Celebrate with Dianne McIntyre

Dianne McIntyre (photo by Larry Coleman)

When American Dance Guild presents its Performance Festival 2012--a tribute to distinguished dance artists Elaine Summers and Dianne McIntyre--it will offer McIntyre the chance to call together a "family" reunion in celebration of the 40th anniversary of her company, Sound in Motion. McIntyre writes,

In addition to presenting Life's Force (1979), on September 6 and September 8, with twenty dancers who have worked with her from 1972-2012, she writes, she will "gather with even more people, probably in Harlem to mingle, network, catch up, have meetings between people of different generations and document stories and memories. This gathering and documentation is important to me, because there is not much available about my history and the amazing artists--dancers and other artist collaborators--I have had the chance to work with and the influence of that work on the dance scene.

"Some of the dance artists I know right now who will be involved in this celebration are (in order of the years I met them in Sounds in Motion and later) Dorian Williams-Byrd (1972), Lonnetta Gaines (1973), Mickey Davidson (1975), Cheryl Banks-Smith (1978), Alde Lewis (1976), Francine Piggott-Butler (1976), Robin Wilson (1979), Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (1980), Aziza (1983), Laceine Wedderburn (1983), Kathleen Sumler (1984), Marlies Yearby (1985), Malik Lewis (1985), Charles Wallace (1986), Shireen Dickson (1996), Telly Fowler (1999), Catherine Meredith (2006), Maria Lucas (2006), Sarah Yarrington (2011), Kalila Smith (2011), Yusha-Marie Sorzano (2012)."

For complete ADG festival information, click here.

American Dance Guild Performance Festival 2012
September 6-9

Thursday, September 6 at 8pm (followed by reception)
Friday, September 7 at 8pm
Saturday, September 8 at 8pm
Sunday, September 9 at 7pm

Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater
The Joan Weill Center for Dance
405 West 55th Street (at 9th Avenue), Manhattan
(directions)

MADE HERE? Yes, and now available at Hulu!

Vernon Reid and Gabri Christa (photo by Chiara Clemente)

HERE's innovative video documentary series MADE HERE--directed by Chiara Clemente and featuring theme-based interviews with performing artists who make New York New York--has come to Hulu!

Mildred Ruiz-Sapp and Steven Sapp (photo by Chiara Clemente)

See it here--yeah, I know, an unavoidable pun--presented in partnership with TenduTV.

Tap royalty at Jacob's Pillow: Be still, my heart!

Gregory Hines, Dianne Walker, Jimmy Slyde
recorded June 22, 1996

A one-time-only gala performance in 1996 provided the occasion to bring together three extraordinary tap artists. Gregory Hines (1946-2003) helped revitalize the tap genre in the 1980s, appearing on Broadway and in films such as White Nights and The Cotton Club. Dianne Walker, also known as "Lady Di", is a Boston-based artist who is among the few internationally-recognized women in tap. Her mentors included Leon Collins, with whom she ran a popular Boston school in the 1980s. Walker has also been closely associated with Jimmy Slyde (1927-2008), who was born and raised in Boston. Slyde danced with many leading big bands including those of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. All three of these artists appeared in the movie Tap, but this Pillow footage represents a unique record of them dancing together. Dianne Walker and Jimmy Slyde were most recently seen at the Pillow with Savion Glover in 2005.

Music: Bross Townsend Quartet

Just a sample of the many treasures and pleasures you can find at Jacob's Pillow Dance Interactive. Visit now!

Latin American sounds at Lincoln Center Out of Doors

Sergio Dias (Photo: Darial Sneed)

Guest blogger Darial Sneed offers her photographs and reflections on a great show at Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park Bandshell:

After Thursday’s rain cancellation, Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival returned Friday with a South-of-the-Border-themed program.

Brazilian guitarist and composer Sergio Dias, in traditional attire, opened with a rousing guitar and vocal rendition of Brazilian songs. Dias is best known as a founding member of popular rock band Os Mutantes. The crowd enjoyed the rare treat of Dias’ first solo performance since 2006.

Wil-Dog El Gavachillo (photo: Darial Sneed)

Wil-Dog El Gavachillo with Banda Viento de Oro pulsated with punk rock beat and rhythms. The charismatic bassist Wil-Dog Abers--of Los Angeles-based Latin band Ozomatli--donned a hat and with pumping fists assumed his alter ego “El Gavachillo”. He was backed by the Mexican-inspired brass band, Banda Viento de Oro, making its first New York appearance.

Colombia's Los Irreales de Ondatrópica (photo: Darial Sneed)

Nidia Góngora of Los Irreales de Ondatrópica (photo: Darial Sneed)

Eagerly anticipated was the new Colombian group Los Irreales de Ondatrópica, fresh from its debut at the London Olympics. The 12-member group, which just completed a new CD at the fabled Discos Fuentes studios, includes Colombia music legends and rising stars. Performing traditional Cumbia updated with electronics and hip-hop drums, the band’s energetic, undulating pulse brought many in the audience to their feet, swaying and dancing enthusiastically. Vocalist Nidia Góngora was captivating as she playfully flirted with male band members and the audience.

It was a foot-stomping evening of Latin-based music under clear, crisp skies.

--Darial Sneed

The powerful art of sound

Janet Cardiff, George Bures Miller and the Power of Sound
by John Wray, The New York Times, July 26, 2012

NBC omits Akram Khan's Olympics dance tribute [UPDATE]

Akram Khan upset over NBC Olympic ceremony snub
BBC News, July 29, 2012

Here's The Opening Ceremony Tribute to Terrorism Victims NBC Doesn't Want You To See
Timothy Burke, Deadspin, July 27, 2012

New InfiniteBody policy re: Kickstarter campaigns

Dear InfiniteBody readers,

In recent months, I've received a good number of Kickstarter appeals by email or Facebook message. Often these come with personal requests for me to help out by publicizing Kickstarter campaigns on this blog.

Initially, I was reluctant to post any of these announcements, because there are numerous active campaigns out there. I neither wanted to be expected to post every one I received or heard about, nor did I want to be seen as playing favorites by promoting projects that might personally interest me. I worried about this.

Over time, I did post a few--even quite recently. But today, I'm announcing that I will no longer post Kickstarter announcements on InfiniteBody.

I support your efforts to fund important creative projects. If you share your appeals via social media, I'll be happy to re-post or re-tweet something that personally strikes me as "insanely great." And I wish all of you the very best.

Thanks for understanding and respecting this policy decision.

Eva Yaa Asantewaa
InfiniteBody