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A. Noble

Tag Archives: Tap

Duke Performances : A Month in Review (Part 4)

26 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by ascho3 in Dance, Dance Criticism, Dance Media, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Dancing, Duke performances, Gregory Hines, Marshall Davis Jr., Sammy David Jr., Savion Glover, Tap, tap dancing

Savion Glover / Image from Duke Performances (No copyright infringement intended)

Savion Glover / January 23, 2013, 8 PM / Page Auditorium                                    Image from Duke Performances (No copyright infringement intended)

On January 23rd, Savion Glover’s SoLe Sanctuary performance had its Page Auditorium audience abuzz before the show even started. And that’s not surprising.

As one of few living tap masters, Glover has been featured on television in shows ranging from Seasame Street to Dancing with the Stars. Glover has performed all over the world since his career began around 1985, and he is certainly no stranger to North Carolina audiences. SoLe Sanctuary brought the Duke audience something new; this show focused more on the physical practice of tap than on the form’s often performative nature, inviting the audience into a moving meditation.

In this work, Glover paid respect to his craft and to those who came before him. At Duke, Glover and his colleague, Marshall Davis Jr. tapped on a raised stage; above them hung photos of Sammy Davis, Jr., Gregory Hines and other legendary tappers, creating a living altar of sorts. Behind the raised stage, performer Kietaro Hosokawa meditated, heightening the widespread sense of calm onstage.

Glover began the performance with clasped hands and a downward gaze, dropping his heels and toes alternately and traveling in a circular pattern. As the hoofer picked up speed, those same small foot movements created a ripple effect through his lower legs and up through his knees. It was here that the audience first encountered Glover’s uncanny ability to maintain a sense of calm in his upper body while outputting a flurry of sound down below. And it was in those moments that audience members may have begun to wonder just how many beats per minute this tap master could muscle.

.

But no one was speedy enough to keep stats. When the bass dropped, Glover quickened his tapping, introducing scraping sounds and syncopation into his footwork with crisp precision. Glover’s meditative beats kept the audience hushed, especially when he began to tap one foot so fast that it seemed superhuman.

Auditory accompaniment during this part of the show layered heavenly “Ahh” sounds beneath a deep voice. Metered musings poured out of speakers in honey-like tones, warm and smooth with signature slowness. Glover kept the beat as the voice explained, “Tapping is like the rhythm of words…words overlap and repeat.” And for Glover, tapping is an extension of the soul.

This dancer’s ability to variate his volume and tone were undeniable as he performed both complicated combinations and basic beats, both solo and in unison with dancer Marshall Davis Jr. Throughout the evening, the two men played off of one another in a multitude of ways – one minute challenging each other in a dance battle of sorts and the next minute dancing in perfect unison. It was clear from his visible smile that Glover began to enjoy himself more thoroughly when joined by his colleague.

Savion Glover / Photo from Duke Performances (No copyright infringement intended)

Savion Glover / Photo from Duke Performances (No copyright infringement intended)

In this section, more showy material such as turns and wings elicited cheers from the crowd. There were also many solo moments, with a strong utilization of the sagittal plane of movement (upstage to downstage and vice versa) and a downward-facing V shape in the arms. As time progressed, the dancers began sweating through their clothing, creating a visual cue that this performance was a serious test of physical endurance…and of mental endurance, too.

SoLe Sanctuary, which was billed as 80 minutes with no intermission, stretched to 120 consecutive minutes. Though the audience certainly enjoyed watching the show, its visual appeal lagged more than once in what can perhaps be interpreted as improvisation gone overboard. Ultimately, though, the men made up for their long-windedness with their charisma and technical prowess.

At the evening’s end, the two men appeared to be in a Zen-like state. As audience members rose to their feet, the men embraced, bowed once and left the stage. I want to note here that Glover’s performance etiquette – both during and following the show – speak to his humility. As someone who watches a lot of live performances, I appreciate that Glover does not need extensive bows to confirm his excellence or success. Instead of presenting a show to members of his audience, Glover shares it with them. That alone truly makes a difference.

