This past summer, choreographer Sidra Bell was asked by Wendy Whelan, Associate Artistic Director at New York City Ballet (NYCB), if she was interested in creating one of five site-specific commissions for the company. With its in-person season scrapped due to COVID-19, NYCB planned to have the new dances performed…
by Rocío De La Roca, Communications Associate at ArtsWestchester Summer has arrived, and kids and adults still anxiously wait to escape the monotony and strain of quarantine. Most summers, families look forward to enrolling in summer camps, a vital ritual and aid for many children and their working parents. Yet with COVID-19 still looming, countless…
This past weekend, energetic dancers in vibrant and colorful costumes performed patriotic and folk dances from various regions of India, swishing and twirling on stage. Their feet beat to the tunes of well-known folk songs, as well as modern Bollywood music. Musicians graced the stage with sitar, tabla, and other instruments as singers sang beautifully. It was all in the name of the Republic of India.
Access to art and means of artistic expression may sometimes seem like a given but, to many, the idea of participating in an activity like an instructional dance class can be a daunting task. The majority of dance classes are not suited to accommodate a student in a wheelchair or people with developmental and intellectual differences. However, there are increasingly more institutions that are dedicating time and resources to supporting inclusive spaces and programs. One prime example is Steffi Nossen School of Dance, which is supported by a grant from ArtsWestchester.
When The Nutcracker premiered in Russia in 1892, it was arguably a flop. Mixed reviews picked apart the casting, scene transitions, choreography and even Tchaikovsky’s score. By the 1960s, it gained popularity in the United States, largely due to New York City Ballet (NYCB)’s iteration of the ballet, choreographed by George Balanchine. Today, The Nutcracker is often viewed as the quintessential story of wonderment and holiday cheer. Film house screenings, live dance productions, a marionette show and family-friendly adaptations throughout the County are all on the calendar for December.
Color, enthusiasm and culture. That’s what Seth Soloway, Director at The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College (PAC), experienced during his recent trip to Mexico – and that’s just what he has brought back home to Westchester.
Yet to open, but already carving out a space at the intersection of civic engagement and culture, the Sing Sing Prison Museum will present a provocative dance performance that raises questions about justice and injustice. The Wait Room, produced by San Francisco’s Flyaway Productions and co-presented with the Bethany Arts…
Westchester is jam-packed with exciting summer events that will get you outdoors! We’ve rounded up 4 fun summer programs, including Shakespeare in the Park performances, outdoor concerts and celebrations happening throughout Westchester, many of which are free. Be sure to check out our “Music in the Air” destination guide for more free and affordable (under $20) summer arts events in Westchester and sign up for our newsletters and consult our Event Calendar to stay informed of more great family-friendly events!
Ballet Hispánico, the premier Latino dance organization in the United States, performs three works at the Emelin Theatre on June 8. Sombrerísimo, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, is inspired by the surrealist world of Belgian painter René Magritte. In Con Brazos Abiertos, choreographer Michelle Manzanales explores iconic Mexican symbols she was reluctant to embrace as an immigrant growing up in Texas. In Danzón, choreographer Eduardo Vilaro takes the traditional Cuban titular dance form and reinvents it with contemporary language in a joyous celebration.
A trio of performances followed by talkbacks with the artists highlights new choreography in Dance Off the Grid at the Emelin Theatre on May 4. High-minded humor is at the heart of Keigwin + Company performances conceived by Artistic Director Larry Keigwin. Excerpts from his duet with co-founder Nicole Wolcott Places Please! take the audience on a madcap trip through the final moments before the curtain goes up on a performance exploring the anxiety and playfulness of behind-the-scenes life.
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