Category Archives: Dance Performance Reviews

Angelenos Boo Merce!: L.A. Dance Project’s Dramatic Premiere

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Tonya

This past weekend marked the premiere of L.A. Dance Project at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown LA. Of course this is the event – the full-evening debut of Benjamin Millepied’s new LA-based company – that all dance-going Angelenos … Continue reading →

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L.A. Dance Project’s FRAMEWORK at MOCA

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Tonya

Thursday night marked the first of three “sneak peeks” of Benjamin Millepied’s new L.A. Dance Project at MOCA – the Museum of Contemporary Art – in downtown Los Angeles. Millepied danced with Amanda Wells in four different galleries in the … Continue reading →

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Body Traffic in L.A.

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Tonya

On Thursday night I was invited to an L.A. preview of Body Traffic‘s upcoming New York premiere. They’ll be performing in N.Y. at the Joyce (Chelsea) June 6th and 7th (they just received a $25,000 grant from the Joyce) as … Continue reading →

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Los Angeles Ballet’s “Next Wave L.A.”

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Tonya

Last weekend my friend Christopher McDaniel (a fabulous dancer with Los Angeles Ballet!) invited me to Santa Monica to see the company’s “Next Wave L.A.” program. There were four pieces by four contemporary choreographers – including two who regularly choreograph … Continue reading →

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Ratmansky’s Fantastically Funny, Tim Burton-Esque New FIREBIRD

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Tonya

Thursday night I went down to Costa Mesa for ABT’s premiere of Ratmansky’s FIREBIRD at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. I’m so glad I braved the nearly three hour drive (with traffic; without about fifty minutes) from west L.A. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance Performance Reviews, New York Versus Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Ballet Arizona’s SLEEPING BEAUTY, and Phoenix Society For the Arts Reads SWALLOW!

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Tonya

I feel so badly that I haven’t had time to write very much here lately. Writing doesn’t come close to paying the bills right now (will it ever??) so I do legal contract work, and I have a really time-consuming … Continue reading →

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Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s Kwanzaa Celebration

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Tonya

Last week my friend Debra Levine invited me to another dance performance; this one by Lula Washington Dance Theatre, who were giving their annual Kwanzaa celebration concert. This was one of the most enjoyable dance performances I’ve seen thus far … Continue reading →

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RedCat, Ohad Naharin, and the Beauty of Downtown L.A.

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Tonya

Last Friday night, my friend Debra Levine invited me to a winter dance concert by students of CalArts (California Institute of the Arts, a prestigious arts college here), at  the RedCat in downtown L.A. For New Yorkers, the RedCat reminded … Continue reading →

Posted in Art / Architecture, baseball & ballet, Dance Performance Reviews, Los Angeles, New York Versus Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Los Angeles Ballet’s NUTCRACKER, and More Settling Into LA Angst

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Tonya

Last night was the opening of Los Angeles Ballet‘s Nutcracker. Above photo – of my favorite dance – taken from LA Mommy Poppins.) It had its premiere at the Alex Theater in Glendale, and will be showing again there tonight. … Continue reading →

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Brief Update & Review of Peter Martins / Paul McCartney Collab at NYCB

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Tonya

Hey everyone, Just a brief update since this motel’s wifi is expensive and not secure: but I now have a car (a cute little Toyota Prius – used) as well as an apartment in LA that I love but that … Continue reading →

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More Photos of Marcelo With Cisne Negro

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Tonya

You guys, I am so sorry it’s taken me so long to post these when I promised them, what, over two weeks ago?? I had no idea how much went into planning a cross-country move, especially when working lots of … Continue reading →

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Film of the Bolshoi’s DON QUIXOTE Starring Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev Showing at BAM This Thursday

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Tonya

For New Yorkers: this Thursday, July 21st, Emerging Pictures’ “Ballet in Cinema” series will be showing a repeat of the Bolshoi’s Don Quixote starring Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev – the very same production I’d raved about here. This time, … Continue reading →

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Vladimir Shklyarov: the Marcelo Gomes of the Mariinsky?

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Tonya

I’m usually not a stage door person, but Friday night, after the Mariinsky Ballet’s second-to-last night performing in New York, I decided to follow some friends down into the bowels of the Met. Actually, now that construction has finished down … Continue reading →

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Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg Guest Star in ABT’s SLEEPING BEAUTY

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Tonya

Curtain calls photos taken by my new balletomane friend, Andrea. I have to confess, Sleeping Beauty is probably my least favorite ballet. I like the Aurora / Prince Desire wedding pas de deux, with all the gorgeous fish dives, in … Continue reading →

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Jose Manuel Carreno’s ABT Farewell

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Tonya

Thursday night at the Met, Jose Manuel Carreno, a longtime favorite of mine, gave his farewell performance with American Ballet Theater. (He will dance a few more performances with the company as they tour Los Angeles and Japan later this … Continue reading →

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Natalia Osipova in ABT’s Coppelia

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Tonya

Photo by Rosalie O’Connor of Osipova in Coppelia, which I wrote about in my last post.

