Stephen Petronio's Like Lazarus Did in Boston

Ivan Talijancic shares his observations in conjunction with Stephen Petronio Company's 30th anniversary engagement at The Joyce Theater in New York City.

Saturday’s one-off double bill saw new work from one of Britain’s best, Richard Alston, paired with American Stephen Petronio’s creation for the National Dance Company of Wales. The show comes as part of the biennial British Dance Edition, a showcase of the top talents in British dance.

Contemporary dance group, BODYTRAFFIC, made its Boston debut on Friday for a two-night, sold out engagement at the Institute of Contemporary Art, bringing the audience to its feet with a trio of works from three exciting and entirely distinctive choreographers, Kyle Abraham, Barak Marshall, and Richard Siegal.

Acclaimed violinist and 2024 MacArthur Fellow Johnny Gandelsman invited four choreographers to join him on a marathon through Bach's six cello suites. His musicianship was the highlight of the evening. 

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.  

In a tremendous triple bill at New York City Center, Martha Graham’s genius and Janet Elber’s stewardship of the company into the 21st century deserve to be celebrated, loudly.