BAAND Together Dance Festival
A pas de deux kicked off, the BAAND Together Dance Festival with the boldly staged performances of NYC’s most iconic dance companies — Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
“Life, Liberty, and Happiness” is Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City curatorial theme against the backdrop of global conversations on healthy communities, gender equality, and inclusivity. The evening program is a testament to the uplifting power of multicultural live arts with collaborative and creative artists.
BAAND Together Dance Festival returns to the stage for an extraordinary evening of dance company performances of classic and new commissions by master choreographers.
The exquisite selection of five pieces was curated by the artistic directors of each company, Eduardo Vilaro (Ballet Hispánico), Matthew Rushing (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Susan Jaffe (American Ballet Theatre), Jonathan Stafford (New York City Ballet), and Robert Garland (Dance Theatre of Harlem).
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s exuberant and whimsical Solo was an audience favorite performed by Chalavar Montiero, Yannick LeBrun, and Patrick Coker.
Surrealist Magritte inspired Ballet Hispánico, Sombrerismo performed by Fatima Andere, Amir J. Baldwin, Antonio Cangiano, Paulo Hernandez-Farella, Dylan Dias McIntyre, and Omar Rivera and choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Complete with signature bowler hats the mixed-gender cast represented culture throughout the world.
American Ballet Theatre presented Night Falls, an intimate dusky pas de deux performed by soloist Chloe Misseldine and Thomas Forster, choreographed and costume designed by Brady Farrar.
George Balanchine’s romantic choreography for Stravinsky’s Duo Concertant was first performed in 1972 at Lincoln Center’s New York State Theater. The pas de deux is performed by New York City Ballet soloists Megan Fairchild and Anthony Huxley.
Dance Theatre of Harlem’s inspiration was composer James Blake and the restrictions of the pandemic facing the formidable talented company to create an evolving work The Barre Project. Blake Works IV (The Barre Project) choreographed by William Forsythe and performed by dancers Derek Brockington, Micah Bulard, Kouadio Davis, Ariana Dickerson, Lindsey Donnell, Alexandra Hutchinson, Elias Re, Ingrid Silva, Delaney Washington, Stephanie Rae Williams, David Wright.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is the cultural mecca of live performing arts in New York City nurturing innovation, and artistic inspiration on stage and off. The suggested ticket price:$35 available on a choose-what-you-pay basis online makes great dance accessible to all New York audiences.
The dance performance gems were made possible with support from the luxury brand CHANEL. BAAND Together Dance Festival runs July 30th through August 3rd at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan.
