Category: Dance

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Tonight: Virtual Fire Island Dance Festival

2020 Virtual Fire Island Dance Festival (photo: Scott Shaw Photography)
What to watch tonight? Check this out 🙂 The charitable event of the Fire Island summer goes digital when the Virtual Fire Island Dance Festival streams an evening of celebrated dance at 7 pm Eastern on July 17, 2020. The first-ever stream in the event’s 26-year history will feature world premieres of three new pieces and three beloved festival favorites. The festival is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Last year’s event – held on July 19-21 – raised a record-shattering $657,842 over three days. The player below will go live as the stream begins, or you can click here to watch directly on YouTube.

This year’s virtual festival will include world premieres by modern tap dancer Ayodele Casel, one of The New York Times’ “Biggest Breakout Stars of 2019”; KEIGWIN + COMPANY Artistic Director Larry Kiegwin; and Stephen Petronio, artistic director of Stephen Petronio Company. The stream also will feature past festival performances by Emmy Award nominee Al Blackstone; MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellow Kyle Abraham and acclaimed dancer and choreographer Garrett Smith. “Although we can’t gather together in The Pines, we’re thrilled to be able to invite our community to enjoy world-class dance performances online through the Virtual Fire Island Dance Festival,” said Denise Roberts Hurlin, founding director of Dancers Responding to AIDS. While the stream is free, should you feel ‘moved’ to do so (see what I did there?), any donation large or small is definitely appreciated. You can check out highlights from last year’s event below.

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Broadway Actor Adam Perry’s 109 Days Of COVID-19

Broadway actor Adam Perry backstage at Frozen (image via Instagram)
Adam Perry, who’s appeared in numerous Broadway shows (Frozen, Rocky, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Anything Goes, Promises, Promises, A Chorus Line, Wicked) shared his ongoing journey with the coronavirus having lived with symptoms now for over 100 days. For months now, the myth of the coronavirus has been that it “only affects the elderly.” But Perry, who has been in peak physical condition for years thanks to dancing on Broadway and hitting the gym regularly, says his experience with COVID-19 has been “terrifying.” “There is nothing like the feeling of not being able to breathe,” he told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Erin Burnett OutFront.

Since testing positive for the virus on March 17, Perry says his ongoing symptoms start with a cough and then develop into tightness in his chest. Even more disconcerting, every time the veteran Broadway performer thinks he’s beaten the disease, his symptoms return. “I would feel better for a few days and then it would just come and smack me again,” Perry said. “I had two days of symptoms and then felt like a million bucks for three days. So I thought I was off the hook, thought I beat it, but then it came back with a vengeance.” A serious concern for Perry today is struggling with his ‘new normal.’
Adam Perry (center) in Broadway Bares in 2017 (image via Instagram)
“I have been doing eight shows a week for 15 to 20 years,” he said. “Now the capacity is not the same. I am just praying daily that it will get back to normal and I will be able to do things again.” The 39-year-old actor shared on his Facebook page that watching the news of new COVID-19 cases surging across the country left him in tears. “I cried watching the news tonight,” wrote Perry. “Cases are spiking. The president makes jokes about coronavirus. People shame others for wearing masks. The country is making it a partisan issue.” Perry urged viewers to “come together, wear a mask, socially distance for as long as we can until there’s a vaccine because this thing has an infinite variable of outcomes for people.” He added that, in his view, there’s “a short term, long term, and ‘we just don’t know,’ so it’s just really important that people take care of each other.” He added, “I just really don’t want other people to have to experience what I experienced.” Watch Perry’s recent appearance on CNN above along with just a few posts from his Instagram account showing how fit the Broadway veteran has stayed over the years.

 

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Cuntry gal in Cabela’s & vintage Ralph Lauren 🎣

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Pines lighting tho 🌲🧚🏻‍♂️🌲 📷: @lapidustudio

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Golden Pride 💛🏳️‍🌈💛 📸: @esp_bymike

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Jan 1st. Is it summer yet? 🙄 🌊photography by @lapidustudio

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Natural tho 🌿 Photo by @kevinmcdnyc 📷

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⚓️🌊⚓️ 📷: @kylekrieger

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Daily Dance: Leap Of Dance Academy

From the Instagram account of the Leap of Dance Academy in Nigeria, a vocational ballet school that is dedicated to providing quality ballet education to indigenous students and young artists. “With very little or no resources our kids are training to be the best they can,” reads the caption in part. “This is not to bring down anyone but to show their high level of dedication and commitment to our program.” “Who wouldn’t be proud of them? What teacher wouldn’t pray for students who show/come to class with so much desire to learn? Kids who are ready to dance with or without conditions.”

