a song takes on meaning when its own heartbeat is strong

November 16, 2020 12:39 PM

When New York City Ballet cancelled their in-person Fall 2020 season, they asked five choreographers to choreograph site-specific works for small groups of New York City Ballet dancers. new song by Andrea Miller. pixellation in a wave by Sidra Bell. Solo for Russell by Pam Tanowitz. Water Rite by Jamar Roberts. Thank You New York by Justin Peck.

Dancers remained socially distant except for couples living together, who were able to dance pas de deux.

All dances are followed by a conversation with the choreographer.

posted by ChuraChura (3 comments total)

I've only watched the Thank You New York piece and it's quite beautiful. The dancers, locations and cinematography work wonderfully together. The interview with the choreographer and cinematographer was interesting too. Thanks for sharing and I'll watch the other pieces too.
posted by shoesietart at 10:48 PM on November 16, 2020

Oooh! I loved pixellation, and interview with Sierra Bell! Gorgeous and brilliant!
posted by esoteric things at 12:53 AM on November 19, 2020

This was not on my radar when it was first put online a few weeks ago. "New Song" is particularly compelling, especially the water choreography and the song used, which has its own layers of history. (By a man who was tortured and killed in Chile.)

There's so many aspects to adapting the performing arts in a pandemic. Here, they really did an interesting job of combining cinematography, location shooting and dancing.

Also, I've read of/seen a few performances utilizing artists who've already isolated together, as with the real-life couples performing the pas de deux in these works. (I've just read of an opera ensemble who all isolated together, so that they could perform(!), though with just a pianist.)
posted by NorthernLite at 8:22 PM on November 19, 2020