All stories by Leigh Witchel on BroadwayStars

Monday, May 25, 2015

Give 'em 7 minutes & they'll give you a whirl by LEIGH WITCHEL

Seven minutes is enough time for something to happen in a dance. Each of the numbers on DanceNOW's opening night of "Festival Twenty Ten" were even shorter than that -- but things didn't ha…

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City Ballet pops big cork by LEIGH WITCHEL

New York City Ballet put its best foot for ward Tuesday night when it opened its fall season with a sparkling program, a champagne toast -- and a little snark. Standing in front of the curta…

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Flock of guys by LEIGH WITCHEL

A very different version of Tchaikovsky's beloved lake o' birds is heading to City Center this fall — and these swans don't dance in tutus.Matthew Bourne's “Swan Lake” has …

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Anger isn't all the rage by LEIGH WITCHEL

Faye Driscoll is mad as hell, and she's got plenty to say about that. The choreographer's "There is so much mad in me" isn't perfect -- it's raw and raunchy, but has a distinctive downtown …

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$10 buys you a world of variety by LEIGH WITCHEL

Fall for Dance, now in its seventh season at City Center, is like a bus tour of Europe: 40 companies in 10 days. The pace is exhausting, but you'll see just about everything.Each program ru…

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'Moon' landing makes a splash by LEIGH WITCHEL

Pina Bausch had her groupies. They packed BAM Wednesday night for the opening of her company's first visit since her death last year. Toward the end, the German choreographer seemed to be m…

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Believe in 'Magic' by LEIGH WITCHEL

There was plenty of drama Thursday night at New York City Bal let, not all of it planned. The main event, a revival of Peter Martins' "The Magic Flute," went off without a hitch. The rest o…

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Butoh churned too slowly by LEIGH WITCHEL

For a group that's sup posedly all about taking risks, Sankai Juku played it safe Tuesday night at the Joyce, where the Japanese Butoh group started a two-week run of "Tobari -- As if in an …

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Puttin' on the glitz by LEIGH WITCHEL

The star power in the au dience vied with the ac tion onstage Thursday night at New York City Ballet's fall gala.Among the glittery crowd were Matthew "Gossip Girl" Settle, Sarah Jessica Pa…

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Brussels' muscles by LEIGH WITCHEL

Watching Belgium's Les Ballets C de la B is like watching a bunch of avant-garde "Gleeks." Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's dull and sometimes it helps that they're wearing only their u…

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Dancers don't have much in the works by LEIGH WITCHEL

Good dancers don't guarantee good dances. New York's Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, founded by Walmart heiress Nancy Laurie, is filled with accomplished dancers like Ebony Williams, who pe…

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Gimmicky dance not that kind of sutra by LEIGH WITCHEL

'Sutra" delivers, but not what it promises. Though visually stunning, the fast-paced, hourlong show -- part of Lincoln Center's White Light Festival of spiritual performances -- tries to be…

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Sexy troupe doesn't get a rise out of audience by LEIGH WITCHEL

There's little rhyme or reason to Complexions. Kicking off a two-week run Tuesday at The Joyce, the New York troupe's work is built on little besides sex appeal. It's hot, but empty -- the …

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Also taking a 'crack' at classic by LEIGH WITCHEL

Along with the big three, there's a "Nutcracker" for every taste and budget. To wit: * Urban Ballet Theater's hip-hop and salsa-flavored version, "Nutcracker in the Lower," features 'hood-d…

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Mixed 'Nuts' on city stages by LEIGH WITCHEL

There's more than one nut to crack this year. New York City Ballet's "Nutcracker," a holiday tradition since 1954, has some first-class com petition, both from American Ballet Theatre and M…

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Let the holiday joy begin! by LEIGH WITCHEL

Ah, tradition. New York City Ballet's "The Nutcracker" is as much about kicking off the holiday season as it is about dance. Opening night Fri day had a light, warm touch, like the annual v…

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'Mad'moiselle,' s'il vous plait by LEIGH WITCHEL

Anabelle Lopez Ochoa knows how to work a prop. Her new "Mad'moiselle" has plenty of them -- it's a smart, spicy piece of dance theater and the highlight of Ballet Hispanico's season, which …

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The revelations continue by LEIGH WITCHEL

For Judith Jamison, there are no transitions. From star dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to directing the company and now handing the reins to someone else, it's all seamless.…

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No wonder in 'Hard Nut' by LEIGH WITCHEL

"The Hard Nut," Mark Morris' campy take on "The Nutcracker," has been a holiday hit for nearly two decades. Re turning to New York on Friday night for the first time in eight years, it sound…

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Men in tights by LEIGH WITCHEL

If you want to under stand ballet, forget "Black Swan" and go see the Trocks. That's shorthand for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the 36-year-old, all-male comic ballet troupe that …

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The nuttier 'Cracker' by LEIGH WITCHEL

There's a big new "Nutcracker" in town, and it's cracking good. The talented Russian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky has crafted a witty new version for American Ballet Theatre. Tchaikovsky'…

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Troupe punches things up by LEIGH WITCHEL

Imagine an evening at Alvin Ailey without "Revelations." It's pretty rare -- ask director Judith Jamison about the complaints she gets when that signature work isn't on the bill. But Sunday…

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Shaking a leg (& more) at MoMA by Leigh Witchel

There's art in motion at MoMA, where Tri sha Brown and her company are doing an hourlong performance. Starting in the atrium, they move throughout the museum -- but if you're looking for sh…

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Argentines trot out sultry hit parade by Leigh Witchel

There's nothing hellish about "Tango Inferno." The revue that recently slinked into town showcases the upbeat side of this sultry art in an evening that was enjoyable, if a tad tacky. "Tang…

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Good old days by Leigh Witchel

For David Parsons, the oldies really are the goodies. His company opened Wednesday at The Joyce with three mixed bills -- and the best bets are the brief, amiable pieces Parsons made way ba…

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Stroman forum by Leigh Witchel

Susan Stroman doesn't promise what she can't deliver -- and what she doesn't promise is high art. What Stroman, a Tony Award-winning pro who turns out slick, well-crafted dances, did delive…

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Having fun's Wonder-ful by Leigh Witchel

When Ronald K. Brown's company performs, the dancers seem to enjoy themselves as much as you do -- and maybe more. Now finishing its 25th year, Brown's Brooklyn-based Evidence, a Dance Comp…

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Far from letter-perfect by Leigh Witchel

How do you dance a letter? "Letters of Love on Ripped Paper" works on the puzzle, but this dancing telegram doesn't quite manage a special delivery. Choreographed by company director Jacqul…

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Taylor-made 'Memories' don't run deep by Leigh Witchel

When Paul Taylor's at his best, no one can touch him. When he's not, you squirm. At his company's opening night gala, the audience did both. Now that Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham have…

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City Ballet: It's hip to see 'Square' by Leigh Witchel

The police often pair rookies with vets, so why not the ballet? At New York City Ballet Thursday night, 19-year-old Taylor Stanley and 27-year-old principal Ashley Bouder made their debuts …

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Lots of steps, but they don't go anywhere by Leigh Witchel

It was old hands on deck Tuesday night when Elisa Monte Dance opened its 30th anniversary season with retired guest dancers performing some of Monte's greatest hits. But even these distingu…

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All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards