Get the Picture? It's 'The Portrait Project,' Works Featuring Six Different Choreographers, Dancers, Composers and Musicians

"The Portrait Project" features six dancers with six different creatives and cast. Image courtesy of Periapsis Music and Dance.

BY TAMARA BECK

IMAGINE a dance performance created by a different guest choreographer in collaboration with a composer, for one dancer and one musician. Imagine a half dozen on one program.

It is now a reality. Conceived by Periapsis Music and Dance, it is called "The Portrait Project.”

The series of six new works will feature six dancers and six musicians from Periapsis Music and Dance's resident ensemble.

“The Portrait Project” has its world premiere on 18 and 19 February at GK ArtsCenter (aka Gelsey Kirkland Academy) in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

Music for three of the pieces, including “Reflection” (see video) was scored by company artistic director Jonathan Howard Katz. Guest composers Richard Carrick, Shawn Jaeger and Mary Kouyoumdjian wrote music for the other three.

The guest choreographers are Joshua Beamish, Seán Curran, Miro Magloire, Helen Simoneau, Katarzyna Skarpetowska and Manuel Vignoulle.

The program will also feature excerpts from a new work by Periapsis company choreographers, Erin Dillon and Hannah Weber, set to music by JHK.

Periapsis Music and Dance's season at GK ArtsCenter will continue in March, April and May with the Periapsis Open Series and on 18-20 June with the resident company's spring performances.

Visit http://www.periapsismusicanddance.org/calendar/ to learn more about “The Portrait Project” and Periapsis Music and Dance 2016 season.

Paul Taylor Expands His Umbrella with Paul Taylor's American Modern Dance

Poster for "Esplanade," one of the dances on the Paul Taylor Dance Company 2016 program. Image courtesy of Paul Taylor Dance Company.

COLLABORATIONS abound during the 2016 season in the sphere of Paul Taylor.

Through his new umbrella initiative, Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance (PTAMD), the country’s most renown living choreographer is presenting numerous entertainments.

All, including performances by the Paul Taylor Dance Company (PTDC), are on the agenda for the coming season, from 15 March to 3 April at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater..

Expect two premieres dances, choreographed by Larry Keigwin and Doug Elkins.

The major mission of PTAMD is to cultivate and promote American talent in the dance space.

Honoring another great moment in modern dance history, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company will present Donald McKayle's classic, “Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder on a couple of the PTDC programs.

The Orchestra of St. Luke’s, conducted by longtime Paul Taylor company music director, Donald York, will perform during each program of the season.

A highlight of PTAMD is sure to be a performance of “Diversion of Angels” in honor of the 90th anniversary of the Martha Graham Company. PT performed in the dance his seven seasons as a Martha Graham company member, dating to 1955. (See video of dance performed by Hartford Ballet.)

This will mark the first time the PTDC performs a MG work.

Visit http://www.ptamd.org/LC2016/ to learn more about PTAMD.

Mazzini Dance Collective and Dances Patrelle Make It Short and (Hopefully) Sweet

Chloé Sherman and Alexander Castillo as the title characters in Dance Patrelle's "Romeo & Juliet. Photo by Eduardo Patino.

BY TAMARA BECK

ONE tends to assume that the season of a production will be at least a few months.

Occasionally, however, it can pass as quickly as a schoolboy's summer. Such will be the case next month when two dance companies will showcase blink-of-an eye seasons, condensed into just a few days.

The Mazzini Dance Collective (MDC), founded by former Paul Taylor Dance Company principal, Annmaria Mazzini, is an interdisciplinary, multi-generational troupe. It defines itself as a family collaborative of young dancers inspired by veterans to reach new levels of excellence in technique and choreography.

MDC's goal is to integrate visual and performing arts in emotionally accessible productions,

Several premieres will be presented during the inaugural season on 6 and 7 Sept. One of note is "Playing with Angels," a reflection on the relationship between mothers and sons, choreographed by AM with music by MDC composer-in-residence Robert Paterson.

