom, and Jessie Young in Descend Sky. “Through Fresh Tracks, New York Live Arts provides a singular opportunity for new artistic voices to gain professional development, experience and recognition,” notes the release. Find out more here
Keely Garfield
The Chocolate Factory
November 29 – December 9
In Perfect Piranha Garfield “…moves in circles through ineffable strands of shady movement to fully-articulated declarative dancing. It emerges as an uninterrupted flow of continuous movement, veering between a whisper and a roar,” according to the release. Find out more here
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
New York City Center
November 29 – December 31
For their annual five-week season, included on the programs are world premieres Victoria by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, and Members Don’t Get Weary by Ailey dancer Jamar Roberts, plus new productions by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (Shelter - 1992), Twyla Tharp (The Golden Section - 1983) and Talley Beatty (Stack Up - 1983). The Opening Night Gala Benefit performance with host Janelle Monáe will feature a variety of one-night-only performances plus Revelations with live musicians and singers. Other season highlights include the Family Matinee Series which runs every Saturday afternoon, plus the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve performances. The artistic director is Robert Battle. Find out more here
DoublePlus – Various Artists
Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center
November 30 - December 16
The specially curated, three-week long split-bill, DoublePlus series continues with Dr. Mique’s Dangeli & Mike Dangeli - Maria Hupfield – curated by Emily Johnson (December 7 – 9); and Wesley Chavis + Cori Olinghouse – curated by Dean Moss (December 14 – 16). Find out more here
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
Various Venues
December 3 – 9
For their eighth annual Flamenco in the Boros tour, titled Navidad Flamenca, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana offers a series of free performances in neighborhoods across New York City. “…Navidad Flamenca draws inspiration from the rich holiday customs of the Spanish-speaking world from Argentina and Mexico to Colombia, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Through music, carols, and dance, this lively program highlights holiday traditions and reflects the influences of Hispanic culture throughout the Americas,” according to the release. Find out more here
Jaamil Olawale Kosoko
Abrons Arts Center
December 6 – 9
With writings by Kosoko, Audre Lorde, and Ruby Sales, Kosoko brings the world premiere of Séancers, a new dance-based performance featuring performances by Kosoko, performance artist IMMA and a live sound score by Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste. “Setting the fugitive experience afforded Black people on fire with majesty, opulence, and agency, Séancers combines lyrical poetry and psychic movement forms to investigate concepts of loss, resurrection, and paranormal activity,” according to the release. Find out more here
Chen Dance Center’s newsteps – Various Artists
Chen Dance Center
December 7 – 9
For its semi-annual emerging choreographer’s series featuring artists as they develop “…innovative and risk-taking works through space and production grants,” this year’s lineup includes: Jenny Boissiere, Keith Comley, Nikki Theroux, Shannon Yu, Esme Boyce, and Alexandra Lockhart, Chelsea Hecht & Emily McDaniel. Find out more here
VISIONS Contemporary Ballet
Dixon Place
December 7
Ranardo-Domeico Grays, founder/artistic director and choreographer of VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, is a three-year brain cancer survivor who brings his journey to the stage with the premiere of Through the Valley, plus other works in an evening titled “Healing Works.” The Company celebrates their 10-year anniversary. Find out more here
Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup
TheaterLab
December 7 – 10
In the new work A My Name Is… Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup explores “…memory and forgetting inspired by the choreographer’s personal encounter with a family member’s dementia,” according to the release. Find out more here
George Emilio Sanchez
Abrons Arts Center
December 8 – 9
For Sanchez’s Bang, Bang, Gun Amok, a 24-hour “performance filibuster” dedicated to U.S. gun culture, he promises to “…create a space for a community of creators to educate and express how the issue of gun violence in the United States is rooted in a history of institutionalized violence,” notes the release. Approximately 50 artist will join Sanchez including musician Vernon Reid (Living Colour); poet and performance artist Pamela Sneed; representatives of Save Out Streets (S.O.S.), Gays Against Guns, and Gangstas Making Astronomical Community Changes; scholar and writer Alex Vitale (The End of Policing); journalist Jimmie Briggs; singer Nicky Paraiso; writer Eva Yaa Asantewaa; and performance artist Jennifer Miller; along with dance artists luciana achugar, Maura Donohue, Jaamil Olawale Kosoko, Paz Tanjuaquio, David Thomson, Charmaine Warren and Edisa Weeks, and more. Find out more here
The Construction Company
University Settlement
December 8 – 9
The Construction Company will present dances by choreographers Kenneth King and Sally Silvers, and a new video performance work by videographer Andrew Gurian. The evening is dedicated to the memory of choreographer Marjorie Gamso, who performed on many programs presented by the Construction Company beginning in the late 1970s and who died on December 9, 2011. There will be a performance of excerpts from Gamso’s 2011 work After You, performed by dancer Linda Seifert. Find out more here
Dig Dance – Various Artists
92nd Street Y
December 8 – 10
Curated by John-Mario Sevilla and Hālāwai, an organization dedicated to promoting the cultural values and future of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, the evening will showcase performing artists and culture bearers, including Pele Bauch, Kung-Yan Lin , Laura Margulies, Christopher K. Morgan, Kumu Hula Elsie Kaleihulukea Ryder, Kensaku Shinohara, Paz Tanjuaquio and Te Ao Mana. Find out more here
Sundays on Broadway – Various Artists
Cathy Weis Projects/WeisAcres
December 10
Sundays on Broadway, a free and intimate, ongoing series featuring performances, film screenings and discussions, presented by the Cathy Weis Projects at WeisAcres, continues in a “Shared evening: Paul Singh, Juliette Mapp, Diane Madden, Ami Yamasaki.” Find out more here