One of my first orders of business as The Joyce Theater’s new marketing intern was to learn about the companies performing as part of the fall ‘10/winter ’11 season. So, I sat down with Laura Diffenderfer, The Joyce Theater’s Programming Associate, to find out about what she calls “an especially exciting season.” The season is packed full of international companies new to the Joyce, world premieres, 40th anniversaries, old favorites, and of course, incredible dancing. Jerome Bel and Batsheva Dance Company have already kicked off the season, but Diffenderfer gives some highlights of what audiences can expect from the other companies during the rest of the fall/winter season.
Sankai Juku, “Japan’s most prominent success in dance” (The New York Times) will be at The Joyce from Oct. 5-17. This internationally renowned, all-male company typically performs in larger spaces, says Diffenderfer, but director Ushio Amagatsu’s recent work, Tobari-As if in an Inexhaustible Flux, is appropriate for a smaller space, which makes it a perfect fit for The Joyce. This will give audiences the chance to witness the Japanese art of Butoh in a more intimate setting. Next in the lineup, from Oct. 19-24, is les Ballets C de la B, a company from Belgium that will be performing Out of Context-For Pina, an homage to the late Pina Bausch. Diffenderfer expects the performance to be exemplary of European dance theater, and says, “It’ll be wild and beautiful.”
les Ballets C de la B, photo by Chris Van der Burght
Fans of contemporary ballet will happy to know that both Complexions Contemporary Ballet (Nov. 16-28) and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (Oct. 26-Nov. 7) are performing at The Joyce this season. Cedar Lake will have two different programs that include New York premieres by Alexander Ekman, Jacopo Godoani, and Hofesh Shechter. Also, both Garth Fagan Dance (Nov. 9-14) and Ballet Hispanico (Nov. 30-Dec. 12) are celebrating their 40th anniversary years with performances at The Joyce.
From Dec. 14- Jan. 2, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo will perform at The Joyce, and as Diffenderfer says, “What’s not to love about men in pointe shoes?” The Trocks carefully re-stage classical ballets and revive them with humor, parody, and most interestingly for an all-male company, brilliant pointe work. Diffenderfer expects this performance to be a crowd pleaser.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, photo by Sascha Vaughn
Audiences will see another all-male cast with Compagnie Philippe Saire (Jan 6-9) at their debut performance with The Joyce. “This is the company that I am most excited to see,” said Diffenderfer, as she explained that they will be performing on a stage covered in gravel for their work Lonesome Cowboy. She said that this piece will be extremely physical and will explore the nature of male relationships and identity.
As the season nears its end, Tango Inferno (Jan 11-23) returns to The Joyce with, according to Diffenderfer, a “hot” and “fun to watch” performance that includes live music. She says that amidst all of the modern dance in the season, this “sizzling and sweaty” performance will give audiences something a little different to see. Parsons Dance will close the season Jan. 25-Feb. 6 with two world premieres, including one by Monica Bill Barnes, and a presentation of David Parson’s masterwork, Caught.
For tickets to see any these exciting performances at The Joyce Theater, go to http://www.joyce.org/performancestickets/calendar_joyce.php, and select “purchase tickets.”
