Author: artsair

International arts writer/critic for newspapers, magazines and websites.
Airings

Joffrey Ballet’s ‘The Rite of Spring’: Conductor Tito Muñoz talks Stravinsky, Ballet and The Cleveland Orchestra

By Steve Sucato Mention the word “riot” and images of political and social upheaval come to mind, not a ballet. But that is by many accounts what happened on May 29, 1913 in Paris when Sergei Diaghilev‘s Ballets Russes premiered Vaslav Nijinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) with music by Igor Stravinsky. The extent of the Paris audience’s displeasure over Nijinsky’s pagan sacrificial … Continue reading Joffrey Ballet’s ‘The Rite of Spring’: Conductor Tito Muñoz talks Stravinsky, Ballet and The Cleveland Orchestra

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Pittsburgh City Paper

New York-based Pittsburgh-favorite choreographer Sidra Bell reveals her latest work-in-progress

By Steve Sucato Pittsburgh’s dance community over the past several years has had a love affair with New York-based choreographers. Artists such as Nora Chipaumire, Camille A. Brown and local transplant Kyle Abraham have all established an ongoing presence here through works that have engaged and delighted local audiences and presenters. Another New Yorker whose works have frequented local stages is Sidra Bell. Bell and … Continue reading New York-based Pittsburgh-favorite choreographer Sidra Bell reveals her latest work-in-progress

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Texture Contemporary Ballet stays in Perpetual Motion

By Steve Sucato The title of Texture Contemporary Ballet’s latest program, Perpetual Motion, also aptly describes the company itself. Led by directors Alan Obuzor and Kelsey Bartman, Texture has seemingly been moving nonstop since its founding two summers ago. The troupe, named one of Dance Magazine‘s “25 to Watch” in 2013, has taught workshops and performed frequently throughout the area, most recently at last month’s PrideFest. … Continue reading Texture Contemporary Ballet stays in Perpetual Motion

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Press Releases

Fotosjcm Announces Innovative Ballet Photography Book ‘Esprit de Corps’

Photographer and former dancer Jesús Chapa-Malacara, head of art production company fotosjcm, announces the launch of Esprit de Corps, an innovative book of ballet photography unlike any seen before.  The high-end art book, currently being independently financed and offered exclusively through a Kickstarter campaign, will feature world-class dancers from several top ballet companies, including American Ballet Theatre’s Jared Matthews and Yuriko Kajiya, Dance Theatre of Harlem‘s Michaela DePrince … Continue reading Fotosjcm Announces Innovative Ballet Photography Book ‘Esprit de Corps’

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Dance Reviews 2013, The Buffalo News

North Carolina Dance Theatre delights at Chautauqua

By Steve Sucato News Contributing Reviewer For the first of its two performances with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, the North Carolina Dance Theatre, in residence at the Chautauqua Institution, presented a stylistically and musically diverse program featuring three works including the world premiere of choreographer Sasha Janes’ “Loss.” The program, Tuesday night in the Institution’s Amphitheater, began with a reprise of choreographer Mark Diamond’s “Appalachian Suite” that premiered … Continue reading North Carolina Dance Theatre delights at Chautauqua

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Pittsburgh City Paper

With its ‘The Green Swan’, the Pillow Project digs deeper into improv

By Steve Sucato For nearly a decade, Pearlann Porter’ s Pillow Project has been on the leading edge of dance in Pittsburgh. Founded by Porter in 2004, the company created an instant buzz, bolstered by large-scale rock ‘ n’ roll dance extravaganzas like 2005′ s Concept Album Tour, at Shadyside‘ s Hunt Armory. Then, the company transformed itself by producing intimate cutting-edge multimedia works such as … Continue reading With its ‘The Green Swan’, the Pillow Project digs deeper into improv

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Dance Reviews 2013

Kudelka’s ‘The Rite of Spring’ Lustful Mayhem

BalletMet Columbus – The Rite of Spring Ohio Theatre – Columbus, OH March 23, 2013 Reviewed by Steve Sucato It must have felt like deja vu for James Kudelka. The former artistic director and chief choreographer of the National Ballet of Canada hadn’t worn both those hats together since 2005. This season he did that again but to a lesser extent for BalletMet Columbus, where … Continue reading Kudelka’s ‘The Rite of Spring’ Lustful Mayhem

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Many of the Pittsburgh’s best dancers and dance troupes put on a PrideFest showcase

By Steve Sucato A highlight of Pittsburgh’s annual PrideFest celebration is its dance showcase, curated each year by local dance aficionado Richard Parsakian. The showcase offers an eclectic mix of local professional dance talent, from ballet to belly dance. This year’s showcase, part of PrideFest’s free June 16 street fair on Liberty Avenue, Downtown, highlights seven troupes on two stages (at Sixth Street and 10th Street). One … Continue reading Many of the Pittsburgh’s best dancers and dance troupes put on a PrideFest showcase

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Dance Reviews 2013

Corning Masterful in New One-Woman Show about Loss

CorningWorks: The Glue Factory Project – Remains New Hazlett Theater Pittsburgh, PA June 5, 2013 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Choreographers as much or perhaps more than any other artists turn to their personal lives for inspiration in creating their works. Veteran dancer/choreographer Beth Corning in her last several productions for her Glue Factory Project – a performance series featuring dancers over the age of forty … Continue reading Corning Masterful in New One-Woman Show about Loss

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CriticalDance.org

Radacovsky’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ a triumph for Grand Rapids Ballet Company

Reviewed by Steve Sucato Re-envisioning Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet must be a little like trying to re-envision the act of breathing. The story is so ingrained in popular culture that any retelling automatically carries with it the burden of knowing expectation. Despite this, seemingly every dance season another choreographer adds their dance interpretation to the bountiful “Romeo & Juliet’s” already out there. Choreographer Mario Radacovsky took a contemporary … Continue reading Radacovsky’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ a triumph for Grand Rapids Ballet Company

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