Category Archives: dance

The Boston Ballet presents As Anticipated

As Anticipated, a ballet choreographed by William Forsythe, opens tomorrow and will run through November 13, 2022.

Both Sergio and I are looking forward to attending opening night this Thursday at the Opera House. We’ve had the benefit of seeing a few of William Forsythe’s ballets thanks to a five-year collaboration he has had with the Boston Ballet.

For those who are unfamiliar with Forsythe, his ballets are more contemporary and challenge what you may think of when you envision a ballet. I’d like to encourage anyone reading this post to consider coming to attend one of the productions over the next couple of weeks.

PERFORMANCE CALENDAR

Thursday, Nov 3 at 7:30 pm
Friday, Nov 4 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, Nov 5 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, Nov 6 at 1:30 pm
Thursday, Nov 10 at 7:30 pm
Friday, Nov 11 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, Nov 12 at 1:30 and 7:30 pm
Sunday, Nov 13 at 1:30 pm

Tickets to perfomances start at $39.00 and are on sale now. For more information about the production, and to purchase tickets visit the BostonBallet.org.

2022 Boatslip Tea Dances start

The Boatslip tea dances traditionally hosts their first tea dance of the season on the first Friday in May. However, construction forced this year’s tea dance to be delayed by a week. Tea dances at The Boatslip will take place each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through early June. Daily tea dances at The Boatslip will begin on Thursday, June 16 and run through Labor Day Weekend. For more details about The Boatslip tea dances and other events hosted this summer visit, theboatslip.com.

Join DJ Maryalice this Friday at 4:00PM for the inaugural 2022 Boatslip Tea Dance in Provincetown.

Queer Tango in Boston each Monday

Did you know that every Monday evening there are weekly queer tango classes and dancing? The pandemic put a temporary halt to dancing but it has returned to The Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville.

Advanced dancing is every Monday from 6:30 – 7:30PM and all levels are welcome to join from 7:30 – 8:30PM. Drop-ins and first-timers are always welcome to join at 7:30PM. If interested, there is more information available on the Queer Tango Boston Facebook group.

Boston Ballet DREAMstate

The Boston Ballet has a very exciting production coming in March called DREAMstate, which includes three very different performances.

3-Part ballet: classic, modern, and rock (Mar 17 -27th)

The first ballet opens with George Balanchine’s Chaconne. Followed by Bella Figura (shown above), a contemporary ballet choreographed by Jiří Kylián and danced by The Boston Ballet back in 2011. I remember seeing this opening night and being surprised when I realized female dancers were topless.

The production will conclude with The Boston Ballet performing what I’ll refer to as a “Rock Ballet” with a world premiere called DEVIL’S/eye. The dance is choreographed by Stephen Galloway to music by The Rolling Stones, including Wild Horses, Paint it Black, Midnight Rambler, and Jumping Jack Flash.

DREAMstate performances will run from March 17-27, 2022 and tickets are now on sale. Tickets start at $39, and if you make your purchase by Tuesday, February 22 you can save $20 by using the code REALM2B.

Donna Summer Disco Party returns

Donna Summer was born in Boston and grew up in Mission Hill. Shortly after her passing in 2012, Boston started hosting an annual summer disco party to honor the Queen of Disco. Initially hosted in Government Center, the celebration was suspended last year due to COVID-19 but will return to Copley Square tomorrow, Thursday, June 24th.

Donna Summer Disco Party
Thursday, June 24 at Copley Square
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Free)

Unlike past years, this year’s event will not feature a roller-skating rink, but dancing is ecouraged as DJs play Donna Summer’s greatest hits in a groovy atmosphere complete with glow sticks, colorful lights, and a disco ball.

Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker to be broadcast on NBC10, November 28th at 7pm

The Boston Ballet is partnering with NBC10 Boston to bring Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker to your home with a one-hour special excerpted from the 2019 production, with featured narration by Hoda Kotb (Today) and Colton Bradford (NBC10 Boston’s The Hub) as Drosselmeier.

The Nutcracker will air on NBC10 Boston on Saturday, November 28 at 7 pm with encore airings and on-demand viewing opportunities on NBC10 Boston, NECN and Spanish-language Telemundo. It will also be available free of charge on bostonballet.org for a limited time.

When to watch:

Saturday, November 28 at 7 pm on NBC10 Boston
Sunday, November 29 at 7 pm on NECN 
Saturday, December 5 at 11 am on Telemundo 
Friday, December 25 at 5 pm on Telemundo 
Friday, December 25 at 7 pm on NBC10 Boston 

Boston Ballet presents rEVOLUTION

This Thursday, February 27th will be opening night for the Boston Ballet at the Boston Opera House. rEVOLUTION is the first ballet production of 2020 and with works from Balanchine, Robbins and Forsythe it is going to amaze.

  • George Balanchine’s daring, powerhouse collaboration with Igor Stravinsky Agon
  • Jerome Robbins’ Broadway and ballet legend, late-career masterwork Glass Pieces
  • William Forsythe’s electrifying, global sensation In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated.

These three choreographers have helped transform the world of ballet. Over the years, I’ve come to enjoy how this format of featuring different works from choreographers and I think it provides the casual patron or even a first time visitor a glimpse into the variety and incredible athleticism and artistry of ballet.

Get Your Tickets Here

Make plans with friends and come out for a night at the ballet. Tickets start at $37.00 so check it out and if you happen to be attending opening night this Thursday, do stop by and say hello to Sergio and me. I’m sure we will be sipping Champagne in the lobby during intermission.

