Martha Clarke's "Garden of Earthly Delights'

One hour with Hieronymus Bosch

Last winter's revival of Martha Clarke's dance theater masterwork, Garden of Earthly Delights, freely adapted from Hieronymus Bosch's Renaissance triptych, was a work of astonishing beauty and rare erotic candor in its revival production, the first in more than 20 years.

Robert Zaller

Oct 25, 2009 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Thank You, Gregory' at Annenberg (2nd review)

In the steps of their forebears

Tap is a uniquely American dance form with black, Irish and street improvisation roots. But if you think tap dancing is a quaint relic from the past, think again. Thank You, Gregory, a fine piece of theater as well as an homage to tap dancing, literally wowed its audience.

Janet Anderson

Oct 13, 2009 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Thank You, Gregory' at Annenberg (1st review)

Fascinating rhythms, from Keeler to Hines

Thank You, Gregory successfully reaches both knowledgeable tap dance aficionados and novices who just want to be entertained. But why rely on video when there's so much live talent in the wings?

Judy Weightman

Oct 12, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

SCRAP's "Tide' at Live Arts Festival

A tide of bereft desolation

Myra Bazell and Madison Cario's apocalyptic Tide was danced with such energetic angst that it lost its creators' hopeful message of the potential for healing and a new consciousness.

Jonathan M. Stein

Oct 06, 2009 · Articles · 2 minute read

Dorner's "above under inbetween' at Live Arts Festival

Love me, love my table

The Austrian choreographer Willi Dorner brought his explorations of bodies in space indoors, presenting a slyly humorous work that suggested that we relate more closely to the objects in our domestic lives than we think. Above under inbetween. Compagnie Willi Dorner/ Live Arts festival production September 11-12, 2009 at ICE Box Projects Space, 1400 N. American St. 215.413.9006 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=8370.

Jonathan M. Stein

Oct 05, 2009 · Articles · 3 minute read

Merián Soto's "Postcards from the Woods' at Live Arts Festival

Bringing nature indoors

After cavorting outdoors for years, Merián Soto and her dedicated dancers enabled an indoor audience to experience a meditative connection to nature outside.

Jonathan M. Stein

Oct 02, 2009 · Articles · 2 minute read

"A.W.A.R.D. Show' at Live Arts Festival

Dancing for dollars

This year's Live Arts Festival went out on a limb by pitting 12 Philadelphia choreographers against each other for a $10,000 first prize. This gimmick boosted attendance and helped raise dance consciousness. But how does a popularity contest affect a collegial and creative community?

Jonathan M. Stein

Sep 22, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

Headlong's "more' at Live Arts Festival (2nd review)

When dancers aren't 'dancing'

Headlong's more juxtaposes the ordinariness of domestic life with the life of the artist. But what makes this dance and choreography— art that BSR's Jim Rutter has questioned— is that these meanings are communicated through bodies in and out of motion, and through movement gestures and movement vocabulary.

Jonathan M. Stein

Sep 21, 2009 · Articles · 6 minute read

"Mortal Engine' by Chunky Move at Live Arts Festival

Humanity meets technology (successfully, for a change)

Rarely have we seen such a full integration between body and technology as the Australian choreographer Gideon Obarzanek's Mortal Engine achieved at the Wilma.

Merilyn Jackson

Sep 18, 2009 · Articles · 2 minute read

Headlong's "more' at Live Arts Festival (1st review)

Is it art, or just movement?

When dancers rearrange furniture and operate a microwave oven, is it choreography? The cumulative experience of Headlong's new and very poignant piece of dance theater left me feeling both invigorated and disturbed.

Jim Rutter

Sep 14, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read