Dance Scene: New York City: April 2011

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Beginner Pointe @ Steps with Kathryn Sullivan

Class: Beginner Pointe

Instructor: Kathryn Sullivan

Class Description: This class is suitable for beginning pointe students or students who have not been on pointe for a while and wish to rebuild strength.

At Prima Ballet, the studio where I studied in Taiwan, we had an hour of pointe after two hours of ballet on Saturdays and Sundays. I stopped pointe for half a year since coming to New York, but I recently bought a pair of Grishko Triumphs and started taking pointe again with Kathryn Sullivan every Friday at Steps on Broadway.

There are very few pointe technique classes offered at studios here in New York because dancers usually wear pointe shoes in ballet class (they either put them on after barre or some even wear pointe shoes through the entire class). For dancers like me who have not danced on pointe for half a year, it is very unwise to just start doing pirouettes on pointe without rebuilding ankle strength. Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and Ballet Arts are the three studio in New York that offer pointe technique classes (that I know of).

Kathryn Sullivan's Beginner Pointe class begins with a warm up and a few combinations at the barre. Then we go to the center and work on everything from échappés to piqué en arabesque. The class moves at a moderate pace and does not get very crowded (you usually get a barre to yourself!). My only problem with the class is that it is only half an hour long--by the time your are warmed up and you start to get into it, it is over.

I recommend taking a ballet class before this class to maximize your training! Kathryn Sullivan also teaches Advance Beginner Ballet before Beginner Pointe in the same studio, or check out the Steps on Broadway daily schedule online for more classes!

Beginner Pointe Class Schedule (with Kathryn Sullivan):

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

12:30-1:00pm

Studio: Steps on Broadway

2121 Broadway at 74th Street, New York

Tel. 212-874-2410

Class Price: $8.50

Video of Finis Jhung teaching Level 1 Pointework:

For more pointe classes in the city...

At Broadway Dance Center, Joy Karley teaches Beginner Pointe on Fridays from 2:00-3:00pm.

At Ballet Arts, Anne-Sophie Rodriguez teaches Pointe & Variation (open level) on Tuesdays from 1:00-2:00pm, and from 7:00-8:30 Dawn Hillen teaches Beginner Ballet with Basic Pointe. On Thursdays, Richard Mardsen teaches Beginner/Intermediate Pointe & Pas de Deux Technique from 1:00-2:00pm.

Some places to buy pointe shoes...

Friday, April 15, 2011

YUMIKO Dancewear nYc

I made a pact with myself: No, no, no. You cannot spend $57 on a leotard! But the minute I tried on Tamara, I knew I just had to own it.

You've probably seen Yumiko's designs on Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis in the movie Black Swan. The brand made its debut in 2002, and YUMIKO handmade dancewear carries designs by Yumiko Takeshima, principle dancer with Dresden's SemperOper Ballett. YUMIKO Dance & Fitness Wear Boutique in New York City opened in 2007. In the nYc store, the colorful leotards juxtapose the clean white walls, giving the boutique a chic feeling. When I tried one of the leotards on, I immediately felt the difference in the material. It feels more "sturdy," but at the same time, it still feels very light. I just couldn't resist buying one.

In an interview with Pointe Magazine, the dancer-designer comments on what makes her leotards so special. "I have a dancer's eye, so I focus a lot on cut and proportion," she said.

(Dancer/Designer Yumiko Takeshima)

As an owner of a YUMIKO leotard, I have to say that it is very comfortable and very flattering. In addition to carrying dancewear for men and women, YUMIKO also sells tops & bottoms as well as beautifully tailored dance skirts for women. At their boutiques and retail stores, one can purchase "Ready To Wear" items or customize their own dancewear.

The customization process involves selecting a fabric type (in order of increasing price: nylon, techni, microfiber, or velvet), size (XS-XL), lining (no lining, bust panel, or front lining), fabric colors (trim & strap color and the actual leotard color). According to the YUMIKO website, because they receive so many orders, orders may take 6-8 weeks.

Price Range

Women's

Dancewear: $50+

Dance Tops: $45+

Dance Bottoms: $39+

Skirts: $50+

Men's: $39+

**The newest YUMIKO design--Alicia**

Yumiko nYc Boutique

Opening Times

Mon - Fri: 11am - 7pm

Sat & Sun: 11am - 5pm

451 W. 46th Street view map

New York, NY 10036

USA

Tel: 1 212 969 9400

Email: helpdesk@yumiko-world.com

Read Yumiko Takeshima's interview with The Ballet Bag!

Here are some FAQs regarding purchasing YUMIKO leotards:

http://global.yumiko-online.com/en/termsandconditions.php#faq

Like Yumiko on Facebook!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

"Naked: A Living Installation"

March 29th-April 9th at the Baryshnikov Arts Center

(Eiko and Koma in "Naked", photo by Anna Lee Campbell)

As the elevator doors open to the sixth floor, silence greeted those who came to see Eiko and Koma in "Naked." One immediately gets the sense that they are in a special "place," a space with an energy that affects each viewer differently. The exhibition takes place in two rooms: Studio 6A (where Eiko and Koma are) and Studio 6B (where there are video boxes of five of their works).

When one enters Studio 6A, one is not immediately exposed to the performers, rather a huge curtain with burnt holes, feathers, and sea salt separately the viewer from the actual living installation. Through the random holes on the curtain, one can peep in at Eiko and Koma at different angles. The entire performance space is designed by Eiko and Koma, and opposite the curtain are three paintings done by Koma. There are low benches and cushions on the floor for viewers to sit on and watch the performers. Some viewers had sketch pads and notebooks in their hands, while others watched with extreme intensity--all were mesmerized by Eiko and Koma. They laid on a bed of soil and feathers, as if it were their nest. The lighting shifts from dim to nonexistent, and all one can hear is the drip drop of water from the ceiling and the slight shuffling of twigs and feathers beneath the performers' bodies.

The aesthetic tension that Eiko and Koma create with every subtle movement engages the audience's to the fullest. It was as if they were hibernating, moving ever so slightly. Sometimes they would touch, and it seemed to be the most delicate and gentle touch a human being could ever give to another. I wondered about what this space is that they are embodying. No doubt it means something different to each viewer, but to me it seemed like the safest, purest, and most peaceful place in the world. The sustained quality to their movements makes one feel like time is suspended. It seemed like Eiko and Koma are waiting, resting, and dreaming in this space. Watching them, I felt invited into their space.

I visited the exhibition two days in a row this past weekend, and I had completely different experiences each time. I viewed Eiko and Koma from a different angle on my second visit and noticed different details. However,one thing that was consistent was the feeling of peace.