 

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FACTS ABOUT OUR PROGRAM. Behind those fanciful in class beauty and costumes are lots and lots of backstage hard work. With very little or no resources our kids are training to be the best they can. This is not to bring down anyone but to show their high level of dedication and committments to our program. Who wouldn’t be proud of them? What teacher wouldn’t pray for students who shows/comes to class with so much desire to learn? Kids who are ready to dance with or without conditions. Imagine what more we could achieve if we have more?🙂 DMs for more information. #leapofdanceacademy #covid19 #donation #vocational #nigerianballetschool #travelingtutusincnigeria #danceacademy #danceeducation #weloveyou #growth #weloveourpartners #yeswecan #dancing #learning

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Daily Dance: Spoof Of Fosse’s ‘Rich Man’s Frug’ In Quarantine Life

Give your brain a mid-day break and enjoy this spoof of Broadway genius Bob Fosse’s “Rich Man’s Frug” from Sweet Charity. Taking iconic movements from the first section of the dance number – “The Aloof” –  old and new Fosse dancers offer their vision of daily life in quarantine. Being a Fosse dancer and having tackled “Rich Man’s Frug,” I think this is pretty fun.

So you can see the dance references, here’s the BRILLIANT original choreography from the 1969 film version of the musical starring Shirley MacLaine.

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News Round-Up: April 30, 2020

Los Angeles, CA, 1998
Some news items you might have missed: • International Day of Dance: I’m a day late but I have to pay tribute to the gift, the discipline, and the artistry afforded me by my many (many) years of dance training. It all was a gift. The pic above was taken as I warmed up for a performance of CHICAGO the Musical in Los Angeles at the Shubert Theatre in 1998. • Agence France-Presse: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said the World Health Organization encourages homosexuality and masturbation among young children, his latest clash with an organization whose advice on social distancing and other anti-coronavirus measures he has repeatedly questioned. • Washington Blade: Rufus Gifford has been named deputy campaign manager for Joseph Biden, the campaign confirmed Wednesday. The former U.S. ambassador to Denmark from 2013 to 2017, Gifford was one of seven openly gay ambassadors who served under the Obama administration. Oh, and he’s a dog man and pretty easy on the eyes, which never hurts 🙂
Former US Ambassador Rufus Giffords (via Instagram)
• Media Matters: National Rifle Association board member Anthony Colandro called the novel coronavirus pandemic “bullshit” and encouraged his followers to join him at an anti-social distancing protest in New Jersey insisting the state police “can’t arrest all of us.” • Pink News: A scientist has explained why Mike Pence refused to wear a mask while visiting patients recovering from coronavirus: toxic masculinity. Peter Glick Ph.D., a social sciences professor, says Pence refusing to abide by the hospital’s guidelines comes down to “one critical reason, which is that appearing to play it safe contradicts a core principle of masculinity: show no weakness.” p.s. Pence wore a mask at a GM plant after the backlash. • Fox News: After over one million confirmed cases and over 62,000 deaths of COVID-19 in the U.S., plus 30 million Americans have lost their jobs, Donald Trump’s campaign is set to launch a seven-figure ad blitz on his “spectacular success.” Priorities USA has its own take on Trump’s efforts.

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Daily Dance: Travis Wall To Host Virtual “Break The Floor: Live”

Choreographer Travis Wall has been removed from the current Break the Floor tour amid allegations of sexual misbehavior

Travis Wall (image via Instagram)
Award-winning dancer-choreographer Travis Wall will host Break the Floor: Live, a free virtual dance convention April 18–19. Faculty members from JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven will gather virtually for online classes, auditions, a group competition, and more. The event will be streamed from Break the Floor’s new studio in Los Angeles beginning at 12PM ET April 18.

