Theatro IATI
Instituto Arte Teatral Internacional
64 East 4th Street New York, NY
23-26 July
The Latin Choreographers Festival has taken on precocious depth and character in its second year. Friday night’s performance was more or less filled to capacity. A good thing, too – the city desperately needs more innovative ventures like this, to showcase high-caliber work both by established choreographers and by artists that haven’t yet caught the attention of larger venues like the Joyce and BAM.
Curator Ursula Verduzco and invited guest dance-makers presented a varied evening program at Theatro IATI, an intimate, spartan East Village cultural landmark. The festival brings together ballet and modern dance, abstract and narrative forms. This event and Miro Magloire’s New Chamber Ballet are two of the city’s best ways to experience ballet beyond the big institutions.
Verduzco, Magloire, along with John Zorn (The Stone) and the empresarios at Le Poisson Rouge, Drom, Galapagos and a small but growing number of venues are pulling off a major miracle – creating vital spaces for new classical art in a city that’s supposed to be on the decline. Good luck to them!
The festival ends on Sunday. Here is Friday night’s program:
Chrome Waters Choreographer: Annabella Gonzalez/Annabella Gonzales Dance Theater (Mexico/NYC) Music: Franz Schubert Dancer: Lucia Campoy
After the Sunset Choreographer: Yesid Lopez/Yesid & Company (Colombia/NYC) Music: Arthur Rubinstein Dancers: Angelica Burgos, Eric Rivera
Habibi HHaloua Choreographer: Roman Baca/Exit 12 Dance Company (NYC) Music: Yusuf Islam, Robert Schumann, Voices of TOW Platoon 25th Marines Dancers: Lisa Fitzgerald, Lara Vilchez, Roman Baca
La Calma Choreographer: Minou Lallemand/Onium Ballet Project (Colombia/NYC) Music: Pepe Raphael & The Bottle Blondes Dancers: Claudia MacPherson, Lesley Garrison
Vieja Ciudad de Hierro Choreographer: Benjamin Briones/Benjamin Briones Ballet (Mexico/NYC) Music: Rodrigo González, Maldita Vecindad Dancers: Ursula Verduzco, Fredrick Davis, Heidi Green, Cesar Ortiz, Kate Loh, Erick Vlack
Yet Still Untitled… Choreographer: Ted Thomas/Thomas/Ortiz Dance Music: David Darling Dancers: Jenna Blumenfield, Serge Desroches, Virginia Horne
Cain Choreographer: Robert S. Olvera (Ecuador/Mexico) Dancer: Robert S. Olvera
Shall We Dance Choreographer: Yesid Lopez/Yesid & Company (Colombia/NYC) Dancers: Marina Fabila, Yesid Lopez
Getting There Choreographer: Ursula Verduzco (NYC) Music: Inquisition Symphony Dancers: Ursula Verduzco, Fredrick Davis
Mediterranea (Excerpt) Choreographer: Pedro Ruiz (Cuba, NYC) Music: Houria Aichi Dancer: Ellenore Scott
Picking Up the Pieces Choreographer: Jesus M. Pacheco (Memphis) Music: John Mayer, Amos Lee Dancers: Leigh Lajoy, Nicole Correa, Kara Bruzina
See the festival website for more details.
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