Hometown Heroes Martha Graham and Kyle Abraham’s Troupes Highlight Pittsburgh Dance Council’s 55th Season [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato Celebrating its 55th season, the Pittsburgh Dance Council Series this year features notable classical and contemporary dance companies from the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, including A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham, and the nation’s oldest dance company, the Martha Graham Dance Company. In selecting the dance companies that comprise this 55th season, presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust at the Byham … Continue reading Hometown Heroes Martha Graham and Kyle Abraham’s Troupes Highlight Pittsburgh Dance Council’s 55th Season [PREVIEW]

Seattle’s Whim W’him’s Virtual 11th Season Led Off With A Pair Of Brilliant Dance Films [REVIEW-Arts Air]

Reviewed by Steve Sucato Seattle contemporary dance company Whim W’him entered its 11th season under the COVID-19 pandemic with the plan to move all their performance online. The experimental season featuring original dance films by some of the world’s most in-demand contemporary dance choreographers kicked off August 13 with the virtual production XALT. Originally planned for live performance, June 2020 at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle … Continue reading Seattle’s Whim W’him’s Virtual 11th Season Led Off With A Pair Of Brilliant Dance Films [REVIEW-Arts Air]

DANCECleveland’s Virtual Dance Festival a Soul-Nourishing Stand-In for Live Dance

Reviewed by Steve Sucato Another outcome of the global pandemic, DANCECleveland’s Dance On! Virtual Dance Festival 2020 that began Saturday, July 25 and ran for a week, replaced its planned annual in-person American Dance Festival in Cleveland (ADF in CLE). The online event treated virtual audiences to four exclusive pre-recorded dance performance videos along with virtual artist chats and a variety of differently styled dance … Continue reading DANCECleveland’s Virtual Dance Festival a Soul-Nourishing Stand-In for Live Dance

The Debut of Canada’s RUBBERBANDance Group Brings with it a Unique Blend of Hip Hop and Contemporary Dance Styles

“It’s a look back on things that are still relevant to me and a chance for me to re-appropriate my own works that I have made for other companies,” said Quijada on the phone from Montreal. Continue reading The Debut of Canada’s RUBBERBANDance Group Brings with it a Unique Blend of Hip Hop and Contemporary Dance Styles

Another strong outing for Point Park’s ‘Contemporary Choreographers’ showcase

Reviewed by Steve Sucato One thing I have learned over a decade of reviewing Point Park University‘s Conservatory Dance Company’s shows is that they rarely contain a dull moment. The 2013 version of CDC’s annual Contemporary Choreographers program, this past Saturday, was no different. Fate brought former Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre soloist Terence Marling back to Pittsburgh — or at least the subject did. Of his new work … Continue reading Another strong outing for Point Park’s ‘Contemporary Choreographers’ showcase

Pittsburgh’s acclaimed newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival Biggest Yet

By Steve Sucato When Kelly-Strayhorn Theater Executive Director Janera Solomon was putting together the theater’s inaugural newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival, in 2009, few dance artists outside of Pittsburgh had heard of the theater. Now, in its fifth year, the annual festival and the theater are becoming known nationally. That led to a record 40 emerging-choreographer applicants from around the country seeking to take part. “This … Continue reading Pittsburgh’s acclaimed newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival Biggest Yet

World Premiere of ‘Mash Up Body’ takes a sampling approach to dance

By Steve Sucato For her latest dance work, Mash Up Body, Philadelphia-based choreographer Kate Watson-Wallace took a page from the contemporary-music playbook. Watson-Wallace worked with the processes of sampling, remixing and layering ideas and materials to create a 45-minute multimedia performance installation. Her troupe, anonymous bodies, will premiere the show April 5 and 6 at the Alloy Studios. “It’s a meditation on identity and presentation,” says … Continue reading World Premiere of ‘Mash Up Body’ takes a sampling approach to dance