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Paloma Herrera Celebrates 20 Years with ABT

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Tonya

Photo by Rosalie O’Connor. On Saturday night, Paloma Herrera celebrated twenty years with ABT. Her celebratory performance was Coppelia, which she danced with Angel Corella, in one of the only performances he’ll be seen in at ABT this season, sadly. … Continue reading →

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THE BRIGHT STREAM at ABT

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Tonya

David Hallberg in Ratmansky’s The Bright Stream, Rosalie O’Connor photo. I’m not exactly sure yet what to think of this ballet, which made its premiere at American Ballet Theater last week. There are a couple more performances left this week … Continue reading →

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The Sheepdogs of GISELLE

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Tonya

Don’t have time to write a review right now, but last week I saw basically three Giselles (two inside the auditorium, and one on the screen in the lobby ). I saw Diana Vishneva and Marcelo Gomes (my favorites), Hee … Continue reading →

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ABT’s LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Tonya

(Photo of Cory Stearns and Irina Dvorovenko in John Neumeier’s Lady of the Camellias, taken from ABT website – click on photo for link). I so love this ballet. It’s my favorite ABT is putting on this season (since there’s … Continue reading →

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Benjamin Millepied, Christopher Wheeldon, and Alexei Ratmansky Premieres at ABT

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Tonya

Above: Isabella Boylston and Marcelo Gomes in Christopher Wheeldon’s Thirteen Diversions, which premiered at American Ballet Theater two weeks ago. (Photo by Rosalie O’Connor.) Once again, I’m behind on posts. May was a crazy month, filled with family emergencies, last … Continue reading →

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Photos from ABT’s Opening Night Gala

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Tonya

Here are some photos from American Ballet Theater’s opening night gala on May 16th, which I wrote about here. Above, Marcelo Gomes and Diana Vishneva in Manon excerpt, my favorite of the night. All photos by Gene Schiavone. Jose Carreno … Continue reading →

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Alina Cojocaru and Polina Semionova Guest Star in ABT’s DON QUIXOTE

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Tonya

Over the weekend, two European star ballerinas – Alina Cojocaru from the Royal Ballet in London, and Polina Semionova from the Berlin State Opera Ballet – guest starred in American Ballet Theater’s Don Quixote as Kitri.  Cojocaru danced with Jose … Continue reading →

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American Ballet Theater Spring 2011 Opening Night Gala

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Tonya

Last night was ABT’s Spring 2011 opening night gala. Dreary, rainy night … but what else is new for New York these days? Once inside, I really enjoyed the show though. (I’m hoping to receive photos soon, which I’ll post). … Continue reading →

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NYCB Spring Gala with SEVEN DEADLY SINS Premiere

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Tonya

Here are some photos, all by Paul Kolnik, of Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s play-ballet, The Seven Deadly Sins, which premiered last night at New York City Ballet’s Spring gala performance. Above is Patti LuPone, who guest-starred with the company (performing the singing … Continue reading →

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NYCB Opens its Spring 2011 Season with “Balanchine: Black & White”

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Tonya

Photo from 2004 of Wendy Whelan and Jock Soto in Balanchine’s Agon, by Paul Kolnik. Last night New York City Ballet opened its Spring season with three Balanchine “leotard” or “black and white” ballets (so-called because of the costumes). I … Continue reading →

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American Ballet Theater’s “On To Act II” at the Guggenheim

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Tonya

Did you guys watch the live-stream last night or tonight? If you missed it, you can watch the video now archived on the Guggenheim’s ustream channel. It feels weird to review a program that everyone can easily watch online, but … Continue reading →

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Avi Scher & Dancers, Photos

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Tonya

Ack, you guys I’m working 13-hour days right now and have virtually no time for anything but working, eating, and sleeping, but I wanted to get some photos up of the recent performance by Avi Scher & Dancers that I … Continue reading →

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Paris Opera Ballet’s Dark-ish Coppelia

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Tonya

So, did anyone see the live-stream of POB’s Coppelia last Monday? I went but was extremely tired, so I guess my review should be read with that in mind. I was working a contract job with crazy long, graveyard shift … Continue reading →

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Larry Keigwin’s “Exit”

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Tonya

Larry Keigwin’s Exit had its world premiere on Tuesday night at the Joyce in Chelsea. Above two photos by Matthew Murphy. (Top: dancers are, l-r: Kristina Hanna, Liz Riga, Ashley Browne; Bottom photo: Aaron Carr and Ashley Browne). The two … Continue reading →

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