Performing the score live are members of AME: Billy Hestand and Billy Short on bassoon and Bryan Wagorn on piano.

"When We Rise," a piece choreographed by longtime MDC collaborator Orion Duckstein with music by Zoe Keating and performed by OD and AM, premieres as well. Another new creation from AM is "Criminal Commoners." It is set to music by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, St. Vincent, Phantogram, Cold War Kids, Pulp and Goldfrapp.

Anna Maria Mazzini Photo by Sarah Sterner.

The venue for the two-day program is the Ailey Citigroup Theater in the Joan Weill Center for Dance.

Elsewhere, Francis Patrelle of the eponymous Dances Patrelle (dP), home to the FP-choreographed annual "Yorkville Nutcracker," presents a season in honor of dP's 25th anniversary.
"
He offers his take on the immortal story of young love. His "Romeo & Juliet" is set to Prokofiev's score. Unlike Baz Luhrmann, FP doesn't modernize it. This is a classicist version in celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday. (See video above of dP 1993 "Romeo & Juliet" revival)

Mazzini Dance Collective will perform several new works in its inaugural season. Photo from Mazzini Dance Collective Web site.

The featured performers in this evening-length revival are Alexander Castillo, a transplant from New York to the West Coast, and Chloé Sherman, journeying from Los Angeles especially to dance with dP.

The performances, 11-14 Sept., are planned for Hunter College's Kaye Playhouse.

Visit http://www.mazzinidancecollective.org to learn more about the Mazzini Dance Collective.; visit http://www.dancespatrelle.org/ to learn more about Dances Patrelle.

Paul Taylor's Democratic Offer to Potential Patrons

Choreographer Paul Taylor, right, in rehearsal with dancers. Photos by Paul B. Goode.

HEAD’S UP: Here it is past mid-December and holiday shopping isn't yet an item on the to-do list. What’s a body to do? One option is to give money. Everybody needs money, right. Well … almost everybody does. Yet the idea of gifting money seems a bit slapdash and last-minute, which it is, of course. Never fear. The elves at VEVLYN’S PEN are here to help in what has become a tradition. Continuing through 24 Dec., we will introduce one or a series of products, items and brands that we believe is worthy of consideration as a holiday gift(s). And … we’re off !!!!

Gift Idea(s) Pt. 2:

BY TAMARA BECK

IN at the creation!

Here’s an affordable opportunity to finance a piece from a master of vibrant dance.

Commissioning a dance work can cost in the many thousands of dollars. Once, only royalty could afford to be patrons of the arts, investing heavily to have masterpieces produced for their pleasure. Now, commoners have that opportunity through January 2012.

Paul Taylor, the creative force behind the renown Paul Taylor Dance Company, will be at work on his 136th dance soon, and anyone can “Create With Taylor.”

An investment as small as $5 buys behind-the-scenes views of PT creating his special brand of magic. Not surprisingly, the greater the investment, the greater the goodies. A $25 investment, for example, also comes with an autographed photo of PT.

Paul Taylor, right, with Annmaria Mazzini and Michael Trusnovec.

At the $100-plus level, patrons get all of the aforementioned, plus PTDC merchandise and a DVD of “Dancemaker,” the Oscar-nominated documentary about the company.

Patrons will be issued a password to log-in and watch as the dance progresses over the six-week creative period and subsequent weeks of rehearsal. The project culminates with the world premiere of the dance at Syracuse University in March 2012.

Visit http://http://www.createwithtaylor.org/ to learn more about “Create with Taylor.”

Think You Can Dance to Tune of Paul Taylor?

James Samson, Robert Kleinendorst, Amy Young and Sean Mahoney in the Paul Taylor Dance Company's "Three Dubious Memories." Photo by Tom Caravaglia.

BY TAMARA BECK

WANTED: Two good dancers.

The Paul Taylor Dance Company, in association with Talenthouse and Self Magazine, will award two scholarships for the Paul Taylor Dance Company Summer Intensive in New York City.

