Dance-Enthusiast.com Features

IMPRESSIONS: The Firebird Variations - Details of Enchantment

The Dance Enthusiast — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"The Firebird is unique among classic ballets because it is not primarily a love story. It’s a story about the help we need to vanquish greed and narcissism, a.k.a. evil. (The love story is a sideline.) Perhaps it’s not by chance that a flurry of four Firebird productions appeared in the U.S. this season. Maybe we have a hunger for a quick way to topple a tyrant. Where is our magic feather?" Wendy Perron, New York

THE DANCE ENTHUSIAST ASKS: Experimental Artist Ursula Eagly on the Performance Mix Festival's 40th Anniversary

The Dance Enthusiast — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"For me, this [New Dance Alliance's Performance Mix] is about community and being in conversation with people. For an evening length commission, I'm in control of everything. But in this festival environment, it's more of a challenge to fit yourself into the time constraints. And there are these confines and guidelines. But in exchange, you get to be in conversation with all these artists and that's so wonderful. I really value it, especially right now in my life." — Ursula Eagly, Experimental Artist

THE DANCE ENTHUSIAST ASKS: Inside Imani Gaudin’s Creative Universe and Her Latest Work “new york, please”

The Dance Enthusiast — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Everything is interdisciplinary in my world. Not multidisciplinary. I feel like “multidisciplinary” is things coming together to enhance this one thing, whereas interdisciplinary is everything coming together to enhance everything." — Imani Gaudin, New York

IMPRESSIONS: Dance Theatre of Harlem Presents New York City Center Season

The Dance Enthusiast — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"While the story (of Firebird) remains familiar, Holder’s set transports viewers. Two outsized flowers painted on a drop curtain welcome one to dive into this wonderland. An outrageously sexy cut-away tutu showcases the Firebird’s long legs, and adds some feathers to the back of the garment. Va-Va-Va-VOOM! [...] A host of repetiteurs and costume specialists help make this extraordinary revival happen. The company has a hit on its hands." — Henning Rübsam, New York

IMPRESSIONS: E-Moves Festival Presents "Black Men in Dance" at Harlem Stage

The Dance Enthusiast — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"As the evening drew to a close, the panelists identified two key takeaways. Creative risk is an act of courage. Artistic bravery doesn’t stand in opposition to masculinity; it is a core part of it. These trailblazing Black men continue to inspire the next generation of Black male artists to take chances, be bold, and never back down." — Miranda Stück, New York

POSTCARDS: Martín Almirón on Opening the Stage to the Community That Sustains Tango

The Dance Enthusiast — Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"For students, the stage offers recognition, confidence, and a way to express themselves artistically within a dance they love. For teachers, it honors the often invisible labor of mentorship and makes their role visible as artists, educators, and transmitters of culture." — Martín Almirón, New York

THE DANCE ENTHUSIAST ASKS: Author Maureen Footer on Her New Book “Feel the Floor”

The Dance Enthusiast — Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"He was the trailblazer for bringing jazz to major choreographers such as Frederick Ashton and George Balanchine, so we see the results of his work, but we didn’t know who he was. He moved cultural framework, placing Black dance on white stages and transforming dance on two sides of the ocean with jazz." — Maureen Footer, on Buddy Bradley

IMPRESSIONS: [Spring in Brief] Sugar Vendil, Alexa Grae & Symara Sarai, marion spencer, and Tyler Ashley

The Dance Enthusiast — Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"As spring continues to unroll toward the promise of summer, I’m enlivened by the generous flood of creativity in the performance scene. And while our spring weather is proving fickle this May, experimental dance is steadfast and thriving." — Sarah Cecilia Bukowski, New York

IMPRESSIONS: GRAHAM 100 at New York City Center (Part 2)

The Dance Enthusiast — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Among the Graham company’s new works, the only one whose aspirations and complexity carry it high enough to reach the founder’s orbit is the 2023 Cortege, by the choreographic duo Baye and Asa." — Robert Johnson, New York

