Lydia Johnson Dance Presents New Program, Stephen Hanna Guest
By: Julie Musbach May. 07, 2018
Choreographer Lydia Johnson will present her LYDIA JOHNSON DANCE in a program of new and repertory works to music that ranges from Philip Glass to the trio sonatas of Handel. The season's premiere will be Undercurrent, a group work for the Company's eight resident dancers joined by four apprentices, and set to music by one of the choreographer's favorite composers, Henryk Gorecki. Special guest for the season will be Stephen Hanna, former principal dancer with New York City Ballet. DEBORAH WINGERT, former 15-year member of New York City Ballet, returns as company ballet mistress.
The new Undercurrent opens with aggressive, forceful movements, in contrast to a melancholy central adagio section that follows, with a series of duets and solos which move through the space one after the other. The final section is a large group dance which includes a reprisal of the opening theme.
The 2015 What Counts inspired Brian Seibert to observe "What seems to count most for Ms. Johnson is music," adding "The four pieces on the program all showed uncommon skill at matching ballet movement to music, both at the large scale of structure and in small, felicitous details." (The New York Times, June 15, 2015)
Johnson chose the Trio Sonatas of Handel for her Trio Sonatas, an abstract work that offers a joyous sense of the human spirit. The challenge of creating compelling architecture for these trios is what inspired the choreographer to create the dance for an ensemble of seven.
This, and my heart beside is one of Ms. Johnson's more character driven works. Set to music by Philip Glass and Marc Mellits, the piece takes its title from a line in Emily Dickinson's It's all I have to bring today:
It's all I have to bring today - This, and my heart beside - This, and my heart, and all the fields - And all the meadows wide - Be sure you count - should I forget Some one the sum could tell - This, and my heart, and all the Bees Which in the Clover dwell.
Guest Artist Stephen Hanna's illustrious career ranges from rising through the ranks of New York City Ballet to principal dancer, to appearing in many Broadway shows, including Hello, Dolly! with Bette Midler, An American in Paris, On the Town, and Billy Eliot The Musical (in the featured role of the Older Billy). Hanna returned to New York City Ballet as a guest artist for the 2009-10 season, followed by appearing in the role of Sid in the national tour of Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away. He then traveled to Spoleto, Italy to partner Alessandra Ferri in her return to the stage in The Piano Upstairs. Several years ago Hanna took on a new exploration of expression by studying acting, which has landed him appearances on TV in several shows, including All My Children and Boardwalk Empire, and as a lead in the short film Fourth Position.
LYDIA JOHNSON (Choreographer, Artistic Director) began her dance training in Boston and moved to NYC to study on scholarship at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, continuing with Finis Jhung, Sara Rudner, and others. Johnson presented her early work in NY at numerous venues and founded One Night Stand, a series of showcases which provided an affordable opportunity for choreographers to show new works. After a hiatus of several years to raise her three children, Johnson returned to the dance world and founded Lydia Johnson Dance in 1999. She received a Monticello Foundation award sponsored by The National Association of Regional Ballet, a Harkness Dance Center Space Grant from the 92nd Street Y, and a 2014 Individual Artist Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Lydia Johnson Dance has appeared at Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out, The Great Friends Dance Festival, the Downtown Dance Festival, and SouthNext Arts Festival. Johnson has been a Guest Artist teaching company repertory workshops at the Peridance Capezio Center in NYC.
DEBORAH WINGERT (Ballet Mistress), began her training at the Central Pennsylvnia Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary, and became a scholarship student at SAB in New York. At age 16, she was selected by George Balanchine to join New York City Ballet, dancing with the company for 15 years, appearing in principal, soloist and featured roles. Wingert is one of a small group of artists selected by the Balanchine Trust to set his choreography.
June 6-8 at 7:30 PM
Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55 Street
Tickets: $38; $15 or dancers
Reservations: 212.868.4444 or www.smarttix.com
Videos