All stories by Michael Crabb on BroadwayStars

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Ballet Jorgen's Sleeping Beauty aims to 'keep young audiences awake’ by Michael Crabb

New spin on one of the great heritage ballets picks up the pace, goes back to fairy tale’s roots.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:01AM
Thursday, March 10, 2016

National Ballet’s Cacti packs a wallop: review by Michael Crabb

Alexander Ekman work part of National Ballet mixed program with Four Temperaments and Rubies.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 11:18AM
Sunday, March 6, 2016

Akram Khan turns dance duet into a solo by Michael Crabb

Musicians take on a bigger role in Khan's reimagined piece, which was developed after dance partner Israel Galvan was injured.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:01AM
Thursday, March 3, 2016

La Sylphide delights as National Ballet spring opener: review by Michael Crabb

Wednesday’s opening cast was led by the company’s most recently hired principal, Jurgita Dronina.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 02:11PM

A dancer’s and a company’s Awakening by Michael Crabb

Robert Battle’s piece reflects his personal journey and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s renewal.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 11:00AM
Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Venerable La Sylphide returns to the stage by Michael Crabb

Danish star Johan Kobborg stages National Ballet of Canada’s latest revival of Bournonville work.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 03:53PM
Thursday, February 25, 2016

Impressive new choreographers highlighted in Dance Immersion showcase by Michael Crabb

Caribbean, African and Canadian contributors will all be a part of event that celebrates Black History Month.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:01AM
Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Dance performance Betroffenheit inspired by real tragedy by Michael Crabb

Actor/playwright Jonathon Young wrote the script after his teenage daughter was killed in a 2009 fire.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:01AM
Friday, February 12, 2016

Energetic dance, live from New York and Toronto: review by Michael Crabb

Toronto Dance Theatre’s New York/Toronto Project gives Euro-dance a run for its money.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 04:35PM
Thursday, February 11, 2016

Cold Blood is full of marvellous ingenuity: review by Michael Crabb

Michèle Anne de Mey, Jaco van Dormael and their team keep show fresh yet utterly polished.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 03:09PM
Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Going Home Star tells residential school story in visceral form: review by Michael Crabb

Dancers’ total investment in ballet that mixes realism and supernaturalism.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 11:32AM
Friday, February 5, 2016

A Marriage of Figaro with psychological depth: review by Michael Crabb

In Claus Guth’s Figaro the humour is sharply barbed, yet the music remains glorious and the singing mostly luminous.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:00PM
Thursday, February 4, 2016

Hope and shame on the ballet stage in Going Home Star by Michael Crabb

Royal Winnipeg Ballet production grapples with Canada's residential school system. It plays Toronto Feb. 5 and 6.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 10:00AM
Saturday, January 23, 2016

Phase Space explores the chaos of human memory by Michael Crabb

Continuing on a theme from last season's 'Locus Plot', choreographer Peggy Baker draws from concepts of mathematics and physics for her new project.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:14PM
Friday, January 22, 2016

Dance Weekend gives big bang for your 10 bucks by Michael Crabb

Dance Ontario programs everything from hip hop to flamenco in three-day festival at Harbourfront.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:01AM
Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Antarctic voyage was starting point for dance project by Michael Crabb

Lucy Rupert used Shackleton expedition as inspiration for Dead Reckoning.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 08:33PM
Saturday, December 12, 2015

A look behind the Nutcracker curtain and 18 Sugar Plum Fairies by Michael Crabb

A look at what goes into a performance of the National Ballet’s The Nutcracker, opening Dec. 12.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 10:00AM
Thursday, December 3, 2015

Nathaniel Dett Chorale adds joyful noise to Ballet Creole’s Messiah by Michael Crabb

Soulful Messiah, at Fleck Dance Theatre Dec. 4 to 6, will be danced to live music for first time.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 10:30AM
Thursday, November 26, 2015

Guillaume Côté blazes back to glory in Romeo and Juliet: review by Michael Crabb

Equally passionate performance by Elena Lobsanova part of thrilling National Ballet production

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 01:12PM

Dance artists take on homophobia in FACING Home by Michael Crabb

Kevin Ormsby and Chris Walker are from Jamaica, once described as ‘the most homophobic place on earth.’

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 10:00AM
Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Harrison James, a prince among dancers by Michael Crabb

His National Ballet colleagues have nothing but nice things to say about James, who makes his debut Nov. 28 as Romeo.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 01:00PM
Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Imperial Ice Stars up the thrills in Sleeping Beauty on Ice by Michael Crabb

Virtuoso skating, dazzling costumes, digital scenery, sword fights, fire and flying effects part of Sony Centre show.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:00PM
Saturday, November 14, 2015

Ballet superstar Wheeldon tackles Shakespeare's dark Winter’s Tale by Michael Crabb

Choreographer stripped play to essentials for National Ballet version, getting North American premiere Nov. 14.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 08:00AM
Friday, November 13, 2015

Russian ballerina Jurgita Dronina is National Ballet’s newest star by Michael Crabb

Gifted 29-year-old dancer’s road to Canada passed through Lithuania, Germany and Sweden.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 10:56AM
Thursday, November 12, 2015

Hanna Kiel speaks with movement to power by Michael Crabb

Her new dance work, Armband, deals with power dynamics, symbols of authority and how people react to them.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 09:30AM
Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Dance that pushes the limits, in more ways than one by Michael Crabb

Brutishly athletic outbursts, precarious balances and minimal costumes part of Daniel Léveillé’s choreography

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 10:00AM
Saturday, October 17, 2015

Canadian Contemporary Dance Theatre performs in New York festival by Michael Crabb

Ranging in age from 11 to 18, dancers to perform José Limon's The Winged at international festival.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 11:00AM
Sunday, October 11, 2015

Childhood memories permeate Coleman Lemieux's Les Paradis Perdus/Remix by Michael Crabb

Laurence Lemieux revisits work she first choreographed in 2005.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 09:00AM
Tuesday, September 29, 2015

ProArteDanza lives up to motto of passion in performance: review by Michael Crabb

Company was superb in works by Mauro Astolfi, Ryan Lee, Roberto Campanella and Robert Glumbek

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 05:58PM
Monday, September 28, 2015

Will Toronto Fall for Dance? by Michael Crabb

Inaugural local version of New York dance festival sets up shop at Sony Centre Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 02:34PM
Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Toronto Heritage Dance revives 1977's A Simple Melody by Michael Crabb

Peter Randazzo work fits company's aim of upholding choreographic form, theatricality and humanistic values in dance.

SOURCE: Toronto Star at 12:00PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards