Tag: Dance

Airings, Dance Reviews 2012, Dance Reviews 2013

AIRINGS: Mini Reviews of Conservatory Dance Company’s ‘The Jazz Nutcracker’, ‘A Son is Given: An Urban Ballet’ and Columbus Dance Theatre’s ‘Cleopatra’

By Steve Sucato Conservatory Dance Company – The Jazz Nutcracker Pittsburgh Playhouse Pittsburgh, PA December 9, 2012 Perhaps no ballet in history has seen more different incarnations than The Nutcracker. From traditional productions after Marius Petipa’s 1892 original to those far from traditional like Maurice Bejart’s pseudo-sexual 2000 production and Mark Morris’ The Hard Nut and everywhere in between, each holiday season brings with it … Continue reading AIRINGS: Mini Reviews of Conservatory Dance Company’s ‘The Jazz Nutcracker’, ‘A Son is Given: An Urban Ballet’ and Columbus Dance Theatre’s ‘Cleopatra’

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Culture Clash

By Steve Sucato Was modern-dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis a racist? St. Denis (1880–1968) introduced Eastern culture into Western dance. For her famous “Oriental” dances of the early 1900s, she donned makeup to change the color of her skin a la Al Jolson, and costumed herself based on museum photographs. In his latest dance work, Ruth Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Santa Monica-based dancer/choreographer Lionel Popkin uses St. Denis’ … Continue reading Culture Clash

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Amazing Grace

By Steve Sucato In the tough neighborhood where Black Grace artistic director/choreographer Neil Ieremia grew up, dancing didn’t figure into everyday life. The son of Samoan parents living in New Zealand, Ieremia says he was exposed to traditional Polynesian singing and dancing at social functions (weddings, funerals) and through school and church youth groups. But it wasn’t until he began seeing music videos from America … Continue reading Amazing Grace

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