Body and Soul

Listen to dancer-choreographer Katy Pyle talk about the the saving grace--and the power--of imagination. Katy Pyle and Jules Skloot present COVERS -- September 6-9 at The Bushwick Starr. Get details at http://cargocollective.com/katypyle/COVERS. (c)2012, Eva Yaa Asantewaa, InfiniteBody http://infinitebody.blogspot.com

Surprise! It's time to revive my old dance interview podcast, Body and Soul. I'll be starting with Listen., a new series-within-the-series that will feature short, unmediated takes by artists from the dance world and allied disciplines about...well, really about anything they want to say, any way they want to say it. While I expect that these folks have plenty to say about life, art, politics, spi...

Aviva Davidson, Executive and Artistic Director of Dancing in the Streets, talks about Hip Hop Generation Next 2009, a celebration of global hip hop culture, with upcoming events in July and August in Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. Details at Dancing in the Streets -- http://www.dancinginthestreets.org. (c)2009, Eva Yaa Asantewaa, http://infinitebody.blogspot.com

Today, I visited with Naomi Goldberg Haas/Dances for a Variable Population--fifteen dancers who range in age from mid-20s to 80s--at a rehearsal for the premiere of "Fanfare" at the Whitehall Terminal of the Staten Island Ferry. This twenty-minute work will utilize the terminal's bright, spacious and rather busy waiting room for 12:30pm and 1:30pm performances on June 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 27...

Olive Bieringa of The BodyCartography Project, based in Minneapolis, talks about plans for next month's SEEDS Festival of arts and ecology. Now set to launch its second summer at EARTHDANCE in Massachusetts, SEEDS is an international, interdisciplinary festival, forging connections between innovative artists and scientists. SEEDS http://www.earthdance.net/seeds The BodyCartography Project http://w...

Choreographer Megan V. Sprenger joins me to talk about "...within us," her new, evening-length production at PS 122, May 17-24 (Tues-Sat at 7:30pm; Sun at 5:30pm. Company information at Megan V. Sprenger/mvworks -- http://www.mvworks.org/ Further information at Performance Space 122 -- http://www.ps122.org -- or 212-352-3101 (c)2009, Eva Yaa Asantewaa, http://infinitebody.blogspot.com

Michelle Boulé is a choreographer, teacher and performer well-known for her work with cutting-edge dancemakers such as John Jasperse, Miguel Gutierrez, Donna Uchizono, Beth Gill, Doug Varone and Deborah Hay. She is also a certified practitioner of BodyTalk, a fascinating bodymind healing modality which we discuss in today's podcast. Michelle Boulé http://michelleboule.wordpress.com Nurture Day Ope...

Carissa Kranz (see photo at http://infinitebody.blogspot.com) is a ballerina and studies law at the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt). She's also one of many Berkeley students protesting proposed budget cuts that would greatly diminish the school's much-respected physical education department and its dance classes. Hear why this program is important to the 5,000 students it serves each ye...

David E. Garcia is a graduate student in Chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley. He's also a dancer, a choreographer and one of many Berkeley students protesting proposed budget cuts that would greatly diminish the school's much-respected physical education department and its dance classes. Hear why this program is important to the 5,000 students it serves each year and how students...

Jody Oberfelder received a dream commission from the Brooklyn Philharmonic--to choreograph Stravinsky's "A Soldier's Tale" for a May 9th performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Little did she realize that her project would become a casualty of New York's economic crisis when, like so many other arts institutions, the Philharmonic was forced to slash its budget. Oberfelder joined me tod...

It's not unusual to discover a dance artist with a strong talent in other arts or areas of interest. But as a longtime Tarot counselor and teacher, I was intrigued and delighted to learn that choreographer Fiona Dolenga has designed a Tarot deck of her own, featuring photos of colleagues from New York's dance community. I spoke with her about the creation of this beautiful deck and her dance work-...

Aki Sasamoto and Arturo Vidich of Culture Push discuss "Domestic Partner"--their provocative new installation/simultaneous performance, hosted by The Chocolate Factory (Wednesday-Saturday, April 8-11, 8pm). Learn more about Aki Sasamoto and Arturo Vidich at http://www.culturepush.org. The Chocolate Factory, 5-49 49th Street, Long Island City, New York Complete information, directions and ticketing...

For the past few years, Paul Singh--who has performed for some of New York's most innovative dance makers--has started branching out as a choreographer in his own right with his company, Singh & Dance. In our recent conversation, he talks about what drives his creativity and the unusual risks he takes for authenticity in movement. Learn more about Paul Singh at http://www.paulsinghdance.com. (c)20...

