Archive for performance
July 6, 2008 at 9:14 am · Filed under SUSAN, new york city, abt, performance, advice, audience, audiences, american balet theatre
The other night, I returned home after an evening of ballet-ing in an unusually funky mood. (Suffice it to say that the company in the seats beside me were far less pleasant than the excellent company on stage.)
Imagine my surprise, then, when I began flipping through the program a few days later to discover an interesting addition to that evening’s playbill. Because Volpe is so much more elegantly eloquent than I am—but, mainly, because I adore his graceful use of the (ghastly) “heinous”—I wanted to share his thoughts on:
I shall spare you the lengthy rant about the obvious blight of ringing cell phones or the agony of late arrivals stepping on our toes or that awkward moment when you find your orchestra seats being warmed by sheepish looking third balcony hopefuls. That said, let’s review the more obscure yet heinous crimes that might send us fleeing back to our home surround-sound and plasma-screen systems, and far from live performances that require us to be a part of a civilized communal experience.
Gentlemen, if you must snore, make sure your companion has sharp elbows.
Fanny packs are never an acceptable “Performing Arts” accoutrement, save it for the mall.
Humming is a crime that is almost forgivable as it’s committed unconsciously. Still, never, ever, hum along with the music—the musicians really don’t need your help.
Never leave a performance before intermission, unless you are injured and bleeding profusely. While you may be “bloody bored,” those around you are not.
Ladies, please do not bathe in your Clive Christian No. 1 perfume prior to a performance. Gentlemen, you might want to skip the cologne altogether; you are in close quarters, not the French Quarter.
Refrain from leaping to one’s feet, zealously clapping and shouting “Bravo,” while the rest of us are still waiting to hear the last glorious notes of the aria.
Dress Appropriately. We all know that casual attire is encouraged these days, but let’s keep casual from becoming catastrophic. Shorts and a tank top might be appropriate in Branson, Missouri, the home of country music, but not in Avery Fisher Hall, the Home of the New York Philharmonic. We must keep the concert halls alive by our patronage for the next generation. As a young man I would attend such transporting musical evenings wearing a borrowed jacket and dress pants purchased from the Salvation Army. I made an effort despite my “standing room” or “student ticket” status and rose to the occasion on limited funds while showing respect for the performers and fellow audience members.
There is no substitute for a live performance, whether it is ballet, classical, jazz or soul. Miss Aretha Franklin demands, and gets, what she literally spells out for us—R-E-S-P-E-C-T. And that’s what other audience members and the performers on stage deserve from all of us.
I’m embarrassed to admit that I am guilty of (at least!) one of the above violations. (Oof!)
I wonder if this strikes a chord with anyone else?
Am I an anomaly in thinking that being in the house for an evening’s performance is just as challenging (in different ways, of course) as being on the stage?
Recent Posts by susan kim
June 29, 2008 at 8:29 am · Filed under dance, performance, performances, performance art, BENNY, bennyroyce royon, montreal, peformance
Hello guys,
I just wanted to share some photos and the press release of a show I put up last week-and-a-few here in Montreal with Kyra Jean Green, my friend and collaborator who graduated with me from the Juilliard School in 2006. This was my first evening show… ever! The evening was composed of little dances that we both choreographed individually. We linked them all with interesting transitions and made it a cohesive program lasting less than an hour. We received lots of compliments and great comments. We plan to do the show again sometime soon because of the enthusiastic demand for the show to happen again. Both Kyra and I were very happy and thankful for all who made the show possible. The dancers, volunteers, and the audience. Merci!
“Seamless” choreography Bennyroyce Royon, dancer Roxane Duchesne-Roy, photography Franco Nieto
“Seamless” choreography Bennyroyce Royon, dancer Roxane Duchesne-Roy, photography Franco Nieto
(Kyra, Kyle, Roxane, Franco, Benny)
(Kyra Jean Green and the cushion seats.)
We performed at a studio loft for the first night and ran into the problem of figuring out how to seat the audience. So Kyra decided that we should buy blow up mini-inner-tubes and have the audience use them as seat cushions. The audience loved it! They particularly loved the blown up dolphin and Dalmatian dog. It was a really fun evening!
