PeriChild Annual Performance

What's the latest with the PeriChild Program?!

This years annual performance was a huge success! Each spring semester culminates with an Annual PeriChild Performance featuring PeriChild students involved in Pre-Ballet and up, ages 4 to their late teens. This is an excellent way for the dancers and classes to showcase what they've learned throughout the year. This year's Annual PeriChild Concert was on June 6th & 7th and held at the Marien Anderson Theater at Aaron Davis Hall, attended by over 700 parents and family members. The concert included Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap and Hip-Hop and was rich with creativity, energy, a variety of styles and techniques and a whole lot of excitement!

Below is a slide show of pictures from this year's concert - all photos were taken by professional photographer Melissa Birnbaum / Meems Images.



The PeriChild Summer program is currently in progress. The upcoming Fall Session is beginning September 14, 2009. See the website for more details!

Give your child the best gift, the gift of dance!

Battleworks Summer Workshop

Robert Battle will be teaching a week long workshop at Peridance beginning August 10. Battle is a graduate of the Juilliard School and performed with Parsons Dance for seven years during which time he set several pieces on the company which they continue to perform worldwide. He founded Battleworks in 2001. Battle has re-staged his choreography as well as set new works on companies such as The Hubbard Street Repertory Ensemble, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Koresh. See their website for more information. www.battleworks.com

The Peridance Workshop will take place
Monday - Friday, August 10 - 14,
11am - 1pm, Register Now!

In this New York Sun review, Joy Goodwin explains why New-York based Battleworks is one of the hottest companies in modern dance today.

Mr. Battle's four-year-old company, Battleworks,consists of a group of high caliber dancers who also dance for other people. Their training and bodies are reminiscent of any number of good modern companies, but their sizzle is all their own. They have a flair for drama without being phony, and they have the fearlessness of actors; if Mr. Battle asks them to mime cannibalism or hurl their bodies at the floor, they don't even blink... continue reading.

Interview with Gallim Dance's Andrea Miller

Check out this exclusive interview with Summer workshop teacher Andrea Miller, the Artistic Director of Gallim Dance. Click here to read a review of their recent performance at Jacob's Pillow.

www.gallimdance.com

Petronio Company Member, Amanda Wells

Company member, Amanda Wells starts teaching a 5-day workshop at Peridance Center the first week of August.

Aug 3, 2009 - Aug 7, 2009; Mon - Fri
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

AMANDA WELLS was born in San Francisco where she began her formal dance training at the San Francisco Ballet School. Her training and performance experience continued with the Boston Ballet and Richmond Ballet Company. In 1998, Amanda relocated to New York to attend NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Graduating in 2001 with a love of modern dance, she entered into the Stephen Petronio Company and has since toured and taught extensively throughout US, Europe, Asia and Australia.

This class is geared toward working, expanding and refining each dancer's technique and unique approach to dance. Combinations will include elements of ballet, yoga and Klein. There will be a strong emphasis placed on proper alignment, stability and efficiency. Phrase work will be taught at the end of each class focusing in the articulation of feet and legs, sequencing of the spine, gestural movement of the arms and some floor work. Set to contemporary music.

Keigwin + Company Week Long Workshop

Keigwin + Company will be teaching a week long modern workshop at Peridance Center.

Jul 27, 2009 - Jul 31, 2009; Mon - Fri
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Keigwin & Company lives to create provocative, witty and engaging dances. Utilizing a collaborative process, K+C combines physicality with theatricality, samples a variety of mediums and, ultimately, fuses art with entertainment.



In addition to Larry's choreographic work with K+C, his recent commissions have included The New York City Ballet's Choreographic Institute, The Martha Graham Dance Company, The Juilliard Dance Ensemble, The NYU/Tisch School's Second Avenue Dance Company, Paradigm, Hofstra University and California Institute of the Arts.

His other choreographic credits include work with the pop band Fischerspooner, comedian Murray Hill and as an Associate Choreographer for both the The Radio City Rockettes and the Off-Broadway musical "The Wild Party". As a dancer Larry has danced at the Metropolitan Opera in Doug Varone's "Le Sacre Du Printemps" and Julie Taymor's "The Magic Flute" in addition to his work with Mark Dendy (receiving a Bessie Award in 1998 for his performance in "Dream Analysis"), Robin Becker, Jane Comfort, John Jasperse, Doug Elkins, Zvi Gotheiner, and David Rousseve.

