The Winger » Fall For Dance

Fall For Dance - Opening Night

September 29, 2006 at 12:35 pm · Filed under SLOAN, ballet, dance, dance event, events, modern

| | Posted by Sloan

A glimpse of the INSANITY outside City Center for the opening night of Fall For Dance.

I still can’t get over what a great thing this is.
First of all, it’s just amazing to see so many different companies in one evening (for $10, no less!). Second, I think it just makes so much sense.

Dance companies expect people to pay upwards of $30 dollars to take a chance and see a performance, when they might have no idea if they even like the company or the kind of dance they do. There are soooo many options for how you can spend an evening in New York, that you want to be fairly sure that you’re going to enjoy what you are spending your time and money on.

You can take friends’ recommendations, or journalists’ recommendations, but it in the end it’s really all about your own personal taste. Unfortunately companies here don’t give enough of a glimpse of what they offer (even though we have the internet and video!), so this is the best kind of preview you could ask for! And if you don’t like one company, there are four others during the evening which you might like.

I really enjoyed four out of the five pieces/companies I saw. I was really impressed by the last piece by Pennsylvania Ballet too. There was a really good part for Riolama Lorenzo, who used to be with NYCB, and she looked incredible!

The view of the sold out house form our seats, all the way up.
On the right, the Fall For Dance lounge. This used to be sponsored by our friends at Flavorpill, but I guess it’s not anymore.
So… a new goal for The Winger I believe this lounge was originally conceived as a place where the audience and artists could mingle after the show (how Winger-esque!), perhaps we can find a way of sponsoring it, or at least be involved with it, next year.

| | Posted by Sloan

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TiggerToo said,

September 29, 2006 @ 2:15 pm

“Unfortunately companies here don’t give enough of a glimpse of what they offer (even though we have the internet and video!)”

Aint that the truth. The only reason Article19 can do what it does, in the UK, is because we proactively go out and kick in the door to film a performance and run the footage, there are only a couple of companies that will run video of their own work, that we know of, and even then the quality is so bad you can’t figure out what you’re watching anyway!

Maybe we should open a New York Bureau?

;o)

Evan said,

September 29, 2006 @ 3:58 pm

I was also at FFD last night. There was such a great vibe, and the audience was definitely much more eclectic than at a typical City Center performance. I think Arlene Shuler is a genius for spearheading the festival back in 2004.

Like Kristin, I enjoyed 4 out of the 5 pieces (Kristin, which one didn’t you like?) I thought Yi-Jo Lim Sun Dance Company’s piece was disappointing, especially since it was the opening piece on the opening night of FFD. But everything else was wonderful, especially the Dutch National Ballet’s “Before After”. The dancing was so fluid and seamless. Too bad that they perform mainly in Amsterdam.

Anyway, I can’t to head back to City Center next Thursday for another night of FFD!

tonya said,

September 29, 2006 @ 4:07 pm

Oh good — I’m going tonight (which I think is the same program as last night). I’m excited to see Bill T. Jones, amongst others. Was also going to try to go to the pre-performance panel discussion with the artists if it’s not too crazy (I don’t think you need an actual ticket for that, so it’s probably going to be a madhouse). Yes, the Winger should definitely get involved and have some space in that lounge area next year!