2010 LA MAMA MOVES! Festival Held 6/4-20

La MaMa Moves!, which is dancing into its fifth year has a dance card that is the envy of the ball. It's filled with names such as Sara Rudner, Rashaun Mitchell, John Kelly, Ellen Fisher, Judith Sanchez Ruiz, John Scott, Jennifer Monson, and Doug Elkins--in all, over 75 different performers, many of whom are appearing at La MaMa for the first time, and some of whom will be crossing the pond just for a chance to dance on one of its venerable stages. Dedicated to the 90TH birthday year of Ellen Stewart, the founder and artistic director of La MaMa, the 2010 festival extends from June 4-20.

Over twenty premieres and ten U.S. and New York debuts are anticipated. Even a first class calculator gifted with superb geometric and acrobatic skills would be challenged to fit it all into three weeks. Enter artistic directors Mia Yoo and Nicky Paraiso. Presto!

Of special note is the June 8 gala, which honors dancer/choreographer Sara Rudner, who received this year's Dance Magazine Award, and Dublin Dance Festival Director Laurie Uprichard. Fittingly, the June 8 celebration features Rudner herself with a group of dancing friends and Sarah Lawrence cohorts. Also performing--some together, some separately--are Doug Elkins, John Kelly, David Neumann, Jon Kinzel, and Rashaun Mitchell. The speakers include Carolyn Brown, Deborah Jowitt, Carla Peterson, Marcia Siegel, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (via DVD).

New this year are the Rosso Bastardo evenings, which feature the United States debuts of seven Italian dance artists including soloists Amina Amici and Elena Giannotti, a duet by Sara Libori and Arianna De Angelis Marocco, and a trio performance by Benedetta Mazzotti, Eleonora Cantarini and Giovanna Rovedo, all courtesy of Signae Cesarini Sartori Winery in Umbria. Created to celebrate La MaMa's long association with Spoleto and Umbria, the evenings are an American capsule version of the Rosso Bastardo Live, which the winery introduced and produced last year as a fringe festival of the Spoleto Festival of the Two Worlds. To add to the festivities, the winery is transforming the lobbies into an osteria, which before and after the June 4-12 performances, will offer audiences complimentary Rosso Bastardo wines paired with Umbrian foods.

Another of this year's highlights is the Hula Night, which features the New York debuts of two of the leading exponents of the art form: hula masters Vicky Takamine and Robert Cazimero, who is also an award winning singer and songwriter, as well as a leading figure in the resurgence of Hawaiian music, dance, language and Hawaiian culture in general since the 70's. Also included in the program is New York-based hula company Na Lehua Melemele.

As in previous years, the performances are grouped thematically. For instance, June 19 is Dancing Divas night, which features the Jane Comfort Dance Company, Ellen Fisher, Kristin Jackson, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Jody Oberfelder, Wendy Osserman and Debra Wanner. Mavericks in Motion, June 10-13, highlights Alexandra Beller, Daniel Clifton, LeeSaar Company with Saar Harari, Rashaun Mitchell with Silas Riener, and Lionel Popkin and Robert Een. New York International, June 17-20, brings together (Korea/USA); Daria Fain with Marya Wethers (France/USA); and Sol (Argentina/USA), among others.

The festival officially opens June 4 with the NYU Collaboration Project (through June 6), which presents works by Kyle Abraham, Naomi Goldberg, and graduating Tisch choreographers Selina Chau, Sumi Clements, Moses Kaplan, Benjamin Kimitch, and Michelle Pellizone.

Moving Voices/Meredith Monk Generations, takes place in the Club at La MaMa, June 11, 12, 18 and 19, and features works by La MaMa alum Meredith Monk performed by The M6, and a new music-theater piece "On Becoming," by Sasha Bogdanowitsch & Sabrina Lastman.

La MaMa ETC is located at 74A East 4th Street. Tickets are $15, and $10 for students and seniors, and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling 212-475-7710.

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