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Tue, Mar 09, 2010
Using the medium of hip-hop, "Groovallo" tackled an array of difficult subjects, such as violence, inner demons, and overcoming obstacles. The dancers succeeded in pulling the audience into each storyline, and for those 90 minutes their battles were our battles, their triumphs ours.
Mon, Mar 08, 2010
The Foundation, known for its unique art gallery and architectural exhibits, hosted the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company's winter program last Friday night. The unconventional venue and alternative works were a move in a different direction for this local Company.
Wed, Mar 03, 2010
The KC Ballet covered all the bases in its winter repertoire performance Thursday night at the Lyric Theatre. The Midwestern company, which is making a national name for itself, offered selections of ballet, contemporary, African and modern in a diverse showing.
Mon, Feb 15, 2010
Think you know hip-hop? "Groovaloo," the award-winning show created by Bradley Rapier and Danny Cistone, just might make you think again.
Tue, Feb 09, 2010
In the world of dance, there is a movement to reclaim the body... and that movement was amply exhibited in "A Modern Night at the Folly." The audience experienced choreography that wrestled with breaking limits as well as choreography that challenged acquiring limits.
Tue, Feb 09, 2010
Throughout the performance, Pilobolus demonstrated great versatility and an unbelievable connection to each other. They redefined partnering with two, or more, people acting as one seamlessly and effortlessly. Overall, they lived up to the bar the company has set for itself over the years with its edgy, individual approaches and aesthetics.
Wed, Feb 03, 2010
The Heartland was treated to a colorful display of folkloric dance when the Ballet Folklórico de México performed at the Lied Center to a sold out house filled with enthusiastic patrons.
Tue, Jan 26, 2010
KC native Winston Dynamite Brown, a member of the phenomenal Pilobolus Dance Theatre, discusses the journey that brings him back next weekend to perform at the Lied Center.
Wed, Jan 20, 2010
Think of Gregory Hines and you think of tap dancing. He brought excitement, nostalgia and the itch to tap at the Carlsen Center last Saturday night. Of course, the late great hoofer was not actually there, but his legacy was close at heart.
Tue, Dec 29, 2009
A preview some of the outstanding classical music and dance performances to watch for during the rest of the 2010 season.
Tue, Dec 22, 2009
Kansas City Ballet's "The Nutcracker" is a timeless, classic production and has become a well-deserved local Christmas tradition. For the most part, the production remains the same from year to year - Tchaikovsky's score and Todd Bolender's choreography - even the scenery and costumes haven't changed much in the past several years. What makes each performance unique and exciting - or not - is the performer's interpretations. A dance review.
Wed, Dec 16, 2009
Oh Hoffmann and Tchaikovsky, thank you for writing the basis for the Owen/Cox and People's Liberation Big Band to work their deranged magic upon.
Tue, Dec 08, 2009
Once again the KC music and dance scene is overflowing with riches this weekend - and merits top billing on KCMetropolis. It is impossible to cover - or attend - everything, but here is a hearty list for your consideration.
Tue, Nov 24, 2009
Hänsel and Gretel lost in the Missouri Ozarks? It turns out that the German classic by the Gebrüder Grimm transcends time and place just fine, the Opera Department of the UMKC Conservatory superbly demonstrated this weekend in their production with four performances at White Recital Hall. In fact, Grimm has never sounded more grand.
Wed, Nov 18, 2009
Wow. Native son David Parson's Parson Dance with members of the East Village Opera Company presented an amazing evening of music and dance at the Folly Theater last Friday as part of the Harriman Jewell Series. The performance is still seared into my brain days later.
Tue, Nov 17, 2009
One might not associate basketballs, power saws and rubber work boots with tap dancing, but that is exactly what the TAP DOGS, performing at Lied Center last week, delivered. The six male dancers of the troupe continuously demonstrated their precision and strength throughout the non-stop show, eliciting gasps, laughs, and overwhelming applause from the audience.
