End of Summer Means Beginning of Dancemania

Yes, the days are getting shorter, Nutcracker rehearsals are starting and you’re back in school. There are lots of potentially tedious things about September. Fortunately, fall also means a ton of dance events are taking place in most major cities around the country. Here in NYC, Fall for Dance is one of the biggest, and believe us when we say that people go completely nuts for those $15 tickets. (Instantly doesn’t even begin to describe how quickly they disappear.)

I was lucky enough to squeeze into the opening night performance at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The show included Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in Nacho Duato’s Gnawa, New York City Ballet’s Maria Korowski and Amar Ramasar in the pas de deux from William Forsythe’s Herman Schmerman, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company in D-Man In the Waters (Part I) and Bend in the Road, and collaboration between Lil Buck and former NYCB principal Damian Woetzel.

My highlights? Gnawa was the definition of fierce, particularly Kellie Epperheimer and Jesse Bechard in the central pas de deux. Hubbard Street is simply the best and strongest ensemble you can find. In Herman Schmerman, I was reminded that Maria Kowroski has perfect legs, and I learned that Amar Ramasar has great humor onstage. I got to see Bill T.’s company live for the first time and D-Man In the Waters (Part I) was an absolutely fearless, gasp-inducing joyride.

Check out the slideshow below, and we’ll see you at the rest of the Fall for Dance shows!

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