In his spare time, Larry has created "Keigwin Kabaret," a fusion of modern dance, vaudeville, and burlesque acts presented by the Public Theater at Joe's Pub and by Symphony Space. For more information, please visit the Keigwin + Company website.

Kate Skarpetowska's Modern Workshop

Kate Skarpetowska Summer Workshop
Jul 27, 2009 - Jul 31, 2009; Mon - Fri
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Using the traditional and contemporary techniques, the class will concentrate on introducing highly physical and athletic movement.

Kate is a native of Warsaw, Poland. She is an alumna of the NYC High School of Performing Arts and received a BFA from The Juilliard School in May 1999 under Artistic Director Benjamin Harkarvy. In 1992 she performed on Broadway in the musical Metro, directed and choreographed by Janusz Jozefowicz. She was a member of The Parsons Dance Company from 1999 until 2006. Currently, Kate is working for The Battleworks Dance Company and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. She has had the privilege of setting the works of David Parsons and Robert Battle in The United States and abroad. In addition, her own choreography has been performed by various universities, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Hubbard Street 2 and The Parsons Dance Company.

Peridance Testimonials

Read the words yourself!

We asked the teachers, students, and parents for feedback on their experience with Peridance Center. The response was a positive testimonial to our affirmative position in both the local and international dance community. Take a look.

Longtime teacher, Graciela Kozak, shares her thoughts on the school.
"Many, many times I have witnessed the start of careers from within our student body and have seen dancers, teachers and choreographers alike emerge. It is thanks to our studios and unique environment that these artists were able to enjoy the freedom to develop their talents..." -continue reading.

PeriChild's End of Year Performance

The end of year concert for the students of the PeriChild program was a tremendous success. Photos by Melissa Birnbaum / Meems Images.

BAILA Society (BASo) instructs NY Salsa at Peridance Center

BAILA Society (BASo) instructs NY Salsa at Peridance Center every Friday and Saturday. Teaching absolute beginners and professional dancers!!

Come and see what elegant Baila Society's Salsa classes are all about.

Go here to see some great footage of Baila Society instructors and Miss USA 2009, Kristen Dalton!! http://www.bailasociety.com/journal/

NEW promotions* for Salsa classes at Peridance Center -
Expires August 31st

New students special! Take a Salsa class at Peridance and receive your first class for $10!!

Introduce a friend to Salsa: Bring a friend for their first Salsa class at Peridance and receive your salsa class for $10! Peridance Student and friend must both be present to receive discount.

*promotions cannot be combined

Baila Society Classes at Peridance:

Fridays, 7p - 9p Performance and Spinning technique All levels
This class is offered for both men and women. Training exercises used in every class will utilize fundamental dance techniques from ballet, jazz, ballroom, hip hop and salsa in order to present a clear and effective process for achieving total body control. The class covers variations in head, arm, and body movement that can be used to enhance simple salsa footwork. Isolation exercises and training routines will be drawn from other dance disciplines to encourage flexibility, body control, and rhythm.

Saturdays, 3:30p - 5:30p New York Salsa for Beginners
This course is an introduction to "New York" style salsa for both members and non-members of BAILA Society (no partner required). Students will learn the fundamental footwork and partnerwork figures of salsa social dancing. Students will progressively build on these basics to form figure combinations that can be improvised on the dance floor.

Peridance New Student Promotion

New Students, after taking their first class at Peridance Center, receive a free class when they purchase a 10 class card, and 2 free classes when they purchase a 20 class card.

*Offer valid for a month only, from the day of registration.

Valid for New Students Only. 10 Class Cards valid for 14 days- NO EXTENSION. 20 Class Cards valid for 60 Days and may be extended for additional $10 fee. Cards will not be replaced if lost or stolen. Cards are Non-Refundable and Non-Transferable.

