183 stories by "Leigh Witchel"
What's Australian for "Swan Lake"? Down Under has its own version of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece " one that capped off the Australian Ballet's first visit here since 1999. The newfangled "Swan…
American Ballet Theatre's opening night was the usual gala circus, but that's the fun of it. Attended by a glittery crowd that included Bebe Neuwirth, Wendy Williams and skater Johnny Weir, …
Opening night Tuesday at New York City Ballet seemed like a surprise party " one where the dancers came into the theater to rehearse, turned on the lights and found the audience sitting ther…
Anyone who believes there are no meaty roles for dancers should check out "Borrowed Prey," starting Thursday. Performed for just 20 people at a time, it's the rare dance piece that takes pla…
'last Touch First" starts off slowly " literally. In fact, most of this hourlong performance piece is danced at a crawl, and yet it crosses the finish line.
The piece is based on Czech-born …
Sylvie Guillem is a diva in spite of herself. Rudolf Nureyev made her a star at the Paris Opera Ballet back in the '80s, but her technique was still formidable Wednesday, opening night of he…
The Whitney Biennial likes to shock, and so does Michael Clark. Back in Thatcher's England, the British choreographer, now 49, set his dances to punk rock and put Hitler mustaches on his fem…
They may not be on your radar yet, but the women of the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble are rock stars in the dance world. At Tuesday's opening night, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Isaac Mizrahi were in…
There is no joy at Lincoln Center " mighty Paul Taylor has struck out. America's senior modern-dance genius showed three new works in the first week of his company's New York season. Alas, n…
It's hard work keeping a legendary choreographer's spirit alive. Martha Graham's company has taken a daring, postmodern approach " only half the dances on Tuesday's opening night of the comp…
In Boris Eifman's world, there's no such thing as a happy artist: Geniuses are all misunderstood, tortured or insane. Having examined Tchaikovsky and Balanchine through morose-colored glasse…
There's a fine line between austere and dull, and Emanuel Gat crossed it. Switzerland's Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve opened at the Joyce Tuesday with the Israeli choreographer's "Prelud…
While the Republican candidates were duking it out in Arizona Wednesday night, Ballet Arizona visited New York for the first time " and it's a group worthy of bipartisan support.
The company…
While the Republican candidates were duking it out in Arizona Wednesday night, Ballet Arizona visited New York for the first time " and it's a group worthy of bipartisan support.The company …
New York City Ballet featured two big, glitzy spectacles at Wednesday night's mixed bill, but only one pulled its weight. A return engagement of last spring's "The Seven Deadly Sins" was no …
To the list of Russian treasures " Fabergé eggs, caviar, Anna Netrebko " add "Russian Seasons," Alexei Ratmansky's beautiful ballet for New York City Ballet. Now going on 6 years old, it wa…
Some are born female; others achieve it. Jin Xing is one of the latter, in a tenacious odyssey from birth as a boy to her present life and dance career as a woman. Her "Shanghai Tango" has t…
The main event at New York City Ballet on Saturday night was supposed to be the first program entirely by Christopher Wheeldon " a triple bill with a premiere, an import and a mainstay. But …
Downtown choreographer David Dorfman gets his groove on " with a lot of help from Sly and the Family Stone. "Prophets of Funk" is a trip back to Dorfman's funk and disco roots, but it's not …
'who Cares?" You should, particularly if Tiler Peck is dancing the lead. New York City Ballet opened its winter repertory season Tuesday, and the company looked energized, dancing an all-Bal…
I* "Questions About Angels," Joseph Mills tries to depict heaven on a shoestring " and though he uses only flashlights, tulle and student dancers, he sometimes catches a glimpse. But aside f…
David Parsons is a whiz at whipping up entertaining dances " with a thick, ingratiating layer of cheese. So it's a pleasant surprise to see his current show is still entertaining, but with m…
The word Davis Freeman says best describes his piece "Too Shy To Stare" is "hyper-intimate." And indeed it is. At times, you're alone with performers who are close enough to you that it seem…
The Focus Dance festival trains its sights on up-and-coming companies " eight in all. The first half of Wednesday's double bill had laser focus " the second still had clarity, but nothing be…
A 58-year journey is coming to an end. From now through New Year's Eve, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company will take its final bows " your last chance to see the modern-dance great's works p…
