THE MAGAZINE
The Most Perfect Holiday Painting: Antoine Vollon’s “Mound of Butter”
A mound of butter as perfect holiday painting? Read on for more!
Six Favorite Dance Movies in NYC *Unranked
Dance in NYC has a deep and powerful history; shaped by cultural fusion, rebellion, and preeminence. Below are six films in no particular order, both new and old, famous and obscure, of genres from ballet to salsa, to watch this Christmas break to relax and get in the spirit of dance in the city!
Natascha Mair, Principal Dancer, on “Sugar Hill:” “We all inspired each other!”
Natascha Mair, principal dancer, is gearing up for a very different Nutcracker: from 20 until 30 December 2023, her fans will be able to watch her in Chicago in Sugar Hill, a show choreographed to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s The Nutcracker Suite, a jazz interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. TWoA talked to Natascha about Sugar Hill and about some of the most memorable Nutcracker moments in her career.
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s “The Nutcracker Suite”
It’s difficult to image the holiday season without The Nutcracker, but are you looking for a change? We suggest you listen to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s jazz version of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite.
Street Artist JR at the Paris Opera: Back to the Cave
What happens when street artist JR, choreographer Damien Jalet and composer Thomas Bangalter collaborate on a show on the scaffolding covering the iconic Palais Garnier, the old building of the Paris Opera that is currently being restored? Hint: think human bats in Chanel.
A Ballet Dancer’s Take: On Balletcore
Balletcore is “just” a fashion trend (think cottegecore, blokecore, gorpcore…the list goes on) - but do you sometimes wish for more? What isn’t included in the phrase Balletcore is the implicit understanding of what it means to be a ballerina. Sometimes, Balletcore makes any serious dancer cringe. But take heart: there are some fashion houses who get it right!
“X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City Shares the Transformational History of Black American Activist, Malcolm X
What do you think of when you hear “opera”? Perhaps you envision a stuffy concert hall, filled with elderly people listening to old classical music sung in a European language as they fall asleep. The 2023-2024 season at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City begs to differ. “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” stands proudly amongst a more traditional performance schedule. The audience included an overwhelming number of students and young members. Not one person was sleeping by the end.
AI as an Artifical Brush: Refik Anadol
What is a painting? The Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol has been challenging our preconceptions with his use of AI. Anadol and his technology create an artificial dream world, making him the Salvador Dalí of the digital age.
Happy Thanksgiving! Aaron Copland and Martha Graham’s “Appalachian Spring”
Of all the holidays associated with America, Thanksgiving is by far the most uniquely American one. So, if you are looking for a ballet or a classical music piece to get you into the mood for turkey, stuffing and pie, enjoy our feature about Aaron Copland and Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring.
Benal Tanrısever, Pianist and Educator: Music Starts with the Imagination
Benal Tanrısever is a Turkish pianist and music educator. She completed her musical education at The Juilliard School in New York and performed at Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonic before founding BT Music and Performing Arts, a music and performing arts school in Istanbul,Turkey. TWoA talked to Benal about her journey from Istanbul to New York, her experience at Juilliard, and her philosophy of learning and teaching music.
In Defense of Dogs Playing Poker
Kitsch is a bit of a dirty word in the art world – no artist wants to make it, and no critic wants to love it. But many people do. People who are exhausted from trying to decipher spatters and squares; people who want to look at things that amuse them, things they understand. Which brings us to the most famous example of kitsch, some may even say the Mona Lisa of kitsch: C. M. Coolidge’s Dogs Playing Poker from 1903.
Cloud Gate: 50 Years of Singing the Song of the Wanderers
When you think of contemporary or modern dance, you might primarily think of big names like Martha Graham and Akram Khan, who are part of the European and American dance scene. But did you know that for the past 50 years, the modern dance company Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan has performed around the globe? Read on for some interesting facts about Cloud Gate, who will be performing their new production Lunar Halo at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre from 30 November until 2 December 2023.
Choreographer and Composer Olivier Tarpaga (USA/Burkina Faso): Translating Emotion to Movement
Oliver Tarpaga does it all: he is a dancer, choreographer, musician, composer, and storyteller. For over 20 years, he has produced invigorating theater works. Although he sources inspiration from his ancestral home of Burkina Faso, his work is not limited to raising cultural awareness. Read on to find out more about his most iconic works.
Guest Artist: Sara Cancelliere, Accademia di Brera, Milan, Italy
Check out the work of our guest artist Sara Cancelliere, Accademia di Brera, Milan.
Finding Magic in Music: Haruki Murakami
Music is one of the magical aspects of Haruki Murakami’s books. His songs are always in alignment with the story line. We see his protagonists usually sitting in the kitchen, listening to classical music or jazz. If you want to feel like a character from Murakami’s beautiful books, listen to some of the pieces that belong to his stories.
How to Become a Cello: Royal Ballet Principal Marcelino Sambé in Cathy Marston’s “The Cellist,” Royal Ballet, 20 October – 2 November 2023
Cathy Marston’s one-act ballet “The Cellist” tells the tragic story of star cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987). TWoA spoke to Royal Ballet principal Marcelino Sambé, who created the part of “The Instrument” – Jacqueline du Pré’s cello. Sambé is performing the part again in the Royal Ballet’s current run of the ballet.
Listen to Jacqueline du Pré!
Legendary cellist Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987) once said: “Playing lifts you out of yourself into a delirious place.” See for yourself where the sound of her music might take you!
Happy Birthday, Pablo Picasso!
October is not only the month of Halloween and gloomy weather. It is also the month of the renowned painter and artist Pablo Picasso. The Spanish painter was born on 25 October 1881. Here are five surprising facts about the brilliant artist.
A Musical Response to Terrorism: Michael Gordon’s “The Sad Park”
French writer Victor Hugo, author of Les Misérables, once said: “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” But can you create a musical response to evil?
Birmingham Royal Ballet: “Black Sabbath - The Ballet”
A ballet with heavy metal music performed by a symphony orchestra? No way? Think again: Birmingham Royal Ballet just premiered its fastest selling show ever: Black Sabbath - The Ballet.