One of Japan’s buzz-worthy young theater companies, chelfitsch, is in town this week at the Japan Society on Feb 5-7. The troupe’s name is a baby-talk twist on the word selfish. This makes perfect sense given the context of the play, Five Days in March, written and directed by the group’s artistic director Toshiki Okada. [...]

Ah, New York, the ring of fire that all good ballet companies must eventually jump through, despite facing large financial hurdles (well, chasms, actually) and a critical gauntlet. Miami City Ballet makes its first major New York run at City Center from Jan 21-25, and artistic Edward Villella is bringing the big stuff in two [...]

Looking back at 2008: Best Performances  Cognizant of World Events Maguy Marin’s Umwelt, Joyce Theater (excerpts here) Jane Comfort’s An American Rendition, Duke Theater Best William Forsythe Alumnus Showing Richard Siegal, As If Stranger, Danspace Project and New 45 at Fall for Dance Best Show You Probably Didn’t See Batsheva (Ohad Naharin)’s Kamuyot, in performances [...]

If you’ve been hibernating in a cave, here’s some good news: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is celebrating its 50th anniversary. (Don’t ask about the bad news. Just go back in the cave, fast.) You can only tip your hat to the juggernaut they’ve become, what with street namings, Barbie dolls, guesting on Dancing with [...]

A list of holiday traditions in New York runs longer than my arm, but two are essential. One is New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker, which always conjures seasonal spirit, even in annual viewings. Another is Doug Elkins’ Fraulein Maria at The Public Theater’s Joe’s Pub, which couldn’t be more of a contrast, but which left [...]

It’s been pretty warm so far this fall, thankfully. But Inbal Pinto Dance Company’s  Shaker, at the Joyce, might put you in the mood for a cold snap with a winter wonderland of a set, based on the concept of a snowglobe. A thick layer of fake snow blankets the stage, and a horizontal baffle [...]

Attention spans are definitely getting shorter. The whole internet thing, Google, texting, Twitter – how much shorter can the essence of a thought get than 140 characters or an emoticon? And now brevity has ferociously seized the performing arts with 60×60 Dance. This free event, at the World Financial Center’s Arts>World on November 14 at [...]

ABT’s big New York season takes place in the summer, when they mainly feature lavish productions of well-known ballets such as Swan Lake and La Bayadère. But their annual two-week City Center seasons are often more exciting, featuring contemporary choreographers’ work, or smaller-scaled repertory. Also, frequently cast in prominent roles are younger company members who [...]

In the wake of bragging about how New York’s native ballet scene has been greatly enriched by the regular presence of Christopher Wheeldon’s Morphoses and Alexei Ratmansky signing with ABT, I’m now going to sing the praises of visiting company San Francisco Ballet. This troupe, which makes too few trips to New York, is at [...]

New York City is a tour date for many of the world’s leading ballet companies, if only once every decade (ahem, Kirov). But stick around long enough and there’s a pretty good chance you’ll catch lots of them. But the city’s native ballet scene has brightened in recent years. Twyla Tharp has created new work [...]