Merry Christmas

Mark Kanemura was on So You Think You Can Dance a few years back. He regularly posts short, entertaining videos like this one from last year. As you can see, Mark has enough Christmas spirit for all of us.

So for those of you who are celebrating Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful holiday and for the rest of you, enjoy this ridiculous video. I’m sure it will bring a smile to your face.

Boston Ballet presents Coppélia

Full on Forsythe, SergioLast week Sergio and I were able to see Full on Forsythe by the Boston Ballet before it closed on March 17th and this week we are fortunate enough to be able to attend opening night for George Balanchine’s ballet, Coppélia.

Coppélia
Thursday, March 21 – Sunday, March 31
Information & Tickets

I have really loved the collaboration between William Forsythe and the Boston Ballet and for those of you who missed Full on Forsythe, I have to say it’s your loss. This next production of the Boston Ballet is more in line with traditional ballet enthusiasts (what ballet from Balanchine isn’t?). First performed in the late 19th century, Coppélia is far more of a story than the ballet we just saw.  This ballet centers on Dr. Coppélius’ life-size dancing doll, that is so lifelike that a village youth, becomes infatuated with it. As for how it ends, you’ll have to go to the ballet to see for yourself. Let me know if you’ll be at the Opera House on Thursday and we can share a glass of Champagne. 

 

Boston Ballet presents Full on Forsythe

boston arts, boston danceThe Boston Ballet is more than halfway through a five year relationship with  William Forsythe, a choreographer who has been compared to Balanchine and Graham. His upcoming show, which opens a week from today on Thursday, February 4th promises to entice with an unorthodox soundtrack pulled from today’s pop, dance and R&B, featuring music from Khalid to Barry White. Check out the brief clip below to give you an idea of what to expect.

Boston Ballet presents Full on Forsythe
March 7 – 17 at the Boston Opera House
Tickets and More Information Here

Past productions have left me absolutely breathless watching what always seems to me to be innovative choreography and dancing you might not expect to see at the ballet. Their latest collaboration with Forsythe is appropriately called Full on Forsythe and while Sergio and I cannot attend opening night, I’m going to try and pick up tickets before the show closes on Sunday, March 17 and I would encourage you to do exactly the same thing.

Boston Ballet presents BB@home in February

Full on Forsythe

Photo credit: Rachel Neville Photography

Fans of the ballet have an unique opportunity to see Boston Ballet company members perform at their rehearsal studio in the South End in February. Dubbed “BB@home”, the rehearsals will showcase a sneak peek of the stunning  choreography that will be presented on a more grand stage at the Boston Opera House when their upcoming show, Full on Forsythe opens in March.

“BBII@home”, will take place on Feb. 7 and 8. Boston Ballet II, Boston Ballet’s two-year program comprised of younger dancers, will present old and new works, including one work of choreography by a Boston Ballet company member and another by a BBII member.  Tickets to this unique opportunity will go fast. To purchase tickets and to learn more visit BB@home.

Boston Ballet Nutcracker runs through Dec. 30th

Tonight is opening night for the Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker.  This classic holiday tradition is a wonderful way to introduce someone to the ballet. The music will be familiar and the story is easy to follow. The ballet and beautiful decorations at the Opera House will get you in the holiday spirit and turn an ordinary night into something special for you and whomever you bring with you.

Tickets can be quite affordable, starting at $37 and performances run through Sunday, December 30th.  If you need some dinner or drink suggestions on where to go either before or after the ballet feel free to ask for recommendations. Be sure to watch the Boston Ballet video, “Nutcracker Prince vs. Mouse King”.

Purchase Tickets to Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker

The Boston Ballet presents The Nutcracker

The Boston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker opens two weeks from today. Each year I like to give this classic ballet a plug, because the entire experience from walking into the Boston Opera House to watching the ballet  and listening to the orchestra puts me in such a wonderful mood.

Boston Ballet presents The Nutcracker Nov. 29 – Dec. 30

Consider picking up tickets for a show and making an evening of going to the ballet with friends or someone special. It makes for an excellent date night.

Boston Ballet presents Genius at Play

bosartsTonight is opening night for the Boston Ballet 2018/2019 season. Unfortunately, I’m stuck in New York City for work so Sergio and I will not be able to see the production until Friday evening, but I would like to encourage everyone to consider attending the Boston Ballet’s production of Genius at Play

Genius at Play celebrates choreographer, Jerome Robbins career and contributions to dance. The ballet begins with an orchestral performance of Massachusetts native Leonard Bernstein’s Candide Overature followed by Interplay, comprised of eight dancers set to a jazz score and Fancy Free – his first of what would be many collaborations with Bernstein, which depicts the antics of sailors on leave in New York City in the 1940s. The program concludes with the Company premiere of Glass Pieces, a bustling tribute to urban life choreographed for 42 dancers and set to music by Philip Glass.

Genius at Play runs through September 16, 2018, at the Boston Opera House.

Genius at Play
More information & Tickets

Current mood as Sergio and I head to Ptown

Provincetown’s 40th celebration better known as Carnival starts tomorrow and Sergio and I are heading down to spend the week relaxing and while we will likely go dancing, I’m sorry to say I have neither the rhythm nor skill to look this good, but the video does a great job of capturing our current mood.

Hit play, turn on the volume and have a great weekend.