The New York City Ballet will present the beloved holiday favorite, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker through Dec 30. Set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, the ballet features New York City Ballet’s dancers and orchestra, as well as 50 children from the School of American Ballet to make each performance as magical as possible. From the moment the lights dim, the audience is transported to a magical place filled with adorable children, marching toy soldiers, a glowing one-ton Christmas tree that seemingly grows forever, mischievous mice, crystalline waltzing snowflakes, the Land of Sweets and some of the most breathtaking costumes, sets and dancing on earth.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the tutu-fabulous all-male international dance sensation, returns to The Joyce Theater with two joyful programs just in time for the holidays Dec 18 and Jan 6. With their astounding mastery of ballet technique, flamboyant personalities, hilarious parodying and maybe a little more chest hair than your average Giselle, the Trocks, as they are affectionately known, receive raucous laughter and wild applause throughout the world. These internationally renowned ballerinos illuminate the passion, tragedy and joy of classical ballet, all squeezed into size 12 pointe shoes. For this engagement, the company will present two programs of works including audience favorites such as Paquita, Go For Barocco and Swan Lake.
From Jan 8 through Jan 13, the Joyce Theater hosts Focus Dance, a weeklong platform promoting American dance both nationally and abroad. This year’s event will include four programs with some of the most innovative companies performing today, including Jodi Melnick, Stephen Petronio Company, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Brian Brooks Moving Company, Rosie Hererra Dance Theater, Doug Varone & Dancers, Eiko & Koma and John Jasperse. The event plays as part of Focus 2013, the annual Arts Presenters Conference in New York City and one of the largest gatherings of artists, dancers and dance professionals in the U.S. Events include Dance Gotham at the NYU Skirball Center, Focal Point at the Ailey Citigroup Theater and Dance Meet and Showcase at the New York City Center.
Embarking on its eighth year, Dance from the Heart returns to New York City’s Cedar Lake Theater, Jan 28-29. This two-night, four-performance benefit, produced by Dancers Responding to AIDS (a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS), will draw a versatile lineup of talented companies and artists performing everything from Broadway and hip-hop to contemporary ballet and modern. This year’s featured performances include Nora Chipaumire’s “Dark Swan,” Paul Taylor Dance Company’s beautiful duet from “Cascade,” and Project Moves Dance Company sharing a powerful anti-bullying message of respect and acceptance in an excerpt from “Accept Me.”