Tue, Nov 17, 2009
Soledad Barrio took the stage again for the mother of all Flamenco forms the Soleá, a gypsy version of the word 'Soledad' meaning Solitude. A form that like her name, she truly owns. Eugenio Iglesias' guitar introduction was a lush sound of light and dark tonalities mirrored by Farrar's chiaroscuro lighting.
Tue, Nov 17, 2009
Paul Taylor dancers are known for their incredible strength and stamina. They have the ability to be completely grounded and yet remain graceful, creating signature lines and unique shapes.
Tue, Nov 10, 2009
The University of Kansas has been actively striving for more cross disciplinary collaborations, particularly between the arts and sciences. The Spencer Museum of Art and the Lied Center joined forces last year to examine climate change and global warming. "Ferocious Beauty: Genome" along with the family program "Darwin the Dinosaur" presented in September, fit nicely into the evolution exhibit at the Natural History Museum and the annual Origin of Species celebration which will kick off next week.
Mon, Oct 26, 2009
Interaction with the audience and a strong technical foundation are what made Rasta Thomas; Bad Boys of Dance a hit. There were no outrageous costumes, lighting or props and no hidden meanings or over performed full-length ballets. It was just dance – new, distinctive and interesting.
Mon, Oct 26, 2009
Trey McIntyre frequently creates works meant to be ambiguous and open-ended so audience members can finish the story he began and create personal experiences.
Tue, Oct 20, 2009
Collaborating organizations Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, and Owen/Cox Dance Group made the fairy realm come to life in their impressive staging of Purcell's Fairy Queen. Primarily known for their contemporary repertoire, it was exciting to see the Civic Opera and Owen/Cox reach back into the catalogue to pursue this Baroque masterpiece. They handled the task admirably with accompaniment provided by the KC Chamber Orchestra under Bruce Sorrell's baton.
Tue, Oct 20, 2009
Kansas City Ballet's first performance of its 52nd season offered a mix of everything - two classical excerpts, a contemporary pas de deux and a local favorite. Audience members who did their homework knew they were in for a treat because three of the four pieces were Kansas City Ballet premieres.
Thu, Oct 15, 2009
Classical guitarist Beau Bledsoe takes part in the Kansas City Ballet's production of Carmen at the Lyric Theatre on October 15-18, 2009. He will perform short solo guitar interludes between scenes and accompany the Flamenco dancer when she is on stage. Before opening night, Bledsoe shared some background on his role and the production.
Tue, Oct 13, 2009
Kansas City’s arts organizations are in full gear now, and the next two weekends offer an overabundance of excellent performances. The 200th Mendelssohn anniversary brings us Symphony concert master Kanako Ito in the master’s Violin Concerto, and The Friends of Chamber Music presents the always entrancing group Anonymous 4, and the Harriman Jewell Series features British organist David Goode. And several community orchestras take the stage for ambitious programs of their own. Whew! Don’t complain about lack of choices, Kansas City!
Mon, Sep 28, 2009
Quixotic has succeeded in exploring new dimensions of dance, music and design, but what really made that first performance unique was that it was stripped of all distractions. There were no chairs, no fancy ceilings, no stuffy surroundings. It was literally a blank canvas that was transformed before the spectators' eyes.
Tue, Sep 08, 2009
Dance in the Park, a collaboration between the city and community dance companies, invites residents to participate and pay tribute to dance on Saturday, September 12.
Mon, Jun 22, 2009
Every choreographer looks at the stage and yearns to find a creative way of dealing with the large space above the heads of the dancers. Quixotic's aerial dancing was a crowd-pleasing solution and produced some memorable moments.
Tue, Jun 16, 2009
"Baroque in Motion," the world premiere collaboration of the Bach Aria Soloists and the Owen/Cox Dance Group, fused sound to skin. Allowing the music to inform every aspect of the dance, from the individual motions to the overall design, choreographer Jennifer Owen elegantly interpreted every note. Photos by Charles Stonewall
Mon, Jun 15, 2009
KCMetropolis.org takes a look into the mechanics behind the magic during a rehearsal of the Quixotic Dance Fusion aerial team before their upcoming premiere of "Lux Esalare."