IMPRESSIONS: GRAHAM 100 at New York City Center (Part 1)

The Dance Enthusiast — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Although the Martha Graham Dance Company is now a century old, the troupe refreshes itself continuously. No longer the raw women’s collective whose debut in 1926 seemed like a rash experiment, neither is it the same ensemble whose legendary matriarch held court during Broadway seasons flush with celebrities. The streamlined troupe... has acquired an eclectic, contemporary repertoire, Yet, true to its founder, it preserves her knife-edge style and dramatic sophistication." — Robert Johnson, New York

IMPRESSIONS: Alessandra Corona Performing Works at the Theater at St. Jean

The Dance Enthusiast — Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"From May 1 to 3 at the Theater at St. Jean, Alessandra Corona Performing Works (ACPW) delivered a program of four short pieces. The cast of eight danced in works by Madeline Burr, Miguel Miranda, Wesley Ensminger, and a final slightly longer work by Corona. The choreography came together in a five-week workshop under Corona’s curation and supervision, and each choreographer was given one week to create a ten minute piece for the showcase." — Stacey Menchel Kussell, New York

POSTCARDS: Nimbus Dance Artistic Director, Samuel Pott, on "Sum of Parts," a Surreal Spring Season and Art Show

The Dance Enthusiast — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"We can’t control what life puts in our path. But with the right framework: a trust in our abilities to bring order and meaning, an openness to insights and unexpected ways of seeing, and a groundedness in common values with our teammates, our neighbors and our fellow citizens, we can together elevate beyond the mere circumstances, the “parts” of our lives, and accomplish so much." — Samuel Pott, Nimbus Dance, Jersey City

IMPRESSIONS: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at The Joyce Theater

The Dance Enthusiast — Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"An otherworldly hum overwhelms us for the opening and closing of Quinto Elemento, Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana's 2026 scintillating offering at The Joyce Theater. With that sonic choice, the audience immediately expects a fresh take on this traditional art." — Deirdre Towers, New York

IMPRESSIONS: Joan Jonas Presents "The Juniper Tree" at Danspace Project's "Platform 2026: Secret Gardens"

The Dance Enthusiast — Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"The performance that follows is a combination of narration and choreography that plays like memory. The stage is strewn with objects: loose squares of fabric, empty frames, a ladder, a table on sawhorses, blood red apples. There’s a hushed, casual atmosphere in the room, with the first several rows of the audience seated on the floor. Jonas’s voice, strong and clear, narrates the text of the story as she and a younger dancer, Lucy Mullican, play-act the events." — Kate Purdum, New York

IMPRESSIONS: Rosán Sensory Adventures in "Antarctica! Crew Wanted" at The Big Umbrella Festival

The Dance Enthusiast — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"A master in immersive storytelling, Rosán Sensory Adventures is a physical theater company designed for neurodivergent audiences. Based in Galway, Ireland, the collaborative ensemble intermixes elements of dance, puppetry, and circus arts with whimsical stagecraft." — Stacey Menchel Kussell, New York

IMPRESSIONS: Celebrating 10 Years of Tiffany Rea-Fisher’s Artistic Leadership with EMERGE125 at El Museo Del Barrio

The Dance Enthusiast — Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Accolades for Tiffany Rea-Fisher’s dance company EMERGE125, celebrating its 10th year, were numerous. Filmed testimonials spoke of Rea-Fisher’s impact on the dance community, citing her “vision and consistency.” Taking the stage at El Museo del Barrio on April 30, Rea-Fisher introduced an evening that departed from the expected retrospective format. Instead, she offered two premieres and one work in progress for her company of ten, noting that she is not looking back but looking forward with appreciation." — Catherine Tharin, New York City

IMPRESSIONS: AXIS Dance in “Patterns” at Lincoln Center’s Big Umbrella Festival 2026