Igal Perry presents at Dance Library of Isreal Ceremony

Peridance Center's Artistic Director, Igal Perry, was invited to present his choreography for the Dance Library of Israel's annual award ceremony this past October of 2008. Mr. Perry is a previous honoree of the Dance Library of Israel Hall of Fame. Other former honorees include Anna Sokolow and longtime board member, Pearl Lang, who recently passed away (see article). Blogger, Amber Connors, sat down with Mr. Perry for an interview about this exciting event. Photo from left: Igal Perry, Mary Kantor, Shen-Wei, Jose Manuel Carreno, Melanie Hamrick. Photo Credit: International Committee for the Dance Library of Israel photography-Alex Erikson

Can you tell us what is the Dance Library of Israel? What was celebrated and who attended?

The Dance Library of Israel in Tel Aviv, houses books, magazines, videos and archival materials covering all aspects of dance from around the world. It is the 2nd largest dance library in the world, with Lincoln Center's library being the first.

This year the Dance Library of Israel bestowed its Documents of Dance Award at the Penn Club to dance supporter Mary Yung Kantor. The Gala dinner dance event included Jose Manuel Carreno, principal dancer of ABT, Shen Wei, choreographer who recently choreographed the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Beijing, Paul Trezili, CEO of Capezio Balletmakers Inc., and Anna Kisselgoff, dance critic of The New York Times. Past recipients of the Documents of Dance Award include Paul Taylor, Eliot Feld, Ann Reinking, and Martha Graham.

Why did you decide to choose these specific pieces of choreography?

The contribution to dance is important and personally I’m happy to participate in their cause. It’s a mutual relationship. It is my choreography, but this time I also wanted to perform something with a common denominator. So I presented choreography that had received success in galas and competitions for my students.

Tell us a little about the performers.

Two of the dancers are trained at my colleague Valentina Kozlova's school of dance. Whitney Jensen, presented "Prey" with which she has won many competitions, including recently the Grand Prix at Varna, (the renowned competition that made Baryshnikov famous). Jensen is the first American ever to win the Grand Prix in the youth category in which she competed. 11 year old Maggie Horowitz performed "Tender Love" which I choreographed for her for competition in New Jersey. Also performing was Kuei Hsien Chu, who presented the piece with which he won silver medal in Orlando, Florida.

What is it like to be asked to choreograph for such a prestigious ceremony?

For me it’s not about prestige but being a part of an organization that I think does important work and good work. Of course the exposure is a plus, but it’s not my goal. I’m always happy to contribute to a good cause. Photo Credit: International Committee for the Dance Library of Israel photography-Alex Erikson

Experimental Dance/Theatre Workshop with Company XIV

Aug 24, 2009 - Aug 28, 2009; Mon - Sat
Monday through Friday: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Saturday, August 29: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Austin McCormick's Company XIV is coming to Peridance Center to teach a unique workshop for women only.

Austin McCormick continues his exploration of the female archetypes present in the poetry of Charles Bukowski in this experimental dance/theatre workshop.

Open to Advanced and Professional female dancer/actors. Students will begin with a rigorous warm up taught by Laura Careless consisting of yoga and borrowing from acting techniques (Lucid Body, Stanislavski etc.) Teaching of Company XIV repertory as well as development of new choreography will follow with emphasis on personal interpretation and in depth coaching.

Subject matter is not for the light of heart and will deal with femininity, objectification, sexuality, and relationships. Performers will be asked to work on characters outside of their usual “type”. Material developed in the workshop may be included in McCormick’s BETTING ON THE MUSE an ongoing performance project in New York. Please bring character shoes/heels and journal.

See the company's website www.companyxiv.com




Related Articles:
Company XIV's The Judgement of Paris review from Broadway World.com

Pilobolus Workshop Promotion with the Joyce

PILOBOLUS AT PERIDANCE CENTER AND AT THE JOYCE THEATER!! Experience Pilobolus to the fullest! Sign up for Pilobolus workshop at Peridance by July 12 and get a FREE DRINK when you come see Pilobolus at The Joyce Theater! Show proof of class registration when you buy your tickets at The Joyce Theater Box Office to receive your free drink.

The Pilobolus Workshop at Peridance will take place
Monday - Friday, August 3 - 7, 3:30pm - 5:30pm at Peridance
Pre-registration is highly recommended.
Call 212-505-0886 or register at www.peridance.com

Pilobolus is at the Joyce Theater from July 13- Aug 8
more details about the performance here, www.joyce.org

Register for three complete workshops at Peridance and
receive 5% discount!
Photo by: John Kane