All stories by LEIGH WITCHEL on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

'B&W' not consistently colorful by Leigh Witchel

The best thing about New York City Ballet's spring opener Tuesday night was that the dancers were onstage at all. Late the night before, they finally wrapped up their contentious labor negot…

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Asian accents for Armitage by Leigh Witchel

For a “punk ballerina,” Karole Armitage has some good, old-fashioned ideas. And the harder she pushes at them, the better they are. The downtown diva looked sharp at Tuesday’s opening…

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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Brazil troupe a bit Rio-petitive by Leigh Witchel

There's excitement at DanceBrazil, and lots of crowd-pleasing aerobics -- but the only real variety here is the color of the costumes. Like Brazil itself, everything's a blend. The compan…

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Monday, April 11, 2011

Hopefuls have hip-hop in their corner by Leigh Witchel

The best thing about Kyle Abra ham's "The Corner" is that it lets the up-and-coming dancers at Ailey II be themselves -- and a little bit more. These dancers are vying to join the main Ai…

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Thursday, April 7, 2011

'Under' overwhelms by Leigh Witchel

Stephen Petronio's dances can be a tri umph of style over substance, but "Underland" overwhelms your resistance. The program, at The Joyce, starts out slick and glossy, but there's so much g…

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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The bare essentials by Leigh Witchel

I nodded off, and when I came to, she was naked. That was years ago, the first time I saw Eiko & Koma -- partners in life and art -- perform. They're back and in the buff again, but this …

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Friday, April 1, 2011

Move to keep icon alive by Leigh Witchel

Richard Move doesn't imitate Mar tha Graham: He chan nels her. And while Mikhail Baryshnikov (nearly incognito in a hat and scarf) and the rest of Wednesday's opening-night audience might ha…

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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Troupe's Merce-iful salute by Leigh Witchel

It seemed all of downtown dance -- the die-hard fans and the performers as well -- paid homage Tuesday night to Merce Cunningham, the great mod ern choreographer who died in 2009. As part…

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On edge by Leigh Witchel

‘I wanted to make dance as loud as the band onstage,” says Karole Armitage — and, three decades ago, that’s exactly what she did. Now she’s bringing back da punk when Armitage Gone…

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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

A decadent night out, with Broadway pizazz by Leigh Witchel

Downtown and Broadway aren’t the most comfortable mix, but Larry Keigwin is a club kid who’s a chorus boy at heart. His new “EXIT,” which opened Tuesday, takes downtown’s clubs upt…

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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Lots of steps, but they don't go anywhere by Leigh Witchel

It was old hands on deck Tuesday night when Elisa Monte Dance opened its 30th anniversary season with retired guest dancers performing some of Monte's greatest hits. But even these distin…

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Friday, February 25, 2011

City Ballet: It's hip to see 'Square' by Leigh Witchel

The police often pair rookies with vets, so why not the ballet? At New York City Ballet Thursday night, 19-year-old Taylor Stanley and 27-year-old principal Ashley Bouder made their debuts i…

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Taylor-made 'Memories' don't run deep by Leigh Witchel

When Paul Taylor's at his best, no one can touch him. When he's not, you squirm. At his company's opening night gala, the audience did both. Now that Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham ha…

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Far from letter-perfect by Leigh Witchel

How do you dance a letter? "Letters of Love on Ripped Paper" works on the puzzle, but this dancing telegram doesn't quite manage a special delivery. Choreographed by company director Jacq…

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Sunday, February 13, 2011

It's truly 'Swan'-derful by Leigh Witchel

It's "Swan Lake," not "Black Swan." The bal let that provided the inspiration for the hit film is once again poised to be a pop culture phenomenon. Fans in London are asking if the ballet is…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 11:11PM
Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Having fun's Wonder-ful by Leigh Witchel

When Ronald K. Brown's company performs, the dancers seem to enjoy themselves as much as you do -- and maybe more. Now finishing its 25th year, Brown's Brooklyn-based Evidence, a Dance Co…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 10:51PM
Monday, January 31, 2011