PRESS RELEASE
—-
Kyra Jean Green and Bennyroyce Royon present MUSIC DANCE FUN WOW !, an exciting collaborative dance show between two talented choreographers. Both graduated from the Juilliard School and currently dance with Cas Public. The event will be presented on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9PM at STUDIO SPACE and on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9PM at THE POUND. They have enlisted a stunning group of Montréal-based dancers. The program, which is a little less than an hour, includes several new works by both choreographers. Musical selections include music by Dani Siciliano, Cocoa Rosie, Archive, Venetian Snares, Ellen Alien, Autechre, and Animal Collective. Ms. Green’s talents have been praised by The Washington Times stating that “CityDance Ensemble is impressive. [One of] its greatest strength[s] is new dancer Kyra Jean Green…” She has also been acclaimed by Lisa Traiger a member of the Dance Critics Association, Carmel Morgan of “Ballet Dance Magazine, and by DC dance blogger Amanda Abrams who expressed that “Kyra Jean Green was terrific… clean movements, beautiful and a compelling presence.” Likewise, Mr. Royon’s dance and choreographic talents have been applauded by the Boston Globe, the Berkshire Eagle, and by Jennifer Dunning of The New York Times who expressed that Mr. Royon’s “keenly focused, succinct way with movement” was a pleasure to watch. Kyra Jean Green was born in France and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. She received her B.F.A. in dance from Juilliard in May 2006. Upon leaving Juilliard she danced and choreographed for City Dance Ensemble of Washington, D.C. Ms. Green was one of three winners selected from a pool of 114 applicants to participate in a one-week residency to create an original work for Hubbard Street II. She has also choreographed for Bosma Dance of Washington, D.C. and had an evening of her work presented at the Kennedy Center. In September, Ms. Green will be choreographing a new piece for the Michigan based company Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. Mr. Royon was born in the Philippines. He started professional dance training at age 16 with the Evergreen City Ballet Academy and received his BFA degree at the Juilliard School in 2006. Mr. Royon joined the Metropolitan Opera Ballet for its 2006/2007 season where he performed in the new production of Madama Butterfly, choreographed by Carolyn Choa and directed by Anthony Minghella. He also appeared in other MET Opera productions. In summer of 2007, he joined Rasta Thomas’ new all male company “Bad Boys of Dance” with a debut performance at Jacob’s Pillow as part of its 75th anniversary season. Mr. Royon’s choreographic works have been presented in Montréal, Maryland, Seattle, New York City, and at Jacob’s Pillow in Beckett, Massachussetts.
(Happy to tell friends about the successful evening!)
Recent Posts by bennyroyce royon
May 29, 2008 at 3:50 am · Filed under dance, performance, MIKI, la mama
I danced this piece “WATER WATER” in 1984 for the first premiere in NYC. and then in 1986 at 14 Street Y.
So it was 24 years ago….this time, few original dancers are back together to perform this. We start tomorrow night. Some of us are not dancing any more, but coming back to do this performances. It is such a fun dancing your friends who we started together back then… we went on to do something different and our path is not same anymore but even 24 years of blank, we could work together. That is great.
http://lamama.org/
Recent Posts by miki orihara
May 28, 2008 at 7:25 pm · Filed under dance, chicago, performance, LAUREN, joffrey
Wilkins and Shives final bow with Mr. Arpino and Artistic Director Ashley Wheater
On May 25th the Joffrey ended its 2007-2008 season at the Auditorium Theater with a farewell performance honoring Maia Wilkins, Michael Levine and Willy Shives. Three major dancers who have influenced and shaped the Joffrey as the company it is today. Shives will stay within the Joffrey family as a ballet master next season and Levine and Wilkins will continue their artistic endeavors guesting nationally and internationally. As a dancer, I feel so fortunate to have shared the stage with such incredible artists and will miss them immensely! It was such a memorable event watching their final performance amongst my peers…having seen numerous retirement performances as a student in new york it is quite a different feeling when experiencing firsthand. Levine and Wilkins performed Aprino’s “Sea Shadow”, Wilkins and Shives performed Arpino’s ” Ruth Ricordi per due”, and Shives surprised everyone with a solo choreographed by fellow dancer Brian McSween. Additional ballets from Joffrey’s spring season buttressed this special program; Twyla Tharp’s “Waterbaby Bagatelles”, Paul Taylor’s “Cloven Kingdom”, and Lar Lubovitch’s “…Smile with my heart”. Tears were shed, bouts of laughter, stories told…the incredible impact of Levine, Wilkins, and Shives will never vanish. Thanks for the memories, thanks for the lessons, thanks for the inspiration!
Levine and Wilkins after Arpino’s “Sea Shadow”.
Shives and Wilkins in Tudor’s “Lilac garden”
Wilkins and I at Joffrey’s 2008 Spring Gala
Recent Posts by lauren
April 12, 2008 at 4:04 am · Filed under dance, new york city, choreographer, juilliard, performance, miki orihara, MIKI, martha graham, stephen pier, aszure barton, east village
Duo Theater in East Village, is a pretty space. Built in 1889, as a ballroom, this space was a home of Roy Rogers( I think…I saw a lot of posters).
Very nice !
Aszure Barton is a most succeceful woman choreographer now in NYC, and her company’s performances this weekend. It is one act show of about 1hour 5mins. 5 dancers were very different from each other and their movement and quality was very different but when they move, very precisely as her choreography, amazingly together and they were TIGHT!!!
I had a previledge of dancing her work with MG”s season at the Joyce last September, ” Lamentation Variation” inspired by MG’s short study film of her master peice “Lamentation”, her choreography is very detail oriented and you have to be so precise to move… I had a great time!
this is Aszure(R) and one of 5 dancers, Banning Roberts who is the Juilliard Grad and ex-Cluberg Ballet dancer and now freelance lives in Paris!
anyway, this “A Travelling Show” added one more show on Sunday Matinee this coming April 13, highly recommended!!!
I don’t want to talk about too much since some of us might go to see it this week weekend!!!
From the Left to Right: Stephen Pier, Courteny Blackwell, Bannning and Williams Briscoe( who was another one of 5 !) these three of them were all Juilliard Grad. and Stephen and I somehow feel like “Parents”…
oh well.
Recent Posts by miki orihara
·
Next entries »
