Dance on the Hudson: top picks from the Battery Dance Festival

Pori Dance Company in Songs

Span Dance Company in Agocha Davies' Harmonic Ascend

Focus Dance Company in Tsai Hsi Hung's Self-Portrait

Kailei Sin in who, what, when, where, and why?

Lucas Crew's Minsu Kim

Julie Crothers in Secondhand

By Carla Escoda, 22 August 2024

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“frenzied bursts of energy, arms furiously slicing the air, bodies contorted near the ground”

Reviewed at Battery Dance, New York City on 11 August 2024

Mixed Programme

Pori Dance Company

Span Dance Company

A'nó:wara Dance Theatre

Focus Dance Company

wee dance company

The Royal Ballet and McGregor: stunning dancing but nothing really new

Deborah Weiss, 18th April

An evening of ballets by Wayne McGregor, including the world premiere of Quantum Souls, proved to be a little too much of the same thing.

***11

The Center Will Not Hold: Dorrance Dance thrills at Sadler's Wells

Daniel Pratt, 17th April

Dorrance Dance offer a compelling mix of genres in The Center Will Not Hold – high energy, full of surprises, top quality performances.

****1

Natalia Makarova's La Bayadère: a night to remember in Oslo

Vikki Jane Vile, 17th April

Norwegian National Ballet gives a marvellous rendition of Natalia Makarova's La Bayadère. Opening night in Oslo was a strong argument for its place in any season, displaying ballet escapism at its best.

****1

Pop goes postmodern: Kyle Abraham's Cassette Vol. 1 in New York

Carla Escoda, 16th April

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham with guest artist Taylor Stanley bring a postmodern vibe to an early MTV-era playlist. One of the most bewitching things you're likely to encounter this year.

*****

Scottish Ballet’s Starstruck: plenty of pzazz in Glasgow

Kathy Elgin, 16th April

Christopher Hampson’s newly updated Starstruck is thoroughly entertaining with sexy solos, classical pas de deux and lines of perfectly-timed Broadway hoofing.

****1

International Draft Works at the Linbury brought much to delight

Amanda Jennings, 16th April

The Royal Ballet's International Draft Works proved to be an excellent opportunity to see dancers and budding choreographers from around the world.

****1

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Carla Escoda

Born in the Philippines, Carla trained as a ballet and modern dancer with the Alice Reyes Dance Company in Manila. She has lived and worked in Asia and the U.S. and has written about the arts for Bachtrack, KQED (the northern California public media broadcaster), Dance International, dance journal/hk, the Huffington Post, Dance Europe and ballettothepeople.