Wall first hit the national spotlight as a competitor on So You Think You Can Dance in Season 2 before going on to choreograph for the reality dance competition for 14 seasons, earning nine Emmy nominations. He currently serves as a resident choreographer for the reality competition and a guest judge. He made his New York choreographic debut with MCC Theater’s The Wrong Man last fall. Wall took to Instagram to share the news writing, “CALLING ALL DANCERS!!!! I’m hosting the FIRST LIVE DANCE CONVENTION APRIL 18th & 19th! Come take class with me and some of your favorite convention teachers! And it’s FREE! My soul needs this! I can not wait to dance with you next weekend! TAG SOMEONE who would love this!!!!” You can also check out a short live performance by Wall and SYTYCD alum Ricky Ubeda below as well.

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Daily Dance: 1984 Morning Show Workout

Tony Britts on BBC’s Breakfast show in 1984 (screen captures)
Oh, take me back to the 80s! The BBC Archives shares this golden goodie (16 million views since Thursday) from an episode of the Breakfast show in 1984 in the UK. “It’s day 4 of the BBC Archive quarantine fitness regime! Time to don some tight clothing that doesn’t quite fit and limber up with the one and only Tony Britts!” Tony’s got a quick little routine consisting of “side to sides,” “ball changes,” and “hands and hips,” although when he puts it all together that “hands and hips” move gets some complicated rhythm going. I’ve got to say, back in the day – and I was there – being ‘fit’ for most folks meant being lean and toned. While today’s InstaHunks might have more size than the venerable Mr. Britts, he’s looking pretty jacked for the early 80s. Over on YouTube, my favorite comment about the clip reads, “He’s so cute, and what a body! How could he get that ripped just by moving sideways?!” #srsly

Fitness InstaHunk Nathan McCallum is feeling the energetic 80s – check out his latest post. And remember, as Mr. Britts says, “Work hard, play hard, rest hard ok. Lots of fun. Have a good week ahead.”

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Daily Dance: Daughters & Dads

It was Daddy/Daughter Day at Echappe Dance Arts in Philadelphia last week. This class – called Daddy and Me BOGA [B(allet) + (Y)oga] – is described as a fun-filled 2-hour event filled with yoga, ballet & hip hop for Fathers (Father figures) seeking to bond with their little ones by stepping out of their comfort zone! I don’t really have to say anything here, do I? #awesome

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‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Features Same-Sex Partners To Stunning Effect

Johannes Radebe & Graziano di Prima (right couple - image via Instagram/BBC)
Johannes Radebe & Graziano di Prima (right couple – image via Instagram/BBC)
This past weekend the UK TV show Strictly Come Dancing put the spotlight on two male dancers partnering together in a routine. The reality competition series, a precursor to ABC’s Dancing with the Stars in the U.S., gave professional dancers Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prima a solo spot during a production number showcasing Emeli Sande singing “Shine.” Radebe, who was eliminated last week with his celebrity partner Catherine Tyldesley, grew up in South Africa and is openly gay. In an interview with Hello! Magazine, he said, “I’ve never felt so liberated.” “For the first time, I feel accepted for who I am,” Radebe told the publication. “That says so much about the people of this country.” “To be able to dance with a friend I respect and adore is joyous,” he continued. “There’s bromance galore between us, but there were no male and female roles, just free movement. It was beautiful, classy and elegant.”

 

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Love knows no boundaries. 👬🌈@grazianodiprima ❤️

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In advance of the performance, the 32-year-old dancer shared with The Sun that a same-sex dance would have never happened when he was dancing on the South African edition of Strictly. Growing up near Johannesburg, Radebe said he was bullied from an early age and was called names like “sissy boy” frequently. At the age of 17, he was attacked with a baseball bat by a boy at school who called him “f*gg*t.” That journey to now made Sunday’s performance that much more meaningful for him. “When I got to the UK it was beautiful – for the first time I felt liberated,” he explained. “It’s just people accepting you for who you are no matter what you do. So now I feel more confident and comfortable because of my surroundings.” Radebe posted photos of himself and di Prima with the caption, “Love knows no boundaries” with rainbow and heart emojis and tagged di Prima. Di Prima, who is heterosexual (he proposed to his girlfriend live on stage earlier this year), also celebrated the moment taking to Twitter writing, “REPRESENTATION always matters! Unforgettable moment, dancing with you @johannesradebe @bbcstrictly”

The response on social media to the same-sex pair was mixed ranging from euphoria (including praise from former champ Joe McFadden) to some naysayers:

Former Strictly professional dancer Robin Windsor scolded the negative comments asking people to “just enjoy the artistry.”

Watch the full performance below. Radebe and di Prima enter around the 1:00 mark.