Danspace Project will present "Sound Memory"--a full-evening world premiere by the talented young dancer-choreographer Julian Barnett. Barnett joins me to talk about this work, inspired by the influence of old audio technology--music cassette tapes--on memory and imagination. "Sound Memory" at Danspace Project at St. Mark's Church, Thursday-Saturday, 8:30pm. Schedule and ticketing information at h...

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Ivy Baldwin Dance premieres 'Bear Crown" at Dance Theater Workshop next week, March 18-21. Baldwin's dance-theater aesthetic immerses viewers in mysterious environments with an aura of darkness and twisted humor. Wednesday-Saturday, March 18-21, 7:30pm. Post-show talk with Heather Olson (3/18). Pre-show coffee & conversation with Sara Nash (3/19 at 6:30pm). 10th A...

Dancer-choreographer Heidi Latsky presents the New York City premiere of "GIMP"--a full-throttle, passionate ensemble work that expands expectations and perceptions of the body, disability and performance. Thursday-Saturday, March 19-21, 8pm. Opening night reception honors The Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org) Abrons Arts Center at Henry Street Settlement, 466 Grand St...

Brian Rogers talks about The Chocolate Factory--an influential multidisciplinary arts space and gallery in Long Island City, Queens--and about his new full-evening work "redevelop (death valley)." Brian Rogers, a graduate of Bennington College, is the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Chocolate Factory Theater. His works for the company include "2 Husbands" (2007), a collaboration with playw...

Valerie Green joins me to talk about Green Space--her dance studio and performance space in Long Island City--and its many services to the artists, audiences and families of Queens, New York's most ethnically-diverse borough. See Green perform her solo "Underground" at 92nd Street Y's free Fridays @ Noon program on January 23. Information at http://www.92Y.org or at 212-415-5435. InfiniteBody blog...

My guest, the emerging choreographer Tara O'Con, will make her Danspace Project debut with the eerie, intriguing "Walk It Once"--a trio originally presented at The Chocolate Factory in June 2008. She shares a program with choreographer-puppeteer Enrico D. Wey, January 22-24, 8:30pm. Tara O'Con graduated with honors in 2003 with a B.A. in dance and performance from Roger Williams University. Curren...

As the arts world struggles to cope with the global economic crisis, dancer-choreographer Benjamin Ford Asriel outlines his strategy of using the Internet to open the process of creating new work to his donors. Learn more at Project Paper Trail (http://www.basriel.com). Program notes at http://infinitebody.blogspot.com. Guest information at http://www.basriel.com/Project_Paper_Trail/me.html (c)200...

Zahava's mission encompasses not only dance as aesthetic expression but also its role in individual and societal healing. She writes, "My body has led me to teachers, rhythms, techniques, abandon, containment, ecstasy, erotic languid prayers, rituals geometry, discipline, storytelling and healing. Through these journeys I have found spirit guides, competition, self criticism, deep reverence, the p...

Annie-B Parson--co-founder and choreographer of the Bessie Award-winning Big Dance Theater--joins forces with the exciting post-classical string quartet ETHEL and dancer Elizabeth DeMent for a site-specific production in the Winter Garden at World Financial Center. "Wait for Green"--ETHEL's third Winter Solstice concert at WFC--premieres on Friday, December 19, in two free performances--12:30pm an...

This season, Brenda Neville's Neville Dance Theatre brings a contemporary Nutcracker with a world of difference to Brooklyn's Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts (Long Island University). With a Brooklyn-based setting that features techie toys for kids of all ages and a party mix of capoeira, tango, Irish dancing and more, this production puts a fresh spin on the beloved winter classic. Program...

Kyle Abraham--native of Pittsburgh and MFA graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts--has danced in the companies of Nathan Trice, Bill T. Jones, Mimi Garrard, Kevin Wynn, among others, and is now making a name for himself as an independent choreographer with promise. This week, Abraham joins Bessie winner Layard Thompson on a program of new work at Dance Theater Workshop (Wednesday-Saturday, Decem...

Bessie Award winner Layard Thompson joins me for a wide-ranging discussion of the interrelatedness of dance and watcher, art and the world in which we live. This week, Thompson will share an evening of new work with choreographer Kyle Abraham of Abraham. In. Motion at Dance Theater Workshop (Wednesday-Saturday, December 3-6, 7:30pm). My interview with Abraham will follow shortly. Program notes--ht...