Valerie-Jean Miller - Page 2

The PGK Dance Project (Peter G. Kalivas, Founding Artistic Director) has announced that the Company's fall 2020 season will begin with INSIDE/OUT, an immersive virtual dance performance event, on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 7:30 p.m PST.

MONDAYS For BIDEN, a group conceived by Broadway’s Jeffrey Schecter, announces their interactive virtual fundraising event “DANCING For DEMOCRACY” in partnership with Broadway Sessions and Broadway for Biden on Monday October 5th at 9:00pm EST. The group was formed to provide a virtual place for busy artists, humanitarians, parents and all who want to help JOE BIDEN become our next US President. 100% of donations raised during this event go directly to the Biden Victory Fund. MONDAYS For BIDEN and DANCING For DEMOCRACY creator, Jeffrey 'Shecky' Schecter will host along with fellow Broadway veteran and A Chorus Line alum, J. Elaine Marcos. It promises to be a spirited and dynamic one-hour virtual experience featuring performances and testimonials by some of Broadway and Hollywood’s most well-loved performers. You’ll get to hear first hand why a Joe Biden presidency is important to them and to the future of this country.

DIAVOLO Architecture in Motion presents This Is Me: Letters From The Front Lines.

Inspired by archival remnants of Martha Graham's “Immediate Tragedy,” a solo she created in 1937 in response to the Spanish Civil War, and in collaboration with composer Henry Cowell, the Martha Graham Dance Company, the Los Angeles-based Wild Up music collective, and The Soraya have created an innovative Digital Dance creation, Immediate Tragedy.

Corona Choreographic Chronicles: Dulce Capadocia & The Silayan Dance Company were the featured honorees for the first ever FilipinaFest planned to honor the late Sonia Capadocia, Silayan Dance Company Founder in celebration of National Women's History Month.  Earlier this year, plans were set to honor the creator of the Los Angeles-based Silayan Dance Company by her daughter Dulce, a choreographer trained in both Philippine traditions and American Modern Dance forms.  Silayan is the first Philippine-American dance company as well as the first culturally specific arts organization founded in Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles, California.  Sonia, in addition to being an award winning director, teacher and civic leader was also a talented seamstress.    The Philippine Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro, California offered to create an installation of her personal collection of beautifully hand-sewn gowns and elaborate Silayan costumes.  This was to commemorate a series of book readings in celebration of National Women's History Month.  As word got out in the larger Philippine-American community,  it grew into an entire Festival - aligned to be the first 'Filipina-Fest' Los Angeles Festival.  First.  Ever.  Produced in partnership with FilAm Arts (the Association for the Advancement of Philippine-American Arts and Culture) and spearheaded by Giselle Tongi Walters, the event was to take place at Philippine Expressions in San Pedro at the end of March to recognize the important contributions of Filipina leaders who greatly contribute to the civic life of our great city.   Important women civic leaders and 'movers and shakers' in the community were chosen to participate and partake in an exciting live dance performance, fashion show and festival parade of the handmade garments.

Since the shelter-in-place order in mid March for all of California, there have been no Theatre productions, no Live Performances, not even a class available in Los Angeles to take to keep working on your craft. Slowly but surely, Artists and Producers are adjusting and finding new ways to present their creations and their viewpoints through different sources, and in new and unique ways.

We are first introduced to a young girl, a very assertive, opinionated young girl, definitely with a strong sense of identity, and self worth. She is heard speaking, which we come to find out is us hearing her inner thoughts and feelings, through her a?oeMind's Eye,a?? her vocally taped diary, into a recorder. The time is 1968. We first view her as she runs, into, outside ~ an elderly man who has fallen in their garden, helping him up and, concerned, guides him inside her home, where she spends much of her sheltered life. Patty, played quite brilliantly by Peyton Kirkner, is both honest and earnest in her connection with her new and only friend, Calhoon (played wonderfully and with much heart by Lloyd Pedersen). They were instant friends; and even though Patty is legally blind they easily shared conversation. The actors totally conveyed that feeling, so it was all the more heart-wrenching when her mom, Lola Henderson, played determinedly by Maria Kress, who, understandably, is ultra protective, comes home and just couldn't fathom this new connection ~ having been the caretaker-mom all of Patty's life, this was a concern she had not yet encountered. Flash forward, and back and forth, throughout the rest of the play, this played out and developed one of the underlying themes while at the same time we were fast-forwarded to Patty (aka now renamed by herself, Trish) as a school teacher in 1981.

