David White appointment at The Yard

David R. White (executive director and producer of Dance Theater Workshop, 1975-2003) has been appointed consulting artistic director at The Yard.

The Yard Welcomes David White

Tribute to Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi

A Tribute to Iranian Filmmaker Jafar Panahi

February 25-March 11

Asia Society and Museum
725 Park Avenue (at 70th Street), Manhattan

(directions and other visitor information)

Get free tickets online.

This film series highlights the global artistic and social significance of the work of filmmaker Jafar Panahi. Even before he made international headlines for his recent affiliation with the Green Movement in Iran, Panahi was celebrated as one of the most influential cinematic voices. He has received international recognition for his work, garnering the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion, the Berlin Film Festival's Silver Bear, and the Cannes Film Festival's Camera d'Or awards.

Panahi is known for his realistic and unflinching portrayal of contemporary Iranian life, treating his subjects, often women and people living on the margins of society, with deep humanism. Using non-professional actors to play characters very much like themselves, his films evoke a social urgency. Panahi was recently sentenced to a six-year prison term and a 20-year ban on filmmaking for his association with the Green Movement. The sentence is being appealed.

All films are in Persian with English subtitles.

For complete program, schedule details and free tickets, click here.

Cuban arts to grace New York

A Cuban Arts Festival Is Announced for New York
by Larry Rohter, The New York Times, February 8, 2011

Eva's Grabbag.1

Let's be frank: In New York, there's so much to do, see, hear, read, think AND write about that it's impossible to keep up with it all. (As you folks post your events on Facebook and email your press releases, just imagine my hands thrown up in a mixture of overwhelm and surrender.) So, every now and then, I'm just going to toss out some quick recommendations for InfiniteBody readers to consider and hope you'll step forward and take it from there.

I think I'll just call this Eva's Grabbag!

Eva's Grabbag.1

Dance critic Jennifer Homans (The New Republic) gave a fascinating talk and Q&A about her critically-acclaimed, Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet, at 92Y Tribeca this afternoon. After listening to Homans trace the intricate, mutually transformative connections between classical ballet and the societies that birthed and nurtured it, I'm ready to take the complete journey with her. I enjoyed her clear, lively analysis, her embodied perspective as a former ballerina and her obvious passion for her subject. "Dancing--ballet, in particular--was one of the most powerful experiences of my life," she told us, and this sounds like a valuable and powerful book. (Random House, 2010)

Coming up at Joe's Pub--Sandra Bernhard and Justin Vivian Bond in Arts & Crafts:

"...country cousins whose lives have led them in very different directions. One went from being a rock chick to born again motherhood in the Midwest and the other from small town gay to urban art world sophisticate. When the two meet up again at a family wedding they set of on a journey rediscovering their authentic selves and learning that ideology doesn't mean much when stacked up against art love and really good acid." March 7, 7:30 and 9pm. Get info and tickets.

Salsa, baby! Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents its 30th Anniversary Gala Concert with the legendary Ruben Blades ("El Poeta") and Gilberto Santa Rosa ("El Caballero de la Salsa") performing together for the first time! Saturday, February 26, 8pm. Get info and tickets.

American Tap Dance Foundation presents TAP TALKS / TAP FILMS on Sunday, February 20, 1:30pm: Juanita Pitts: Race, Gender and the Female Hoofer (video and history). Presentation by Margaret Morrison. Free for registered ATDC students. $5 general admission. American Tap Dance Center, 154 Christopher Street, Manhattan. Get info or call 646-230-9564.

More grabbags to come soon! Everybody have a fabulous evening!

Losses for Rio samba schools in fire

Fire in Rio Dims Carnaval Performers’ Hopes

by Alexei Barrionuevo, The New York Times, February 7, 2011

Women in film, women in leadership

Athena Film Festival

feature films, documentaries and shorts in celebration of women and leadership

Thursday-Sunday, February 10-13

Barnard College and The Miller Theatre
(directions)

For complete information, a schedule and to purchase tickets, click here.

Hawaiian music beyond Daniel Ho

Daniel Ho and Hawaiian Music at the Grammys
by Nate Chinen, The New York Times, February 4, 2011