http://philadelphiadance.org/blog Writings and musings on dance in Philadelphia Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:55:19 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Philly dance scene gets an Asian influence By Merilyn Jackson For The Inquirer In recent decades, the Chinese and Taiwanese have entered the world of modern dance in a big way, twinning Eastern theatrical disciplines with Western innovations. Yet in Philadelphia, despite its large Asian population, both modern and traditional Asian dance have been ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=39 Philly.com 'Carnival' merriment By Ellen Dunkel For The Inquirer In December, Pennsylvania Ballet debuted its splendidly refurbished Nutcracker. Six months later, it has staged the local premiere of another ballet that, while much shorter than the holiday classic, is equally whimsical. The delightfully witty Carnival of the Animals, first performed Friday night at the Academy ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=38 Spirit in Motion Ballet Theater announces "Dances of Hope & Madeline" A performance to help build a water well in Kenya and awareness here at home. The Pennsylvania School for the Performing Arts, home to non-profit dance company Spirit in Motion Ballet Theater of Wrightstown, will be premiering "Dances of Hope & ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=37 washingtonpost.com Monday, May 19, 2008; Page C12 Philadanco Don't envy Philadanco. For almost four decades, this Philadelphia-based company of mostly African American dancers has willingly worked in the shadows of the Alvin Ailey troupe, sharing choreographers and cross-training dancers. Friday night at Strathmore, Philadanco excelled when the choreography diverged from ethnically tinged ballets, ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=36 Senegal, Japan fused into dance By Merilyn Jackson For The Inquirer Japanese-born Kota Yamazaki started his dance company, Fluid hug-hug, not long after moving to New York in 2002. Last year, he won a Bessie Award with Germaine Acogny for choreographing FAGAALA on Compagnie Jant-Bi, which Acogny directs in Senegal. Interested in researching Butoh, ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=35 In master's footsteps, in step with the times By Ellen Dunkel For The Inquirer Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and the dancers were in full celebration mode Friday night at the Academy of Music, the 16th stop on a nationwide tour. They rocked the house. Headed by artistic ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=34 Things went a bit rocky for Rock School at the olympics of dance, but dancers hauled in two medals and major scholarships. By Ellen Dunkel For The Inquirer NEW YORK - There were nerves, slips, wardrobe malfunctions, and two major falls. In the end, the 20 students from the Rock School for Dance ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=33 Local Dance Group Performs Ballet Focused On Darfur Crisis by KYW's Karin Phillips A South Philadelphia-based dance company is performing what it's calling the first ever American ballet on the crisis in Darfur. The Rebecca Davis Dance Company has a history of taking literature and history to the stage through the ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=32 At the Bride, a fruitful union of troupes By Merilyn Jackson For The Inquirer At the Painted Bride last weekend, we got only 20 minutes of evidence of things (un)said, an excerpt from Charles O. Anderson's work in development that is slated to be premiered by his dance theatre X next year. The Bride's ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=31 Much to enjoy in this 'Coppélia' By Merilyn Jackson For The Inquirer In 1870, Leo Delibes' score for Coppélia moved ballet music forward and set the stage for Tchaikovsky's later masterpieces. Considered a descriptive tone poem, the score may be the main reason for keeping the ballet in active repertory, but there is also ... http://philadelphiadance.org/blog/?p=30