Stroman forum by Leigh Witchel

Susan Stroman doesn't promise what she can't deliver -- and what she doesn't promise is high art. What Stroman, a Tony Award-winning pro who turns out slick, well-crafted dances, did deliver…

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Friday, January 28, 2011

Good old days by Leigh Witchel

FOR David Parsons, the oldies really are the goodies. His company opened Wednesday at The Joyce with three mixed bills -- and the best bets are the brief, amiable pieces Parsons made way bac…

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Balanchine program good but not letter-perfect by Leigh Witchel

New York City Ballet began with B -- for Balanchine. And while it opened its winter repertory season Tuesday night with four of the great choreographer's dances, the performance overall was …

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 11:24PM
Monday, January 17, 2011

Argentines trot out sultry hit parade by Leigh Witchel

There's nothing hellish about "Tango Inferno." The revue that recently slinked into town showcases the upbeat side of this sultry art in an evening that was enjoyable, if a tad tacky. "Ta…

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Thursday, January 13, 2011

Shaking a leg (& more) at MoMA by Leigh Witchel

There's art in motion at MoMA, where Tri sha Brown and her company are doing an hourlong performance. Starting in the atrium, they move throughout the museum -- but if you're looking for sho…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 11:56PM
Tuesday, January 4, 2011

And, finally, a hot 'Nut' by Leigh Witchel

The city's other Nutcrackers have packed up and gone, but one singular production remains: "Nutcracker Rouge," an opulent, racy take on the holiday tale that straddles the 18th and 21st cent…

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Troupe punches things up by Leigh Witchel

Imagine an evening at Alvin Ailey without "Revelations." It's pretty rare -- ask director Judith Jamison about the complaints she gets when that signature work isn't on the bill. But Sund…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 10:42PM
Sunday, December 26, 2010

The nuttier ' 'Cracker' by Leigh Witchel

There's a big new "Nutcracker" in town, and it's cracking good. The talented Russian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky has crafted a witty new version for American Ballet Theatre. Tchaikovsky's…

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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Men in tights by Leigh Witchel

If you want to under stand ballet, forget "Black Swan" and go see the Trocks. That's shorthand for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the 36-year-old, all-male comic ballet troupe tha…

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Sunday, December 12, 2010

No wonder in 'Hard Nut' by Leigh Witchel

'The Hard Nut," Mark Morris' campy take on "The Nutcracker," has been a holiday hit for nearly two decades. Re turning to New York on Friday night for the first time in eight years, it sound…

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Monday, December 6, 2010

The revelations continue by Leigh Witchel

For Judith Jamison, there are no transitions. From star dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to directing the company and now handing the reins to someone else, it's all seamless. …

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 12:15AM
Thursday, December 2, 2010

'Mad'moiselle,' s'il vous plait by Leigh Witchel

Anabelle Lopez Ochoa knows how to work a prop. Her new "Mad'moiselle" has plenty of them -- it's a smart, spicy piece of dance theater and the highlight of Ballet Hispanico's season, which o…

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Sunday, November 28, 2010

Let the holiday joy begin! by Leigh Witchel

Ah, tradition. New York City Ballet's "The Nutcracker" is as much about kicking off the holiday season as it is about dance. Opening night Fri day had a light, warm touch, like the annual vi…

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Friday, November 26, 2010

Also taking a 'crack' at classic by Leigh Witchel

Along with the big three, there's a "Nutcracker" for every taste and budget. To wit: * Urban Ballet Theater's hip-hop and salsa-flavored version, "Nutcracker in the Lower," features 'hood-…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 04:26AM

Mixed 'Nuts' on city stages by Leigh Witchel

There's more than one nut to crack this year. New York City Ballet's "Nutcracker," a holiday tradition since 1954, has some first-class com petition, both from American Ballet Theatre and Ma…

SOURCE: The New York Post Subscription at 02:22AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre