this week in dance

CELEBRATE ISRAEL PARADE — PICTURE ISRAEL: THE ART AND THE CRAFT

Bad weather couldn’t dampen the spirit of the 2012 Celebrate Israel Parade (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

57th to 74th St. up Fifth Ave.
Sunday, June 2, free, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
celebrateisraelny.org

On May 14, 1948, “The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel” proclaimed, “The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice, and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race, or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education, and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.” It’s been more than a little bumpy along the way, but Israel will be celebrating its maturation into senior citizenship on Sunday, June 2, with festivities in honor of its sixty-fifth birthday. The day kicks off with an 8:00 morning run through Central Park, followed by the Celebrate Israel Parade; the theme this year is “Picture Israel: The Art & the Craft,” focusing on “Illustrate, Create, Paint, Frame It.” The grand marshals are Long Island philanthropists Marty and Melodie Scharf and Israel Consul General Ido Aharoni, while special guests include Dr. Ruth Westheimer, journalists Harry Martin, Robert Moses, and Becky Griffith, and the Israel National Soccer Team, who will be taking on Honduras at Citi Field at 4:00. Among the many performers at the parade will be SOULFARM, the Brooklyn Jumbies, the Areyvut Mitzvah Clowns, Gilad Segev, the Barynya Entertainment Dancers, Amir Gwirtzman, the Rafi Malkiel Ensemble, Mama Doni, the BaRock Orchestra, Eyal Rob, and the Hebrew Wizards Band.

HOWL! FESTIVAL 2013

Tompkins Square Park
Ave. A to Ave. B between Seventh & Tenth Sts.
May 31 – June 2, free
www.howlfestival.com

“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness,” begins Allen Ginsberg’s Howl, which serves as the centerpiece for the somewhat annual Howl! Festival in and around Tompkins Square Park this weekend. The madness kicks off Friday at 4:30 with the Great Howl!, with Tyler Burba performing songs by Ginsberg, Bob Holman orchestrating a lineup of poets, and a group reading of Ginsberg’s masterpiece; among the participants are Hettie Jones, David Henderson, Jennifer Blowdryer, Lydia Lunch, Bob Rosenthal, Eliot Katz, Edwin Torres, and Nancy Mercado. On Saturday afternoon, there will be live performances on the Great Howl! Stage by Miami Rice, Anna Copacabana, Tall Pines, Ward White, Faith . . . , Richard Lloyd, and Vangeline Theater’s Mosaic. Meanwhile, the Beatification Stage will be holding a marathon poetry reading celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, hosted by Todd Colby and including Jenny Zhang, Maggie Estep, Jennifer L. Knox, Mike Doughty, Carl Hancock Rux, CA Conrad, Bo DePena, Jason Nazary, and others. There will also be a children’s carnival, live painting on canvases surrounding the park, Riki Colon’s Men in Skirts presenting And I Still Rise, and the Allen Ginsberg Magnetic Field, consisting of installations, demonstrations, interactive projects, community nonprofit organizations, and more. On Sunday, Great Howl! Stage performers include Karen Marie, Bear 54, Diane Gentile, Andy Shernoff, Jack Skuller, and the Liza Colby Sound; dance will take over the Beatification Stage (along with Marguerite Van Cook’s Rockland series); and the Great Ladies of the Lower East Side will be honored in Low Life 7: Bowery Bombshells, paying tribute to Emma Goldman, Cookie Mueller, Mae West, Slugger Ann, Ellen Stewart, Patti Smith, and others.

THE RED HOOK FEST — REBUILD, RESTORE, REBIRTH: RESILIENCE AFTER SANDY

Brooklyn’s Gangstagrass is one of the featured performers at the twentieth annual Red Hook Fest

PS 15 (71 Sullivan St.) and Louis J. Valentino Park and Pier
May 30 – June 1, free
www.dancetheatreetcetera.org

Red Hook continues its recovery from the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy with the twentieth annual Red Hook Fest, whose theme this year is “Rebuild, Restore, Rebirth: Resilience after Sandy.” The festival gets under way Thursday night at 6:00 with the Youth Kick-Off at PS 15 at 71 Sullivan St., featuring live performances from young Brooklyn artists. On Friday night at 6:00, PS 15 will host a BBQ/Dance Party. On Saturday morning, the Red Hook Rebirth Parade begins at Coffey Park at 10:00, with local businesses, individuals, school groups, art organizations, and others making their way to Valentino Park and Pier, where mainstage performances run from 12 noon to 7:00, including Brown Rice Family, Gangstagrass, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Avenida B, Nicholas Leichter Dance, and the Hungry March Band, in addition to Danced Invocations for Red Hook Recovery with Rita Silva, Vongku Pak, and Kaina Quenga. There will also be free kayak rides in New York Harbor, sponsored by Red Hook Boaters.

TIFFANY MILLS COMPANY: BERRIES AND BULLS / THE FEAST (PART 1)

Petra van Noort, Jeffrey Duval, and Kevin Ho (photo © Julie Lemberger, 2013)

Petra van Noort, Jeffrey Duval, and Kevin Ho will be part of world premiere of BERRIES AND BULLS at BAM (photo © Julie Lemberger, 2013)

BAM Fisher, Fishman Space
321 Ashland Pl.
May 30 – June 2, $20
718-636-4100
www.bam.org
www.tiffanymillscompany.org

Over the last few years, the New York-based Tiffany Mills Company has been developing Berries and Bulls, an hour-long piece that incorporates movement and text in exploring long-term relationships, performed by four dancers. Early versions of the work were presented at Dance New Amsterdam in 2010 and the Baryshnikov Arts Center in 2012, but Mills has now expanded Berries and Bulls, with the world premiere of the new production taking place at BAM’s Fishman Space May 30 through June 2, featuring the original quartet (Jeffrey Duval, Kevin Ho, Emily Pope-Blackman, and Petra van Noort) along with an additional ten guest dancers (Einy Am, Lucie Baker, Ching-I Chang, John Hoobyar, Elise Knudson, Nikolas Owens, Hannah Seidel, Kensaku Shinohara, Simon Thomas-Train, and Mei Yamanaka). The text is by Dr. Peter Petralia, the founding artistic director of the British-based experimental, multidisciplinary Proto-type Theater, with a new set by Brooklyn-based visual artist Ian Trask. Also on the program is The Feast (Part 1), which examines the human condition through abundance and scarcity, nourishment and starvation, performed by five dancers and set to an original score by Jonathan Melville Pratt, with the audience involved in creating the space. Berries and Bulls and The Feast (Part 1) are part of BAM’s Professional Development Program, a collaboration with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center that benefits nonprofit arts organizations.

FREE SUMMER DANCE 2013

Stephen Petronio Company will perform the site-specific LIKE LAZARUS DID on June 29 at St. Paul’s Chapel (photo by David Rosenberg)

Saturday, June 1
Red Hook Fest: Brown Rice Family, Gangstagrass, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Avenida B, Nicholas Leichter Dance, the Hungry March Band, Louis J. Valentino Jr. Park & Pier, 12 noon – 7:00 pm

Sunday, June 2
SummerStage: Harborlore Festival: Dancing the Waters, with Annie Ferdous, Kaina Quenga, and Rita Silva, Kaiser Park, 3:00

Friday, June 14
SummerStage: Jamal Jackson Dance Company, Movement for the Urban Village, all levels open dance master class, Herbert Von King Park, 7:00

Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15
Hudson River Dances, with Naomi Goldberg Haas/Dances for a Variable Population, 14th St. Park, 5:00 & 6:30

Thursday, June 27
Celebrate Brooklyn! Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Prospect Park Bandshell, 8:00

Saturday, June 29
SummerStage Kids: Bronx Family Day with KR3TS Dance Company, the Gizmo Guys, LuckyBob: Variety Performer, Double Dutch Dreamz, and DJ set by Idlemind “the Appropriate Agent,” St. Mary’s Park, 4:00

River to River: Stephen Petronio Company, Like Lazarus Did (LLD 6/29), St. Paul’s Chapel, 7:30

Tuesday, July 2
River to River: luciana achugar with Elastic City, Feeling Is Believing, walk begins at 100 Wall St., advance RSVP required beginning June 1, 7:00

Saturday, July 6, 13, 20
and
Sunday, July 7, 14, 21
4Chambers, Judy Oberfelder Dance Projects, Officers’ House #15, Nolan Park, Governors Island, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30, 4:00, 5:30

Advance RSVP is required for luciana achugar’s special River to River walking performances

Tuesday, July 9
through
Thursday, July 11
River to River: luciana achugar with Elastic City, Feeling Is Believing, begins at 100 Wall St., 7:00

Friday, July 19
SummerStage: Rennie Harris Collective Inc., Queensbridge Park, 8:00

Saturday, July 20
SummerStage: Dance Iquail!, with live music by Iquail Shaheed, Christopher Ralph, and Amber Perkins, Queensbridge Park, All Levels Open Dance Master Class by Karisma Jay at 7:00, performance at 8:00

Tuesday, July 23
SummerStage: Martha Graham Dance Company with special guest, Dancin’ Downtown at the Joyce contest winner, Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, 8:00

Wednesday, July 24
SummerStage: Martha Graham Dance Company with special guest, Dancin’ Downtown at the Joyce contest winner, Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, 8:00

Wednesday, July 24
and
Thursday, July 25
Lincoln Center Out of Doors: Kronos at 40, with Mark Dendy Dance & Theater Projects presenting the world premiere of Ritual Cyclical, Hearst Plaza, 6:00

Wednesday, July 31
SummerStage This Is_Hip-Hop: RSC Ghetto Made, by Rock Steady Crew, Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, 8:00

Thursday, August 1
Lincoln Center Out of Doors: A Tale of Two Nations, open rehearsal with Maracatu Nação Estrela Brilhante, and Nation Beat, Josie Robertson Plaza, 6:00

Celebrate Brooklyn! Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Prospect Park Bandshell, 8:00

Lincoln Center Out of Doors: Pavement by Kyle Abraham & Abraham.in.Motion, and The Living Word Project: Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s Word Becomes Flesh, Damrosch Park Bandshell, 7:30

Friday, August 2
Lincoln Center Out of Doors: A Tale of Two Nations, with Maracatu Nação Estrela Brilhante, and Nation Beat, and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles, Damrosch Park Bandshell, 7:00

Saturday, August 3
Lincoln Center Out of Doors: El Gusto, ZvidDance: Dabke,, Damrosch Park Bandshell, 7:00

TWIN is one of three pieces Dance Heginbotham will perform at River to River Festival (photo by Julia Cervantes)

TWIN is one of three pieces Dance Heginbotham will perform at Lincoln Center on August 8 (photo by Julia Cervantes)

Thursday, August 8
Lincoln Center Out of Doors: Dance Heginbotham with the Raymond Scott Orchestrette (world premiere of Manhattan Research, plus Twin and throwaway), and Butler, Bernstein & the Hot 9, Damrosch Park Bandshell, 7:30

Friday, August 9
SummerStage: Harlem Dance Caravan, with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Illstyle & Peace Productions, and OPUS Dance Theatre, Marcus Garvey Park, 8:00, All Levels Open Dance Master Class by Dana McBroom-Manno at 7:00, performances at 8:00

Saturday, August 10
Dance at Socrates: Julia K. Gleich / Gleich Dances, presented by Norte Maar, Socrates Sculpture Park, 3:00

SummerStage: Harlem Dance Caravan, with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Illstyle & Peace Productions, and OPUS Dance Theatre, Marcus Garvey Park, 8:00, All Levels Open Dance Master Class by Calvin Wiley at 7:00, performances at 8:00

Saturday, August 10
through
Friday, August 16
Downtown Dance Festival, Battery Park Dance Company, Battery Park

Sunday, August 11
SummerStage Harlem Family Day: Illstyle & Peace Productions, Robbi K, DJ set by Stormin’ Norman, “Sweet Billy & The Zooloos,” Marcus Garvey Park, 4:00

Friday, August 16
SummerStage: The Francesca Harper Project, East River Park, All Levels Open Dance Master Class by Cecilia Marta at 7:00, performances at 8:00

Saturday, August 17
Dance at Socrates: Edisa Weeks / Delirious Dances, presented by Norte Maar, Socrates Sculpture Park, 3:00

SummerStage: Speak featuring live music by Marla Mase and Tomás Doncker, book and lyrics by Marla Mase, choreography by Adrienne Hurd, and direction by Sara Berg, East River Park, All Levels Open Dance Master Class by Craig Smith at 7:00, performance at 8:00