Dancers who think they have the moves should submit a video no longer than 90 seconds that conveys their love of dance and explains why they deserve to attend the summer intensive. The competition is open to all genres.

Paul Taylor will lead the panel of five jurists that will choose the winners. Among them are Matthew Diamond, dance director of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Dancemaker” about PT and the company. On the panel, too, are PT dancers Michael Trusnovec and Annmaria Mazzini. One male and one female will be selected for the summer intensive.

In "Spring Rounds," dancers mimic butterflies and birds. Photo from West Coast Intensive.

The submission deadline is 14 April; voting begins on 15 April, and winners will be announced on 27 April. The summer intensive is 5-29 July.

Visit http://www.talenthouse.com/ to learn more about the summer intensive scholarship and http://www.ptdc.org/ to learn more about Paul Taylor Dance Company.

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty, and Many More!!!
Aretha Franklin, left, blowing out the candles on her birthday cake Friday night at the Helmsley Hotel. At right, The Queen of Soul with Smokey Robinson. Photos by William Sykes/AP.

WITH reports of her death, an incurable disease and a surgery that she says “resolved” health problems that led her a few months ago to cancel a series of concerts until May – with all of these travails behind her, The Queen of Soul is back in form.

Surely, there is need to further identify Her Majesty. Those still scratching their heads should tramp over to GOOGLE.

Over the weekend, she visited the Big Apple to take in some theater – specifically “Driving, Miss Daisy” starring Morgan Freeman and Vanessa Redgrave.

After the play Friday night, she and 100 or so close friends repaired to the Helmsley Hotel to celebrate her 69th birthday. Yours Truly was not on the guest list. Seemingly, the Associated Press was the only media outlet allowed in. See video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhebbyIrmFg

A number of marquee names were in the house: Smokey Robinson, Bette Midler, Tony Bennett, Clive Davis. Word is Oprah was invited but did not attend. Gayle (King) was there, though.

Her Majesty was noticeably thinner. She looked a bit tired, too, but otherwise she looked swell. Judging by reports of the few bars (“The Way We Were”) she sang with Dennis Edwards (Temptations), she is in fine voice too.

Long live the queen! – By Yours Truly, Vevlyn Wright

Keeping It Relevant at Paul Taylor Dance Co.

Annamaria Mazzini leads the full cast as Flemish Villagers in Paul Taylor Dance Company's "Phantasmagoria." Photo by Tom Caravaglia.

BY TAMARA BECK

CONCEPTS can sometimes overwhelm and muddy a dance piece. Or, more happily, they can be just the ticket to delightfully conjoining mind and body on the stage.

The former unfortunately is true of Paul Taylor Dance Company’s “Polaris,” a piece originated in 1976 to commissioned music by Donald York. The concept that two casts of dancers consecutively perform the same steps and movement to two different scores is intriguing, even fascinating. The resulting work is a dull disappointment, though.

“Polaris” is performed inside and outside of an open-faced box, delineated only by its struts. This box is an open square built of edges against a blue background designed by Alex Katz.

The dancers begin downstage in confinement within this enclosure. At first they define the space, reaching out to touch the imaginary walls. As one of the dancers breaks free from the box onto the larger stage, others soon follow. Their confinement is voluntary and eventually, they all return to it. At this point the second crew comes on stage and one by one replaces the first group of dancers.

Dancing inside the box in "Polaris." Photo by Lois Greenfield.

The music changes, but the movement repeats, line for line, stretch for stretch, step for step. “Polaris” lacks the verve and energy this reviewer has come to expect from a Taylor-made piece.

There is repetition and recurring characters in “Phantasmagoria” as well. But, oh my, everything in “Phantasmagoria” is to pleasurable effect. The eclectic and lively music is selected from anonymous Renaissance composers. The costumes by Santo Loquasto are imaginative, colorful, and echo the eras they reflect.

Annamaria Mazzini, Amy Young and Laura Halzack as the Isadorables in "Phantasmagoria." Photo by Tom Caravaglia.

