Wilma's DanceBoom! 2006

Dance Festivals take time to earn their reputations. The Wilma Theater’s DanceBoom is just five years old and in many respects still finding its footing. But new artistic director Terry Fox didn’t skip a beat, including events like a dance film series and performances outside the theater to give things a more festival-y feel.

Danceboom! 2006. June 15-30, 2006, at Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. www.wilmatheater.org

Lewis Whittington

Jul 06, 2006 · Articles · 6 minute read

Eleone Dance Theatre's Tenth Anniversary

The Eleone Dance Theatre celebrated its tenth anniversary with an evening-length concert that that was all over the modern choreographic map.

“Jumping to Higher Heights.” Eleone Dance Theatre, May 6-7, 2006 at John E. Allen, Jr. Theater at Freedom Theater. www.eleonedance.org

Lewis Whittington

May 15, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

'Luis Bravo's Tangos' at Annenberg

Who needs sex manuals? These four tangoing couples evoked more than mere missionary positions as they took a lusting audience through a dozen erotically charged duets.

“Luis Bravo’s Tangos.” Dance Celebration series, April 26-27, 2006, at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. www.dancecelebration.org.

Lewis Whittington

May 04, 2006 · Articles · 2 minute read

PAB's 'Midsummer Night's Dream'

Pennsylvania Ballet’s handsome full staging of Midsummer at the Academy of Music, with its top-drawer production values, had much going for it, but also exposed the company’s shortcomings.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Choreographed by George Balanchine. Presented by Pennsylvania Ballet at the Academy of Music, April 13-23, 2006. www.paballet.org.

Lewis Whittington

Apr 28, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

Dance Celebration's 'Lindy to Hip-Hop'

In a choreographed journey through 20th-Century pop muisc, the hometown team of Brian Sanders, Roni Koresh and Myra Bazell (left) blew my mind, busted my gut and broke my heart.

"The Music that Made Us Dance: From Lindy to Hip-Hop." Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, April 18-22, 2006. www.dancecelebration.org

Lewis Whittington

Apr 26, 2006 · Articles · 6 minute read

BodyVox at Dance Celebration

How can this troupe be so much fun and not be aware when they’re tedious?

BodyVox. At Dance Celebration series, Annenberg Center, April 6-8, 2006. www.dancecelebration.org/DanceCelebration.html

Lewis Whittington

Apr 11, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

'Shut Up and Dance'

This annual AIDS benefit has become a joyous vehicle for classically trained ballet dancers to showcase their hidden talents as artists and people. Where else can you hear Beethoven and the rap star Busta Rhymes from the same stage?

"Shut Up & Dance 2006.” Pennsylvania Ballet dancers’ benefit for MANNA, at Forrest Theater, April 1, 2006.

Lewis Whittington

Apr 04, 2006 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Shut Up and Dance'

Copy to come.

Lewis Whittington

Apr 04, 2006 · Articles · less than a minute read

'Giselle' and 'Antigone'

With Giselle, I got caught up in this petrified warhorse of a ballet, even if the production was uneven and performance erratic. And Rebecca Davis’s undulating Antigone is not your daddy's Greek tragedy (or maybe it is).

Giselle. Russian National Ballet at Annenberg Center, March 15, 2006.
Antigone. Rebecca Davis Dance Company at Perelman Theater,
Kimmel Center, March 16, 2006.

Lewis Whittington

Mar 25, 2006 · Articles · 6 minute read

Hubbard Street Dance at Annenberg

In neo-classical and modern idioms alike, these dancers’ physicality sparkles, both as individuals and as an ensemble.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Dance Celebration Series at the Annenberg Center, February 23, 2006. www.dancecelebration.org.

Lewis Whittington

Mar 02, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read