Maureen Flemming |
Fall preview 2007
“Happy endings: Bad news begets good tunes.” By Matt Ashare.
“Stage worthies: Fall on the Boston boards.” By Carolyn Clay.
“Basstown nights: The new scene emerges; Halloween preparations.” By David Day.
“Bounty: The best of the season’s roots, world, folk, and blues.” By Ted Drozdowski.
“War, peace, and Robert Pinsky: The season’s fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.” By John Freeman.
“Trane, Joyce Dee Dee, Sco, and more: A jam-packed season of jazz.” By Jon Garelick.
“Turn on the bright lights: Art, women, politics, and food.” By Randi Hopkins.
“War zones: Fall films face terror at home and abroad.” By Peter Keough.
“Locked and loaded: The fall promises a double-barreled blast of gaming greatness.” By Mitch Krpata.
“BBC? America!: The networks put some English on the fall TV season.” By Joyce Millman.
“World music: The BSO goes traveling, and Berlin comes to Boston.” By Lloyd Schwartz.
“Singles scene: Local bands dig in with digital.” By Will Spitz.
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“If you pulled the cord and the chute didn’t open, how would you dance on the way down?” That’s the query behind the Philadelphia-based GREEN CHAIR DANCE GROUP’s athletic For Emergency Use Only, which kicks off the local dance scene this fall at the Dance Complex in Central Square (September 21; 203.247.5723). That there are at least two performances every weekend from early October through Thanksgiving is tribute to the grassroots work of local dancemakers and the expanded options offered by new performance spaces.ROKAFELLA (Anita Garcia) and KWIKSTEP (Gabriel Dionisio) lecture on NYC hip-hop street culture in the afternoon and perform in the evening at MIT’s Kresge Little Theater (September 24; 617.253.2877). Terrific jazz choreographer DANNY BURACZESKI headlines the showcase of dances by BU DANCE FACULTY AND ALUMNI with guest dancers from BOSTON BALLET II at the BU Dance Theatre (September 28-29; 617.358.2500).
October begins with the timeless and eerie BUNRAKU NATIONAL PUPPET THEATER OF JAPAN bringing two traditional plays, Oshichi of the Fire Watch Tower and Miracle at the Tsubosaka Kannon Temple, to the Cutler Majestic Theatre (October 2-3; 800.233.3123).
MARCUS SCHULKIND’s yearly fundraising concert at Central Square’s Green Street Studios features some of the best freelance dancers in town, and this year his choreography will be presented by a cast that includes Harvard-physics-student-turned-William-Forsythe-dancer Elizabeth Waterhouse and 14-year-old wunderkind Nina Brindamour (October 5-6; 617.864.3191). That same weekend, JOSÉ MATEO BALLET THEATRE begins its fall repertory season at the intimate Sanctuary Theatre in Harvard Square (October 5-29; 617.354.7467). CLAIRE PORTER’s Namely, Muscles solo demonstrating the 96 major muscles of the body through 30 poems should give audiences at the Harvard Dance Center the giggles (October 27; tickets free but reservations required; 617.495.8683).
BOSTON BALLET brings out some razzle-dazzle on its return from its Spanish tour in a one-night gala benefit at the Wang Theatre (October 12; 617.456.6246), then follows up with a program that juxtaposes Sorella Englund’s chilling staging of Bournonville’s La Sylphide with the architectural finesse of two short Balanchine/Stravinsky pieces, Monumentum pro Gesualdo and Movements for Piano and Orchestra (October 18-28; 800.447.7400).
Gender outlaws can take in “THE FEMME SHOW,” an evening of dance, theater, drag, and film about queer identity, at Central Congregational Church in Jamaica Plain (October 11-12; 617.983.0762). More conventional — but no less steamy — pairings are on the boards when TANGO BUENOS AIRES stops at New Bedford’s Zeiterion Theatre (October 13; 508.994.2900). Later in the month, the Zeiterion hosts the first US tour of the ICELAND DANCE COMPANY (October 27; 508.994.2900).
The dancemakers who enjoyed the benefits of a space grant from Green Street Studios this past summer — Rhode Islander NATHAN ANDARY, locals RUTH BRONWEN and KAREN KROLAK, and Montreal’s HANNAH NAIMAN — show the work they created under the mentorship of Tommy Neblett (October 12-13; 617.864.3191). Musically minded REBECCA RICE DANCE comes to Green Street with repertory works and the premiere of the new En Closures, to the music of Andrew List, plus a work set to an experimental score by Earle Brown (October 19-21; 617.864.3191).
Around the corner at the Dance Complex, there’s KELLEY DONOVAN & DANCERS in “Inside of the Ending,” a program that explores “transformation, acceptance, and surrender” (October 19-21; 617.547.9363), and, later in November, a faculty concert that includes an appearance by the a cappella chorus the Varonistas and new choreography by ANNA MYER and DERRICK DAVIS (November 17-18; 617.547.9363). PROMETHEUS DANCE’s fundraising gala and duet concert at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center features edible and visual treats (October 27; 617-576-5336).
Lively and highly polished versions of regional Mexican folk dances will be presented at the Orpheum Theatre courtesy of CRASHarts when BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE MÉXICO arrives with 48 dancers, musicians, and singers (October 20; 617.876.4275). SEÁN CURRAN COMPANY returns to the choreographer’s home town and the Tsai Performance Center for the world premiere of Social Discourse, with a special family-friendly program for the Sunday matinee (October 26-28; 617.482.6661). Inspired by the late Gregory Hines to create an all-women’s tap group, BARBARA DUFFY AND COMPANY will strut their rhythmic stuff at Arlington’s Regent Theatre (October 27; 781.646.4849).
