The tweets started to pick up speed.  Status updates poured in too, with friends linking to articles breaking the news and to video clips of the deceased’s most memorable works.

We all know that the death of Michael Jackson caused a near-earthquake on social networks Twitter and Facebook.  But within my circle of contacts, the death of Pina Bausch had the same shaking effect.

It’s still sinking in that the legendary Pina Bausch has passed away.  I never got to see her work live but sensed its power from all-too-brief video excerpts (snippets from two of her works, including Cafe Muller, have thankfully been immortalized in Pedro Almodovar’s film Talk to Her).  She is, truly, one of the greats - and now she’s gone.

I can’t help but wonder (and worry): what will happen to her work?  Did Bausch, who died at a mere 68 only days after being diagnosed with cancer, have a plan in place in the case of her death?

Earlier this month, Merce Cunningham - who is still going strong at 90 - announced his plan for his company’s legacy: after he dies (or is no longer able to run the company), the troupe will embark on a two-year world tour before dissolving, while his choreography will be preserved and restaged for other companies.

I’m still sorting through the ramifications of this plan and considering the fates of other major dance companies whose founding choreographers have already died.  Some companies have folded; others have taken on new character (good? bad? just different?) as living choreographers add to existing repertory.  And then, of course, there’s Martha Graham’s company, which went through a long and difficult battle over the rights to her choreography.

We’re lucky enough to live in an age when so many groundbreaking choreographers are still with us.  But there’s no clear template(s) in our field for what can or should happen when these aging artists pass away.  If we want these choreographers legacies to stay alive and vital, we need to have some serious, constructive dialogue.

I had the pleasure of traveling to Jacob’s Pillow last weekend to photograph Avi Scher and Dancers performing in a series called “Inside/Out.”  Unfortunately, due to weather, the dancers were forced to perform in a studio (when they were supposed to be on the glorious stage you see in the last picture), but that didn’t stop us from running out between downpours to snap a few shots!

For the past few weeks Hamburg Ballet has been working diligently on Nijinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, or The Rite of Spring as it is usually referred to in English. It is an extraordinary, groundbreaking ballet that was created in 1913 by Vaslav Nijinsky and reconstructed by Millicent Hodson and Kenneth Archer in 1987.

The dance, music, and history that goes along with Sacre was so groundbreaking, especially for 1913, and I would love to write more about it. Unfortunately, at this very moment I don’t have enough time but I plan on writing a follow up post with more information very soon.

This past Sunday, June 28^th, we had a wonderful premiere and I wanted to share a few pictures with you. Tonight we will have another show and then a final one for this season on July 11^th. For more information on the performances check out www.hamburgballett.de

For now, here are just are a couple of pictures taken before the premiere last Sunday.

Micheal Jackson

Today we lost an international icon. No other artists could do the things that Micheal Jackson has achieved. His dancing is so smooth and buttery that he has spawned generations to come. Usher, Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown and everyone else in the world just to name a few. Don’t lie, you know that you have been to a party and some Micheal Jackson came on and all of a sudden your grabbing your crotch and snapping your fingers, kicking your leg like its something to do. His music, his voice not too mention all of the countless ground breaking videos place him in a league of his own. (Did you know that Desmond Richardson has danced for Micheal Jackson?)

Growing up as a kid in Charlotte NC i watched a lot of MTV. When i say a lot, i mean tons. Loved “Buzz Worthy” videos and “Head Bangers Ball”. I loved them but my parents could not stand coming home and seeing me watching hard rock videos. The only times that they would come and sit down with me would be whenever Micheal Jackson released a new music video. We would sit and all be amazed by this man and the quality of his artistry, such a huge talent!

I remember the video for “Smooth Criminal” while watching it with my mom and dad thinking how cool it was to finally share an interests of music. After the video I would go into the kitchen/dinning room area, take off my shoes and moon walk for days on our hardwood floors. I would try and teach my parents and brothers how to do the moon walk and im laughing as i type this out because the thought of them is so funny to me.

Micheal Jackson has inspired and touched so many of us and we all have favorite Jackson moments and stories in our life. I shared mine. Whats yours?

B