Tue, Apr 28, 2009
Audiences for upcoming Kansas City Ballet performances will have a chance to enjoy three different takes on fusion: two world premieres -- "Cantus Arcticus" by Armitage and "Salute" by Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director William Whitener -- and a reprise of "Nine Sinatra Songs" by Twyla Tharp.
Wed, Apr 22, 2009
The evening was like eating dinner in a fine new restaurant. It started with a Twyla Tharp appetizer, the entrée was prepared by Jorma Elo and the dessert was from Moses Pendelton.
Mon, Mar 23, 2009
Dance Preview: Intrinsic to Ballet Boyz’s work is the way the Company produces and presents dance using film and video clips that show behind-the-scene activities of dancers mixed with onstage performances.
Wed, Feb 25, 2009
Dance Review: The ballet community turned out in force for the latest performance of the Kansas City Ballet to see the immortal Firebird.
Wed, Dec 17, 2008
The Christmas Story – a Medieval Mystery Play has now been performed for three years, but it began its life strictly as a concert music piece. This is the first year that Jennifer Owen has incorporated choreography. While the addition of dance has resulted in some changes to the phrasing and structure of the piece, by and large the musical work has remained intact.
Fri, Dec 05, 2008
The Christmas season heralds the Kansas City Ballet's annual production of the classic ballet, The Nutcracker. This charming family-oriented ballet is one of those events that everyone should see at least once, and if you have children, it is probably something you should take your children to often... simply for the pure enjoyment of it.
Tue, Dec 02, 2008
KCMetropolis.org contributor Scott Easterday interviewed Jennifer Owen of the Owen/Cox Dance Group about her career as a dancer and choreographer.
Sat, Nov 15, 2008
Beneath the lovely, ornate facade of the beautiful Midland Theater, Kansas City dance audiences were treated this week to a varied set of concerts highlighting one of the biggest influences in contemporary concert dance choreography, the late Alvin Ailey.
Sat, Nov 15, 2008
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey (KCFAA) has made an impressive commitment to community outreach by annually producing 10 programs that serve over 3,000 students in the metro area.
Sat, Nov 15, 2008
A very excited audience poured out a packed Folly Theater last Saturday night abuzz with commentary and childlike giddiness. This is the bedazzling effect even the most banal Flamenco can have on a person. For when a Flamenco show runs on all cylinders, it is a highly seductive and emotive catharsis for both performer and audience.
Sat, Nov 08, 2008
This year's Choreofest 2008 treated audiences to an impressive array of choreography by both well-known artists in the field and dance faculty, performed heroically by the latest remarkable group of students in the dance program.
Sat, Nov 01, 2008
Although the Day of the Dead is often considered a Mexican version of Halloween, and has been long associated with the Catholic All Saints’ Day holiday, its history is actually much older with roots reaching far back into
Thu, Oct 30, 2008
Robert Battle's complicated choreography is fresh, contemporary, exciting, and edgy. Although one can point to various influences to his choreography, such as Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, Jose Limon, etc., his final product is entirely in his own, and told in his own artistic voice.
Wed, Oct 29, 2008
Brad Cox talks about an upcoming performance of the Owen/Cox Dance Group.
Sun, Oct 26, 2008
Savion Glover is the best tap dancer of our generation, and he wants people “to come out and enjoy the evening, enjoy the theatre, and bring the whole family.” Excellent advice...
Thu, Oct 09, 2008
Kansas City audiences were treated to a delightful program of lighthearted, classical pieces presented by the Kansas City Ballet in the first performance of its 51st season.
The selections were some of the most exciting or memorable parts of these well-loved ballets, creating a wonderful sampler of great dance works.
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