The Dance Enthusiast — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Since its inception in 1987, AXIS Dance Company, a pioneering integrated dance company, has advanced the field through artistry and innovation. AXIS collaborates with disabled, non-disabled, d/Deaf, and neurodiverse artists using visibility and advocacy to challenge ableist bias towards dance and dancers. This April, AXIS Dance Company performed at Lincoln Center for the first time, presenting Patterns, a collection of four new works that demonstrated technical prowess, emotional range, and choreographic complexity." — Rush Johnston, New York City

IMPRESSIONS: Spring in Brief | Jonathan González's "Swerve Fatigue" and Symara Sarai's "Angelic Architectures"

The Dance Enthusiast — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Two such performances this April catalyzed these reflections on effort and ease: Jonathan González’s multimedia group work, Swerve Fatigue, presented by The Kitchen in their loft at Westbeth, and Symara Sarai’s dance-play, Angelic Architectures, at Abrons Arts Center’s Experimental Theater." — Sarah Cecilia Bukowski, New York

IMPRESSIONS: Ballet Hispánico’s “Mujeres: Women in Motion” at New York City Center

The Dance Enthusiast — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Though the exciting program of three ensemble works spotlights the varying talents of its Latina choreographers, the real stars of the show are the Ballet Hispánico dancers who, under the artistic direction of Eduardo Vilaro, perform with fiery elegance, technical brilliance, and generous expressivity." — Lisa Jo Sagolla, New York

IMPRESSIONS FROM LA: Mythili Prakash in “She’s Auspicious” at Santa Monica's Broad Stage

The Dance Enthusiast — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"As a child, choreographer Mythili Prakash questioned why they had to create a Goddess when there were already others able. Why must it be a Goddess made of male energy? In challenging the story, she started to shape her view of femininity and womanhood." — Steven Vargas, Los Angeles

IMPRESSIONS: “The Politics of Movement: When Dance Speaks Out” Presented at the 14Y Theater

The Dance Enthusiast — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"This performance marked the American Dance Guild and Clark Center's first joint presentation, uniting legacy institutions in a shared call for artistic and social engagement. Founded in 1959 with support from Alvin Ailey, the Clark Center provided critical opportunities for Black dancers and choreographers historically excluded from mainstream concert stages. ADG, established in 1956, remains one of the nation's first dance service organizations." — Deirdre Towers, New York

IMPRESSIONS: Stephanie Saywell & Helen Wicks at Arts On Site

The Dance Enthusiast — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Stephanie Saywell and Helen Wicks shared an hour-long evening at Arts On Site, an intimate stage well-suited to their solo and duet program." — Catherine Tharin, New York City

THE DANCE ENTHUSIAST ASKS: Cameron McKinney on Kizuna Dance, His Global Style, and the CUNY Dance Initiative

The Dance Enthusiast — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"I’ve been fortunate across my time here to be involved in a lot of different residencies and fellowships. But what I’ve found in New York City is that some of the residency opportunities have disappeared. The CUNY Dance Initiative is really the top opportunity that is offered to artists at all ends of the spectrum." — Cameron McKinney, Artistic Director/Choreographer, New York

IMPRESSIONS: "Plato Caves: Screens vs Shadows" at The Chocolate Factory Theater

The Dance Enthusiast — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"Steven Wendt and Wes Day’s Plato Caves: Screens vs Shadows was, on the sunny Sunday afternoon performance I attended, a massive delight for a rapt audience of children. The event is The Chocolate Factory Theater’s first venture into theatre for young audiences (TYA), and unlike other TYA shows I’ve attended (including in my own childhood), this one gave the adults in the room something real to think about: our dependence on screens." — Kate Purdum, Queens, NY

DAY IN THE LIFE OF DANCE: Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup Presents Moving Memory Project 2026: Next Gen

The Dance Enthusiast — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"What's bringing me the most joy in what I do in the dance world?' It's having a bunch of people walk into a room with zero expectations, no judgment, and leaving much happier than when they came in. That is a win! And for me, creating many opportunities for that to happen is my trajectory." — Stefanie Nelson, New York