thewinger.com » 2007

We’re Back!

April 30, 2007 at 3:36 pm · Filed under new york city ballet, dressing room, makeup, GWYNETH, r+j, tragiclovenyc.com, ashley laracey

| | Posted by Gwyneth Muller

Ashley Laracey, applying her make up in the dressing room before Thursday night’s performance.

Hey Guys!

As many of you already know, this past Tuesday marked the opening night of NYCB’s spring
season! As a tribute to Lincoln Kirstein, the company performed a series of all-Balanchine programs throughout the week, a total of ten ballets in all. It’s always a wonderful feeling to begin performing again after being away from the stage for a long period of time, but there was something particularly satisfying about coming back to perform so many classic Balanchine masterpieces all at once.

Of course, performing a week’s worth of classic Balanchine programming can also be quite a challenge. In fact, some of the most famous Balanchine works are also some of the most demanding in our repertory. Ballets like Symphony in C, Square Dance and Concerto Barocco are all known for their technical demands, as well as for the ways in which they test your stamina and endurance. It’s a good thing the female corps was feeling refreshed and energized last week, because we were all really dancing our butts off!

On another note, the company completely switched gears last night for the open dress rehearsal of Romeo + Juliet. After so many hours of rehearsing in the studio, it was really exciting for the company to finally perform the ballet in front of an audience. Since my cast won’t perform the ballet until Thursday night, I was able to watch last night’s rehearsal from the front of the house. It was so interesting to experience the ballet with people who were seeing it for the first time! Speaking of, were any of the winger readers in attendance last night?

Ms. Miki Orihara

April 28, 2007 at 5:24 pm · Filed under SLOAN, welcome, wingers, miki orihara, MIKI, martha graham, martha graham dance company, stephen pier, city center

Posted by Kristin Sloan

Hello Wingers,

I’d like to introduce to you the newest member of our family, Ms. Miki Orihara.

with husband Stephen Pier

A principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company, frequent guest artist around the world, and teacher… I couldn’t be more thrilled to have such an experienced view from the modern dance world.

I remember seeing Miki perform with MGDC last year at City Center and she was the dancer that left the most lasting impression on me. So talented and beautiful!

Welcome Miki!

A Message From Black Cherokee

April 28, 2007 at 3:23 pm · Filed under TONY, installation, performance, black cherokee, otis houston

Posted by Tony Schultz

Earlier this month I wrote a post about an incredible New York City performance artist named Black Cherokee.

He transmits messages from the side of the FDR and Harlem River Drive at 125th St, underneath the entrance of the Triborough Bridge. This week there was another transmission posted roadside.

Clearly Black Cherokee reads The Winger, saw my post, and is telling me “Yes”. But yes to what? Perhaps my interpretation of his work. Black Cherokee is giving us a critique of America, and its flirtation with fascism, by raising issues of race, gender, class, consumerism and politics in the contemporary landscape of a “war on terror” and accelerated consolidations of wealth and power. Black Cherokee is a self proclaimed patriot and fighter for freedom. His video shows his concern with the national security apparatus attack on figures such as civil rights attorney Lynn Stewart.

His poem “America I Love You” expresses these sentiments.

America America I love you yes I do.
America America red white and blue.
America America all it’s people fron sea to sea.
America America God blessed us all and want us all to be free.
America America yes God shined his lite on thee.
America America can’t you see it shinning shinning shinning through me.
America America wake up and let’s get on the ball or
America America will soon soon fall.
America America yes God shined his everlasting light on thee.
America America it’s time it’s time for everyone to be free.

Listen to a sample of the song here.

Thanks you for your work, your art, and your message Otis. They are important to me and everyone else. I feel lucky to be able to correspond across this space.