Arts & Culture Articles

Gus Solomons Jr. dancer / choreographer / writer / actor / PARADIGM – shifter

January 6, 2011

I began my conversation with Gus Solomons Jr. by saying, “as a dancer, age is such a…” “MYTH!” Solomons interjected. And then, grimacing, he added, “age is such a reality.” photo by Stephen Schreiber, courtesy of PARADIGM dance January 1, 2011 marked the first day of a trend that will span the next 19 years: [...]

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Haiti Is Wailing: Gina Athena Ulysse, Anthropologist and Performing Artist

December 9, 2010

“Performance is where the parts of me [Haitian -- anthropologist -- professor -- singer -- writer] integrate. When I perform this piece I am wholly human and meet the audience on that visceral level.” photo credit: Andy-Vernon Jones As Gina Athena Ulysse prepares for her show, Because God is too Busy: Haiti, me and The [...]

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NY Times Critic Alastair Macaulay: Judging Bodies in Ballet and Beyond

December 9, 2010

Regarding the issue that is drawing most attention in Mr. Macaulay’s original article on NYC Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker and in his subsequent piece, “Judging the Bodies of Ballet” — his comments on the dancers’ physical appearance — I am compelled to ask that we put this into perspective. When we speak of ‘plump’, [...]

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Nutcracker: Alastair Macaulay, Senior Dance Critic for the New York Times

December 2, 2010

“To me, criticism is about reconciling heart and head.” Alastair Macaulay, from an interview in Ballet Magazine 2010 On November 28th The New York Times released Alastair Macaulay’s review of New York City Ballet’s performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. This piece has stirred up quite a controversy due to Mr. Macaulay’s comment: “Jenifer Ringer, [...]

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Dance and Visual Art on Film: Finite and Infinite Games

November 24, 2010

Recently, I viewed an advance copy of a collaborative art film titled, Finite and Infinite Games. It is stunning; visually rich with color, architecture, and movement. I was specifically curious about the manner in which this film brought individual voices, from New York, LA, and Italy, together to form a cohesive whole. “Sometimes the most [...]

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Ballet Hispanico’s New Executive Director; Continuing a Tradition of Inclusive Integration

November 19, 2010

When I think of the term “Hispanic” I am conscious of the fact that I’m referring to a widely diverse group of cultures. In viewing the repertory of Ballet Hispanico, I see that spectrum reflected effectively in their work. As the company prepares for their New York season at the Joyce Theater (Nov. 30-Dec. 12), [...]

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For Artists and Arts Organizations: 6 Steps to Building Your Base Through Authentic Engagement

November 11, 2010

This past Monday (Nov. 15th), I gave a talk for Women in Development, New York at El Museo del Barrio. The topic was ‘Fundraising in the Age of Social Networking,’ and I presented with Rebecca Krause-Hardie, of Audience Works. My portion of the program focused on content creation and engagement through social media. This past [...]

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In Times of Crisis: Saving Art

August 26, 2010

In order to understand where art is headed in this new e-economy, we must remember where art has been and see the possible trajectories for the future. Tuesday a piece entitled, The High Cost of Free Culture, was posted by Bevin Carnes on the Huffington Post. Carnes closes her piece with the following: I don’t [...]

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Ballet Memphis: Nurturing Community Through Art

July 30, 2010

Upon reading a recent piece in the Guardian, entitled ‘Points of Culture: what Brazil can teach Britain about Art‘, I was reminded of a small US dance company whose vision continues to inspire: Ballet Memphis. In creating Points of Culture (launched in 2003) with musician and Minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil, Brazilian President Luna pledged [...]

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Dancing in a Vacuum: The NEA Says Get Online

July 5, 2010

“American dance is a fugitive art, resistant to capture, elusive in definition, and difficult to quantify.” – Douglas C. Sonntag, Director of Dance for the NEA, 2003 Image courtesy of skybetter and associates, photo credit: Tom Caravaglia Contemporary dance has an image problem. Its impermanence makes it difficult to critique, its apparent opacity makes it [...]

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