Wednesday, August 21
SummerStage International Contemporary Circus Festival: Circus Now! featuring: AcroArts Productions, Frequently Asked Questions, Hybrid Movement Company, hosted by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Marcus Garvey Park, 7:00

Saturday, August 24
Dance at Socrates: Takehiro Ueyama / Take Dance, presented by Norte Maar, Socrates Sculpture Park, 3:00

Saturday, August 31
Dance at Socrates: Rachel Cohen / Racoco Productions, presented by Norte Maar, Socrates Sculpture Park, 3:00

DANCEAFRICA 2013

The Bronx-based Harambee Dance Company is part of 2013 DanceAfrica festival at BAM (photo by Derrek Garret)

Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette Ave. between Ashland Pl. & St. Felix St.
May 24-27, free – $50
718-636-4100
www.bam.org

Last week, the incomparable Baba Chuck Davis, the founder and artistic director of BAM’s annual DanceAfrica festival, was one of the grand marshals of the seventh New York Dance Parade, the theme of which was “Unity Through Dance.” That same theme can apply to Davis and DanceAfrica, which this year brings three international companies to the Howard Gilman Opera House stage. Zimbabwe’s Umkhathi Theatre Works will perform the tribal dance Isitshikitsha, the hunting-and-gathering dance Chinyambera, the Shangani tribal dance Muchongoyo, and the social gathering Setapa, joined by the BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble. Atlanta’s Giwayen Mata’s program will include Perseverance: In My House, set to DJ Fresca’s “Amaphoyisa,” and the Lamban Dansa. Harambee Dance Company, which hails from the Bronx, will present the historical and spiritual journey Reflections, the partying Midnight in the City, and the musical piece “You Goin’ Get This Work.” As a special treat, Washington, DC’s Sweet Honey in the Rock will sing “Sabumoya,” “I Remember I Believe,” “Wholly Wholly,” and “Let There Be Peace.” As always, Davis will provide his welcoming address (“Ago!” “Amée!!”), introduce the Council of Elders, and honor those who are no longer with us. Meanwhile, BAMcinématek’s FilmAfrica will screen such movies as Taghreed Elsanhouri’s Our Beloved Sudan, Clemente Bococchi’s Black Africa White Marble, Charlie Vundla’s How to Steal 2 Million, and Rémi Bezançon and Jean-Christophe Lie’s animated Zarafa. BAMcafé Live continues the African celebration with a pair of free concerts: Abdou Mboup and Waakaw on May 24 and a Late Night Dance Party with Ralph McDaniels and Video Music Box on May 25. And the always fun DanceAfrica Bazaar will set up shop along Lafayette Ave. and Ashland Pl. Saturday through Monday, a global marketplace with great food, clothing, fashion, arts & crafts, and much more.

CANCELED: PHÈDRE LES OISEAUX

French theater director Jean-Baptiste Sastre rehearses Haitian-American chorus for New York premiere of PHÈDRE LES OISEAUX (photo © Ayodele Casel)

PHÈDRE LES OISEAUX (PHAEDRA THE BIRDS)
Baryshnikov Arts Center, Howard Gilman Performance Space
450 West 37th St. between Ninth & Tenth Aves.
May 21-24, 28-29, $20, 7:30
866-811-4111
www.bacnyc.org

French director Jean-Baptiste Sastre describes his production of Phèdre les oiseaux (Phaedra the birds), which makes its New York premiere May 21-29 at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, as “a poem,” while Palestinian star Hiam Abbass calls it a “moment of pleasure, and of poetry, and of theater.” The seventy-five-minute show, which relates the Greek myth of Phaedra, a tale of forbidden love, betrayal, rejection, and revenge, will be performed by Abbass (Paradise Now, Lemon Tree) as Phaedra and American-Ugandan actor Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (Heroes, Treme) as Hippolytus, joined by approximately thirty members of the Brooklyn-based organization Haïtian-Americans in Action serving as the chorus. The text is by Frédéric Boyer, with English translation by Cole Swensen and dramaturgy by Ellen Hammer. The international project, which features a local chorus at every stop on its tour, has been reconfigured for the Howard Gilman Performance Space, will be told in English, French, and Haitian Creole at BAC. [ed. note: This event has now been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.]