Heidi Latsky Dance opened their "Triptych" Sunday with "Somewhere," dressed in all white, under hanging lights that lit the stage like stars, some dangling lower and some shining brighter, standing on a surface of wide black and white stripes. They started moving without music, holding stillness then springing into motion simultaneously. Atonal music created by … Continue reading Heidi Latsky Dance at the American Dance Festival
The liquid art of Shen Wei
The week before the American Dance Festival opened I had a dream that Shen Wei Dance Arts performed inside a fish tank. I thought it was a strange and funny dream until from the audience at the season opening performance I was reminded of their fluid movement. The dancers move as easily and dreamily as … Continue reading The liquid art of Shen Wei
Carolina Ballet’s Cinderella Program: from A to Zali
What a great show! The first thing I want to say in case you don't usually stay until the end of a thing, is stay to the end! Cinderella is just the first half. The traditional fairy tale is followed after intermission by two world premiers. This program contains a sampling of all the best things … Continue reading Carolina Ballet’s Cinderella Program: from A to Zali
ECU’s Teal Darkenwald
Teal Darkenwald, assistant professor at ECU 's School of Theatre and Dance, always creates imaginative pieces that are among my favorites at the department's dance showcases. I missed this year's spring performance, but I got to enjoy Darkenwald's piece, Quantum, while editing the video for the Greenville Guardian. With original music by Erich Keil, a lighting and sound technician … Continue reading ECU’s Teal Darkenwald
There’s more to say about Carolina Ballet’s Master Composers
In a review, I try to not make a list of dances with ratings, which means I don't mention every dance or every dancer, even if the choreography or performance were exceptional. In a dense program like Master Composers with two and half hours of new and exciting choreography, with a full-company cast bringing it … Continue reading There’s more to say about Carolina Ballet’s Master Composers
Carolina Ballet – Master Composers
I was initially disappointed that I wasn't able get pictures of this ballet, but as I was watching I was glad I could see it for the first time with both eyes open. I've seen every ballet that the Carolina Ballet has performed for the last 3 years, and many of their productions before that, … Continue reading Carolina Ballet – Master Composers
Carolina Ballet – The Four Temperaments
This program is my favorite kind: five short ballets with simple costuming and nothing on the stage but the dancers. I shot these with my 50 prime. They would all have turned out better if I had used a bigger lens, but experimentation is fun and sometimes fruitful. I love the theme for The Double. … Continue reading Carolina Ballet – The Four Temperaments
Two choreographers complement and contrast at Carolina Ballet’s Firebird
Carolina Ballet is opening their 17th season with a fabulous mixed bill: a beautifully diverse program that shows the company’s range. The show opens with a ballet by newly appointed choreographer in residence, Zalman Raffael, followed by a new piece by Artistic Director Dr. Robert Weiss, and finishes flamboyantly with the headliner, Firebird, also choreographed … Continue reading Two choreographers complement and contrast at Carolina Ballet’s Firebird
A ballet class at Carolina Ballet’s 2014 Summer Intensive
Last week I spent two hours at the Carolina Ballet studios photographing a class from pre-class hanging around the barre, through plies and tendues, to the beautiful waltzes and the final grande allegro. This class was level 4b of the Ruth S. Shur Carolina Ballet Summer Intensive, a competitive program that brings top dancers from all over … Continue reading A ballet class at Carolina Ballet’s 2014 Summer Intensive
Here and Now: NC Dances at ADF
Here are some photos of beautiful work by North Carolina Artists. Renee Aumiller's piece was inspired by Cormac McCarthy's book The Road, wich I've never read and although it's on my shelf I most likely never will. But I have read about it, things such as "... ashen, post-apocolyptic landscape..." and "... wanders about in the forest … Continue reading Here and Now: NC Dances at ADF