“Phantasmagoria” is a kind of history of the world set through dance, covering an amusingly wide range. The Renaissance is represented in a pictorial opening featuring the entire cast as Flemish Villagers (12 cast members led by Annamaria Mazzini), onward to the tribute to Isadora Duncan in the form of the Isadorables (Amy Young, AM, and Laura Halzack). There is a side trip to an East Indian Adam and Eve, deftly and humorously played by Sean Mahoney and Parisa Khobdeh with a toy serpent.

The oft-present Byzantine Nun (LH) dances off with PK’s prop serpent also to very funny effect. The Flemish Villagers, the Isadorables, an Irish step dancer (Michelle Fleet), come in and out of the wings. Michael Trusnovec, as St. Vitus’ dance transformer, infects the cast. The involuntary jerky movements of the disease named for St. Vitus, the patron saint of dancers, are turned into a joyful display.

Michael Trusnovec as St. Vitus’ dance transformer and cast in Phantasmagoria. Photo by Tom Caravaglia.

Paul Taylor continues to add vibrant, thought-provoking and relevant dances to his repertory at the age of 82. There are some 150-plus works that are often licensed for performances by other dance troupes and taken on tour by both the larger company of 16 dancers and Taylor 2’s ensemble of six.

In 1993, PT with longtime colleague, Linda Hodes, created Taylor 2 so that it could tour the world and share his works with a wide audience. Since it is a company of only six professionals, it can economically meet its mandate to accommodate performance requests as well as teach and provide community outreach with a repertoire that spans the broad spectrum of his works and can be performed by a smaller ensemble. (See video at http://ptdc.org/video/taylor-2)

Among the works in the Taylor 2 repertory is the classic “Company B” set to music sung by The Andrews Sisters. It is a jazzy and wistful recollection of the nation’s hopes, dreams and disappointments just as World Wa II was beginning.

Taylor 2 dancers in "Company B." Photo by Tom Caravaglia.

While the main company’s annual visit to New York City Center ended yesterday, it goes on the road, starting 19 March at Altanta. Other stops include Washington, D.C., Stillwater, OK and Clearwater, FL. It ends on 23 July in Durham, NC.

Meanwhile, Taylor 2 is in residence at the UB Center for the Arts in Buffalo and performs there Thursday (10 March, http://www.ubcfa.org/webmodules/event/Events.aspx?eid=647#647e). Other stops are Livermore, CA and Napa, CA before the tour ends on 2 April in Colorado Springs, CO.

Taylor Dance and Taylor 2 exclusively perform pieces created by its founder and namesake. (See Video of PT's “Scudorama” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfdpmYzs3J4&NR=1) and the classic “Esplanade” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnYmdX8hpPE&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/user/danceonfilm)

Visit http://www.ptdc.org/ to learn more about the Paul Taylor Dance Company and http://ptdc.org/artists-dances/taylor-2 to learn more about Taylor 2.

Goings-on Elsewhere in the World of Dance
ANTICIPATION is growing for a visit from the Martha Graham Dance Company in honor of its 85th anniversary from 15 March to 20 March at the Rose Theatre in the Time Warner Center. (http://marthagraham.org/company/newyork)

New York City Ballet dancers Tiler Peck, Sara Mearns and Amar Ramasar perform "For the Love of Duke. Photo by Paul Kolnik

The program will include classic pieces by Martha Graham, a world premiere by Bulareyaung Pagarlava and the revival of a piece commemorating MG, Robert Wilson’s “Snow on the Mesa” …

THE New York City Ballet comes in little bursts. The winter season just ended, featured some old gems, including George Balanchine’s “Cortege Hongrois” and new faves like Susan Stroman’s “For the Love of Duke.” Not to worry. They’re back in residence at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the spring season from 3 May to 12 June. (http://www.nycballet.com/1.html) ...

WHAT won’t be back in the spring is Peter Martin’s “Swan Lake” which sold out the house, actually creating a cancellation line during the last week of the winter season. “Black Swan”-effect, you think?