Life as a Modern Dancer

Category: Review/Response

  • In “FRAMEWORK,” Kristin Damrow & Co Explore The Body Inside And Out

    Dancers Brandon Graham,  Anna Greenberg Gold, Sawako Ogo, Sam Grayson, and Allegra Bautista. Photo by Hillary Goidell.   In “FRAMEWORK,” Kristin Damrow & Co Explore The Body Inside And Out By Garth Grimball Kristin Damrow knows how to produce live art. Since “Eames” premiered in 2018 in San Francisco, Kristin Damrow & Company has been…

  • “Four by Four” by Emily Hansel: Reflections on Product as Process

    Mia J. Chong, Chelsea Reichert, and Alex Carrington (left to right). Photo by Steve Disenhof Photography.   “Four by Four” by Emily Hansel: Reflections on Product as Process By Molly Rose-Williams A few weeks ago, I went to a friend’s art opening. It was held in the front room of a large Victorian with lofty…

  • Review/Response: “One Body, Five Dances, Six Perspectives II” with Peiling Kao Dances

    Peiling Kao Dances: One Body, Five Dances, Six Perspectives II May 6th & 8th, 2022  University of Hawai’i, Mānoa Earle Ernst Lab Theater, Honolulu, HI Reviewed by Christopher Blasdel Peiling Kao’s dance concert—One Body, Five dances, Six Perspectives II—consisted of a series of short, commissioned dance vignettes from five guest choreographers. Each of the guest…

  • Review/Response: “Talking Circle” with Risa Jaroslow & Dancers

    From left: Erin Yen, Sharon Dalke, and Chelsea Reichert in Talking Circle. Photo by Robbie Sweeny. Risa Jaroslow & Dancers Talking Circle May 12, 2022 CounterPulse By Sima Belmar One of my favorite things about dance class is the time spent on the sidelines watching others dance. I suppose the main reason why we take…

  • Review/Response: “Are You There God? It’s Me, Jules” with Julie Crothers

    Julie Crothers. Photo by Hans Holtan. Are You There God? It’s Me, Jules NOHspace, San Francisco April 15, 2022, 7pm Choreographed and Performed by Julie Crothers Original music by Ben Juodvalkis with contributions from Greta Hadley and Jeanne Hadley Lighting design by Maxx Kurzunski Review/response by Sima Belmar I recently listened to a conversation between…

  • “Frolic”: Reflections on the 3rd Annual Queering Dance Festival

      “Frolic”: Reflections on the 3rd Annual Queering Dance FestivalBy Molly Rose-Williams Last Saturday I attended “Frolic,” an evening of performances produced as a part of the annual Queering Dance Festival. I’ve shared some of my impressions of the evening below in “snapshot” style—a glimpse of each chapter of the night as I experienced it.…

  • Modern Dance Fan Club: RAWdance’s CONCEPT series: 28

      Modern Dance Fan Club: RAWdance’s CONCEPT series: 28 By Jill Randall I had the opportunity to interview RAWdance co-directors Katerina Wong, Wendy Rein, and Ryan T. Smith a few weeks ago, so I was primed, prepped, and excited to see the CONCEPT series in person on Saturday, March 26th. I am highly impressed and…

  • Zaccho Dance Theatre’s “Love, a state of grace”: aerial, ethereal, magical

    Zaccho Dance Theatre aerialist Ciarra D’Onofrio  at Grace Cathedral. Photo courtesy of Zaccho Dance Theatre.   Zaccho Dance Theatre’s Love, a state of grace: aerial, ethereal, magical By Sima Belmar I couldn’t get the word “empanada” out of my head. I was lying on Mary Armentrout’s Feldenkrais table in Berkeley and the word kept circling…

  • Reflections on Gerald Casel’s “Not About Race Dance”

    Gerald Casel’s Not About Race Dance Residency at MANCC (Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography). Photo by Chris Cameron. Image description: Cauveri Suresh and Gerald Casel dance together. Gerald, sideways to the camera, folds his arms over his chest and looks down over his shoulder. Cauveri stands close behind him with their right arm extended…

  • Paufve Dance Remembers and Looks Forward

    Olivia Caldeira Holston in "OLIVIA!" filmed by Julia Sweeney. Image description: Close up of a young woman' s face and upper body, dancing outdoors, facing the camera. Background of trees against blue sky. Sky-blue linen blouse, right arm extended with fisted hand in a “power pose." Paufve Dance Remembers and Looks Forward By Garth Grimball…