The Theatre was abuzz with excitement. The long anticipated performance by the Los Angeles Ballet Company of George Balanchines' work was upon us. February 26, 2020, a night of glorious dancing! Preceding the performance, the Artistic Director Colleen Neary gave us a brief history of the makings of these pieces to be presented, and some facts and anecdotes to boot, as she is the one who has staged this entire evening and recreated pieces she was a part of during the creation of them. Talk about your inside story! Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen founded the LAB in 2004, the one and only professional classical ballet company in Los Angeles. Of all ballet companies in existence, this company is a valuable resource for not only preserving classic ballets, but nurturing the creativity of the future work to be evolved.

BLUE13 Dance Company is a contemporary Indian dance theatre ensemble based in Los Angeles, with a mission to connect diverse audiences through the power of live, aesthetically and culturally daring dance. For over a decade, Blue13 has performed in the U.S. and abroad in it's highly energetic and theatrical modern dance style that is inspired by the classical and cultural art forms of the Indian subcontinent. A first-generation South Asian American, Blue13's Artistic director, Achinta S. McDaniel pulls precision, humor, and deep emotion from her ensemble to create work as rebellious and unconventional as its architect. Storytelling through dance is central to the company, as is a continual exploration of technique with its diverse cast of dancers. The work is moody, rhythmic, and charged, presenting the audience with an intelligent experience of performance that turns the cultural stereotype of Indian dance on its head.

The dancers manifested exquisite flowing lines hit, yet not lingered on, as they lyrically moved to the next count of the music ever so smoothly, sometimes creating in between that and the next beat, a separate movement, sort of a bridge from the last position and the next... an asterisk; exclamation point, if you will... or a grace note... The stunning choreography will sweep you away to the haunting, gritty, yet buoyantly hopeful lyrics of Leonard Cohen. He has such a unique style to his writings and his presentation. This extraordinary company and their Artistic Director Louis Robitaille, have taken the essence of his intent and transformed it into internal emotion and external movement, simultaneously. By that, I mean, when they dance and move, or pose, their bodies are feeling the emotion being expressed through words or music. The way this was presented, so seamlessly blending from one piece, even though separate choreographers, into the next piece on the repertoire, it just seemed a magical, visual extravaganza for both the eyes and the soul. The company received Leonard Cohen's blessing to perform this amazing tribute, and it is indeed, special and poignant.

Cleverly and wittingly written, not only the book, but the intricate, explanatory and humorous lyrics to the ten musical numbers written for the show with wonderful vocal arrangements to match; Law and Order; The Musical, delivers the clues, the facts, the suspects, the crime and plenty of hilarity during this mock-up and laugh-a-minute parody spoofing the epic long-running TV drama.  The spiffy and caricatured choreography was an added bonus to the already lively, full of energy cast of characters we meet.  Being a long-time fan of the series, it was fun to mix and match the characters to the different actors you've seen playing those roles.   The woman behind all this creativity is Ilyse Mimoun, who plays one of the leads, and has written, directed and is executive producer of this brand new endeavor.  Kudos to the entire cast for mastering the extensive dialogue, lyrics, musical staging, choreography, and some really great harmony!

Thaddeus Phillips, an internationally acclaimed Theater Director/Designer, and the Creator, Performer and Scenic Designer of his one-man show entitled '17 Border Crossings,' has created a vividly imaginative journey on stage, based on his own intercontinental travelings. Directed by Tatiana Mallarino, the California premiere, after playing in New York, Moscow and Hong Kong to sold out crowds, taxied in to Santa Monica at the Broad Stage, for a two-night run, January 24th and 25th, 2020.

HOLLYWOOD, CA   JANUARY, 2020 There was quite the wild opening night going on at the fabulous Montalban Theatre, in Hollywood, this past month. And I have a feeling, every night since, until it closed it's two-week run, due mostly to cast members' former commitments, it felt much the same. The audience was treated to an embellished redux of the 1975 cult smash hit of the same name.

MOVES at The Montalban's Dance Festival Opens with the Capezio A.C.E. Awards Finalists' Performances and Erik Saradpon's Extraordinary Dance Company FORMALITY LIVE! The first two of four nights of the Annual Dance Festival, MOVES, smartly and efficiently produced by Break the Floor Productions, were filled with high energy, creativity abounding, energy-charged and inspired performances, including promising talent both new and emerging. Wednesday, January 15, 2020. Capezio A.C.E. Awards Finalists and Award Ceremony The Capezio A.C.E. Awards crowned a 2020 winner, playing to a jam-packed house at the historic Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood as part of the MOVES at The Montalbán dance festival produced by Break the Floor Productions and presented by Capezio. The illustrious panel of chosen judges, all esteemed dancers/choreographers, included Marguerite Derricks, Vincent Paterson, Anita Mann, Ray Leeper, Tony Selznick and Tessandra Chavez. All well-established and widely respected by their peers, these judges are the cream of the crop in the dance world and industry.

