Maxwell Perkins Moves "f o r w a r d"

Dancer, choreographer, and all-around talent, Maxwell Perkins, has a new work showing tonight at the Tisch Theater at 111 Second Ave (5th Floor) at 8pm. His work is not to be missed! Aside from being a gorgeous dancer, Maxwell is wise beyond his years, professional, thoughtful, and I look forward to finally seeing his choreography. I'll be checking it out via live stream and I hope you will too: http://www.tischdanceandnewmedia.com/live "f o r w a r d" was inspired by Marcel Duchamp's painting, "Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2." and explores the many obstacles, choices, decisions, shifts, and pathways we take to move forward in life. The space (the stage) represents all of these transition and the process from moving from point A to point B. Everything we do is apart of how we move forward, even when we take "steps back" we are still moving forward. "f o r w a r d" is a collaboration with some gorgeous dancers and a fantastic young composer, Byron Wu. More on this rising star below... Maxwell Parr Perkins, born and raised in Chicago, is in his final year at NYU - Tisch School of the Arts pursuing a BFA in Dance and is a member of Second Avenue Dance Company. He has studied at Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in Austria. Maxwell has performed as a guest artist with MADboots/NY, Nodes Performing Arts Dance Company/NY, River North Chicago Dance Company/Chicago, Elements Contemporary Ballet Company/Chicago, and Dance For Life/Chicago 2011 and 2010. He has held apprenticeships with Sidra Bell Dance/NY and River North Dance Chicago. Maxwell is a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts – 2011.

INVISIBLE CITIES in the City of Angels

Angelinos, If you do nothing else in the next two weeks please make a point to see INVISIBLE CITIES, a dance-based operatic experience that will leave you feeling good, better, beautiful...like all is right with the world. This collaboration between LA Dance Project, The Industry, and Yuval Sharon (director) is a clever blend of old and new. Based in Union Station, the installation provides time and space for viewers to contemplate and appreciate the city of Los Angeles and, perhaps, dream about the past, present, and future states of their hometown. I don't want to spoil the fun, but here are a few images to pique your interest... More info and tickets here: Union Station, downtown L.A. When: 7 p.m. Saturday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. Oct. 24, 26, 29, 31, Nov. 5, 8. Cost: $45-$75; $25 only for 10 p.m. Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. Info: http://invisiblecitiesopera.com/tickets/ Also check out the LA TIMES piece if you are still with me: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-invisible-cities-union-station,0,1575439.story

William Forsythe - installations & film

Today is Forsythe day on the blog! I wanted to share two works from William Forsythe that I find beautiful and hope you will too. William Forsythe is a master of space and his choreography and designs always inspire me...I hope you enjoy and share with others. SCATTERED CROWD (Installation): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV70LwHQVw4 And his film with Thierry De Mey, ONE FLAT THING REPRODUCED: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cufauMezz_Q

Fall for Dance!

Your 2013-2014 dance card will be full after browsing this informative, delicious six page listing of upcoming shows and festivals in the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/arts/dance/new-dance-from-jetes-to-jookin.html?adxnnl=1&smid=fb-share&adxnnlx=1378671025-XniEzZcMlvMDj4ivxtehkQ I'll definitely be checking out the Fall for Dance Festival, BEAT Festival installations, and more. Support some dancing, Y'all!

Dance On Camera Festival - Submit Today!

Dance Filmmakers, Get your submissions in for the Dance On Camera Film Festival: http://www.dancefilms.org/. The deadline is Monday, September 16th. They accept shorts, features, docs and more. Last year I had the pleasure of attending some fantastic panels featuring Alma Har'el (Sigur Ros music video panel) and Celia Rowlson Hall (commercial dance). Alma Har'el: http://www.almaharel.com Celia Rowlson Hall: http://www.celiarowlsonhall.com Good luck!

Oh Land's Latest

If you haven't seen Oh Land's dance video, "Renaissance Girl," check it out:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/oh-land-celebrates-fun-in-renaissance-girls-premiere-20130806

It features a dream team of dancers, choreographers, and film crew members! Chihiro Shimizu and Catherine Kirk dance with high ponies and Phillip Lim dresses and the choreography is by The fabulous YoMoCo. Check out their site if you don't know their work: http://theyomoco.com.

Help this video get lots of hits and spread the dance love!

Follow up - Pilobolus Program B

I finally went to see Pilobolus' Program B at the Joyce last night. The dancers were as strong and engaged as ever; however, I stand by my thoughts on Program A...see A if you can.

Program B has exciting moments. The two pieces that stand out are "Skyscrapers", another delicious video collaboration with OK Go, and "Azimuth", a beautiful exploration of balance and geometric shapes in space. What didn't work for me were the penis/sex innuendos (that became a bit tired after a while) and the length of the first piece, "Molly's Not Dead."

This being said, PILOBOLUS creates unusual and entertaining dance spectacles and if you have not experienced their work it is worth making a point to do so (regardless of the Program you see).  Below is the upcoming schedule and link to buy tickets. They perform at the Joyce through August 4th. Please see my previous entry on Program A from July 13th for more info!

Program A: Jul 9, 10, 17, 22-23, 31 at 7:30pm; Jul 12, 18, 20, 26, Aug 1, 3 at 8pm; Jul 13, 27, Aug 4 at 2pm
Automaton, All Is Not Lost, Ocellus, esc (Penn & Teller premiere), Day Two
(Program contains nudity)

Program B: Jul 15-16, 24, 29-30 at 7:30pm; Jul 11, 13, 19, 25, 27, Aug 2 at 8pm; Jul 20, Aug 3 at 2pm
Molly’s Not Dead, Skyscrapers, Azimuth, Symbiosis, Licks (Trish Sie premiere)

Family Matinee Program: Jul 24 at 1pm
Walklyndon, Pseudopodia, Transformation, All is Not Lost

Get tickets here: http://www.joyce.org