Nationally rising talent Alan Obuzor debuts a new dance work

By Steve Sucato Ever since Alan Obuzor was young, his mother, Marjorie Liese, encouraged her children to try different things. Having enrolled Alan and his three sisters in gymnastics at Gymkhana, in Point Breeze, Liese had them also try dance classes at a studio in the same building. The move would change Obuzor’s life. “After my first ballet class, I told my mother I wanted … Continue reading Nationally rising talent Alan Obuzor debuts a new dance work

Pittsburgh Dance Council brings troupe from shantytown to Downtown

By Steve Sucato Perhaps there is no better illustration of dance’s ability to cross socioeconomic lines than the two works on Compagnie Käfig’s current 14-city U.S. tour. Based in Lyon, France, the troupe for this tour features an all-male cast of 11 street dancers from the Rio de Janeiro shanty towns known as favelas. They perform as part of Pittsburgh Dance Council’s new season on Feb. 1, at Downtown’s … Continue reading Pittsburgh Dance Council brings troupe from shantytown to Downtown

Asase Yaa African-American Dance Theatre to tell uplifting story in ‘Drum Love’

By Steve Sucato Song, music, dance and the richness of the African diaspora come together in Asase Yaa African-American Dance Theatre‘s ballet of Drum Love, presented by Kente Arts Alliance, at the North Side’s New Hazlett Theater. With Drum Love, the Brooklyn-based troupe will make its Pittsburgh debut, having performed around the world including in Japan, Korea, France, Iceland, Ghana, Guinea and the Netherlands. Asase Yaa has also appeared at … Continue reading Asase Yaa African-American Dance Theatre to tell uplifting story in ‘Drum Love’