Merce Cunningham's centennial kicks off at The Joyce

By Ivy Lin, 17 April 2019

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“the dancers mostly conveyed the joy of Cunningham's Duets and concealed the strain”

Reviewed at Joyce Theater, New York City on 17 April 2019

Suite for 5 (Merce Cunningham)

Summerspace (Merce Cunningham)

Duets (Merce Cunningham)

Compagnie CNDC-Angers

Ballet West

The Washington Ballet

Drama/no drama from New York Theatre Ballet at Judson Church

Carla Escoda, 10th April

Anthony Tudor and Merce Cunningham provided the lighter fare in a mixed bill that featured two world premieres from Kevin Iega Jeff, a veteran of the Chicago dance scene, and Julian Donahue, a newer voice.

****1

Liam Francis Dance Company in Alchemy: an absorbing London debut

Daniel Pratt, 7th November

Liam Francis Dance Company at The Place brings an instinctive and intelligent debut for a choreographer in-step with what it is to be a dance artist now.

*****

NYCB's winter season begins with Peck's brand new “sneaker ballet”

Ivy Lin, 27th January

The NYCB dancers are very at-home in this idiom, and they threw themselves wholeheartedly into this ballet. It was never less than watchable, but the music cried out for more avante-garde choreography than Peck provided.

****1

‘The Future Bursts in’ with Dance Umbrella

Sarah Kirkup, 24th October

Amala Dianor and CNN Ballet de Lorraine channel the US choreographer in two UK premieres and a Cunningham classic, all brilliantly performed.

****1

The Royal Ballet keeps the Cunningham flame aglow

Graham Watts, 11th October

A brief but innovative tribute to the lasting influence of Merce Cunningham in the Linbury Theatre

****1

NYCB does Cunningham ... and Balanchine

Ivy Lin, 5th October

Judging by the enthusiastic audience reactions to this program one might have to rethink the modern/ballet divide. Maybe there’s only two types of dance – good dance and bad dance.

****1

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Ivy Lin

Ivy Lin's love of ballet began in high school when at the school dance she quickly realized she had two left feet. One always admires things one cannot do, and so Ivy began to attend dance performances to marvel at the grace and beauty of bodies in motion. Ivy's day job is a biology teacher and after a long day in the classroom she loves to unwind by watching dance. She also enjoys theater, opera, pop and classical music. Ivy has her own blog (www.humbledandoverwhelmed,blogspot.com)