If you are a Scrooge, a Disgruntled Elf, a Melting Snowman or a Reindeer with Bone Spurs, or you just don't enjoy the holiday hubbub, you will be surprised at how much fun you'll have as Neil Patrick Harris, communicating through the Queen's Magic Mirror, guides and cautions us through this beloved fable, and Snow White, played by the beautiful Olivia Sanabia, befitting of every accolade, and including The Wicked Queen, Muddles The Court Jester, Prince Harry, Herman The Huntsman and the Seven Dwarves highly entertain us with merriment, singing and dancing, lots of corny jokes and full-on audience participation.

The Tides have changed, not so much from Global Warning, but through Matthew Bourne's latest, revised version of his creation 'Swan Lake.' Thrilling, audacious, witty and emotive, this 'Swan Lake' is perhaps still best known for switching the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble, which shattered conventions, turned tradition upside down and took the dance world by storm. Collecting over 30 international accolades including an Olivier Award in the UK and three Tony Awards on Broadway, Matthew Bourne's powerful interpretation of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece is a passionate and contemporary 'Swan Lake' for our times.

November 22, 2019 Astonishing in their choice of repertoire, their innovative choreography, their elaborate and colorfully creative costuming and their commanding performance of the choreography. Don't let this first photo confuse you. This Company is so many things, and the picture represents but one facet of their dance works ~ I just had to use it for the beauty and uniqueness of it. The evening commenced with a sextet of pieces that were entitled The Heritage of the Great Steppe, following the history and traditions of the Kazakhstan people. Beautifully executed and visually stunning, each one was unique.

I just had the best chat with Anita Mann. If there ever was a Wonder Woman, she is that! Beauty, Brains, Talent, Boundless Energy and Enthusiasm for Life and a non-stop yearning to elevate Dancers and the Dance World to greater heights and recognition. The Director, Producer, Choreographer, Dancer, Actress, Wife (of 20 years) Mom, Grandmother, Philanthropist, Mentor, Teacher, Humanitarian, whom I have admired for many decades is an icon in the Entertainment Industry. In fact, she has worked with an array of Icons herself, and will be honored this coming Saturday, November 16th, 2019 by The Luminario Ballet Company, for her Lifetime Achievement and Influence in Choreography, at their 2019 Gala Fundraiser “Gala Bacchanal” at the Beverly Hills Women's Club.

This story takes place within a few weeks' time, about an affable guy who happens to be grieving a devastating loss. a?oeChamp,a?? a nickname Richard's beloved wife dubbed him, is all stressed out.  It has been a year since his wife has passed away, and he has settled into his lonely but nonetheless new pattern of going to the gym every day, then the Sandwich shop where he always gets the exact same order, brings it home and eats it as he talks to his dead wife.  Susie, or as he dubbed her, a?oePrincess,a?? who is not among the living anymore, although all her photos and belongings are laid out prominently in the living room, wanders about (we, the audience can actually see her) reacting silently to his dialogue. Billed as a Dramedy, the play is cleverly written and produced by Art Shulman (a?oeI Got Troubles;a?? a?oe The Rabbi's Mission;a?oe  a?oeOld Broads Can't Dunk;a?? God, Bring Me A Miracle;a?? a?oeBoxcar & Eugenia,a??) and many more, and Directed quite proficiently by Stan Mazin (As Director:  a?oeDoubting Thomas;a?? a?oeGod, Bring Me A Miracle;a??a?? The Prisoner of Second Ave.;a?? a?oeGive 'Em Hell Harry;a?? a?oeStepping Out;a?? As  choreographer:  a?oeBells Are Ringing;a?? a?oeAnything Goes;a?? a?oeFestival;a?? a?oeChicago;a?? a?oeJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat;a?? a?oePippin;a?? a?oeDames at Sea;a?? a?oeSuperstar,a?? et al.  Stan also appeared as a dancer/actor on the Carol Burnett show for a decade and his autobiography, a?oeA Dancer in Depth,a?? is available on Amazon.com and BN.com).     

ometimes it's nice not to have to follow a dramatic storyline throughout a ballet, and just be able to enjoy the performances, the artistry, the costumes, the captivating choreography and the whole presentation. This, is such a ballet. Before the performance began, there was a wonderful, informative and interesting lecture, or talk, given on the expansive and beautiful mezzanine of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion by Elizabeth Kaye. It's worth the fight through the rush-hour traffic to get there in time to listen to her expound on the history and trademarks of this impeccable and invaluable Ballet Company. It so enhances everything when you see the performance. It is an offering from Glory Kaufman Presents: Dance at the Music Center at the Los Angeles' premiere venue for dance, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.