—

Have you seen Savion Glover perform? What was your experience like? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

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Summer Dance Festivals and Conferences (Part 2)

24 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by ascho3 in Ballet, Dance, Higher Ed, Modern Dance

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Tags

Ballet, Bates Dance Festival, dance, Dance Festivals, Dance New Amsterdam, Jacob's Pillow, Jazz, Modern dance, Musical Theater, New York, Summer, Tap

Recent heavy snows and cold weather have many of us looking forward to the summer months. But dancers may be looking forward to more than just warmer weather.

The summer holds a wealth of opportunities in the form of dance festivals and conferences for those in the professional dance world; whether dance artists participate in these events as students, interns or employees, dance festivals and conferences often prove to be educational, unforgettable experiences for all involved.

I listed information yesterday about a few major dance festivals and conferences that I’ve attended; today I profiled a few well-respected festivals that I haven’t personally experienced. Read more below!

Bates Dance Festival – Lewiston, ME // June 29 – August 12, 2012

Founded by Bates College Professor of Dance Emeritus Marcy Plavin in 1982, the Bates Dance Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this summer.  The Festival offers a three-week summer program of dance training for adults in addition to a three-week Young Dancers Workshop for teens ages 14-18. These professional training programs occur alongside the main-stage performance series, which features renowned dance artists from across the world; the Youth Arts Program, which provides youths ages 6-17 with dance and music training; and the Community Dance Project, which encourages local residents to participate in a collaboration with a choreographer and Festival dancers.

Bates is well-known for having a noncompetitive, community spirit; no auditions are required to attend the festival, but applicants must have studied modern and one other dance discipline continuously for four or more years.  In addition, shared dormitory lodging and dining areas allow resident artists and students to quickly build a sense of community.

In addition to dance technique and composition classes, the Bates Dance Festival includes workshops, jams, discussions, informal showings and performances.

Head to the Bates Dance Festival’s website to learn more.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival – Berkshires, MA // June 16 – August 26, 2012

Founded by modern dance legend Ted Shawn in 1933, Jacob’s Pillow celebrates its 80th Anniversary at this summer’s festival. The Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival boasts a full schedule that includes free talks, outdoor performances, exhibits and tours in addition to dance technique programs in ballet, contemporary, jazz/musical theater and tap. These vigorous training programs last for varying amounts of time; more information is available here.

In 2003, Jacob’s Pillow was named as a National Historic Landmark for its importance in America’s culture and history, making it the country’s first and only Landmark dance institution, and in 2011, President Barack Obama honored the Pillow with the National Medal of Arts.

This year’s festival will feature performances by Mimulus (Brazil), Circa (Austrailia), Kidd Pivot (Germany), Vertigo Dance Company (Israel), Luna Negra Dance Theater (U.S.), Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company (U.S.), and Doug Elkins and Friends (U.S.), among many others. For a complete listing of this year’s performance season, click here.

If you love the Sound of Music and you also appreciate a good laugh, allow me to recommend Doug Elkins and Friends’ Fraulein Maria. This piece was performed at the American Dance Festival in the summer of 2009 and it was incredible! 

Learn more about the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival here.


Dance New Amsterdam – New York, NY // Year-round

Dance New Amsterdam, or DNA, as it is more commonly called, was founded in 1984 and has since become a haven of high quality dance education, choreographic exploration and performance innovation. DNA caters to all members of the dance community – which includes aspiring, emerging and established artists – by providing technique classes, certification courses, artistic residencies, and studio and administrative office subsidies.

DNA also commissions new choreographic works and presents a year-round performance season. Past performances have showcased the work of groundbreaking dance artists such as Ronald K. Brown, Mark Morris, Monica Bill Barnes and David Dorfman.

Though DNA is not a dance festival, it is an excellent facility for anyone looking to continue his or her dance practice during the summer months. Learn more about all DNA has to offer on its website.

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Is there a noteworthy dance festival or conference that I left out? Leave me a comment and let me know! And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out Part 1!

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