Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • How Professor Nina Buxenbaum uses art for activism
    • SGA’s new President: Driven to Succeed
    • York College Will Soon Be Home to the First Ever NCAA Track and Field in Southeast Queens
    • MTA’s Fare Hike Effect on York’s Students
    • CUNY Chemistry Professor Facing Decades in Prison
    • President Berenecea Johnson Eanes – Stepping down at the end of the Fall semester
    • Here’s What You Need to Know About Commencement
    • York Alumnus Officially Begins Campaign for Queens DA
    X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube Snapchat SoundCloud
    Sunday, December 10
    • Home
    • News
      • Campus
      • Local
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Sports
      • Cardinal Sports
      • Professional Sports
    • Op Ed
    • YCRadio
    • Broadcast
      • PB Magazine
      • PB Features
    • Pandora’s Box
      • Staff 
      • Contact us
    Home»Arts and Entertainment»Arts & Entertainment»York Features Dance Theater of Harlem for Anniversary Alumni Gala
    Arts & Entertainment

    York Features Dance Theater of Harlem for Anniversary Alumni Gala

    Pandoras BoxBy Pandoras BoxNovember 5, 2016Updated:November 7, 2016No Comments3 Mins Read
    Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit Telegram Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Ashley Oliver

    Bedecked in glistening white leotards, The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) ensemble glided across the stage in York College’s Performing Arts Building last month to help celebrate the college’s 50th anniversary. The fourteen dancers in this revived company presented all the latest neoclassical choreography. The program included New Bach, Adante, When Love, Vessels, Light, Belief, Love, and Abundance.

    The company was founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, who focused on mentoring young people of color by teaching them how to dance ballet. Mitchell was also the first black dancer to join American Ballet Theatre. After a long hiatus, the company is back with a new artistic director, Virginia Johnson. Now in its fourth season, DTH remains one of the most internationally recognized ballet companies for its diverse cast.

    Johnson was also former member of the original ensemble. This year, she said she hopes people recognize the company for its talent and not for being predominately black.

    “When the company first started and I danced Firebird, the most alluring thing was a black girl dancing this amazing role amazingly,” said Johnson. “But times have changed. Educated people should know there are black ballerinas, and we do a pretty damn good job at it, too.”

    The opening dance, New Bach, included the entire repertoire.  Although the choreography adhered to the ballet aesthetic, the intricate steps were danced to a modern beat. Former company member Tristan Grannum said the new dances have themes that everyone can relate to.

    “The pas-de-deux tells a love story between distant lovers,” said Grannum. “College students have all been in love. The ones who are in school now, and the ones who graduated 50 years ago. That’s what makes the ballet so great.”

    The pas-de-deux Grannum referred to is a dance duet, usually performed by the male and female lead dancers. In Vessels the aesthetic of the symmetry the dancers created was appealing to everyone in the audience. Although the duet was performed by two dancers, Chrystyn Fentroy and Francis Lawrence, they combined as one. Hence, the name, Vessels.

    The instrumental music used for each piece played an integral part in setting the mood. Unlike much generic ballet music, DTH infused jazz and verbal melodies into the music. For example, the music used for Vessels was composed by Ezio Bosso, who used modern melodies to give the audience an eerie feel.

    “You never know what you’re going to get,” said Fentroy. “Sometimes you feel sad, happy, like a mother, like a child. The music is just eccentric and that’s what separates us from other dance companies. Especially the ones that dance ballet.”

    While the physique of the dancers adhered to the tone of the choreography, the body language and facial expressions lacked an emotional element. Lindsay Croop’s and Frederick Davis’ long elegant lines were admirable in New Bach, and they each had precise musicality, but they both seemed more focused on execution of the movement than interpretation of the theme.

            But Dupah Gobin, Vice President of York College’s Student Government Association, said each dancer had their own personality. Gobin believes that even though some dancers did not connect emotionally with the audience, that is what made the dances interesting.

    “Some of them had their own personal touch while dancing,” she said. “Even though the songs helped them, it’s all up to the dancers to connect with the audience. But the the dancers who stood out to me the most were the ones where I felt their presence while they danced. With those dancers, I felt an immediate connection.”

    Print Friendly, PDF & Email
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleThe Jacob Javits Center in New York City Hosts 10th Annual Comic Con
    Next Article Apple Launches New Iphone 7 with Mixed Reviews from Customers
    Pandoras Box

    Related Posts

    Arts & Entertainment

    How Professor Nina Buxenbaum uses art for activism

    October 23, 2023
    Arts & Entertainment

    SGA’s new President: Driven to Succeed

    October 20, 2023
    Arts & Entertainment

    Cardinal Cafe’s Vegetable Pizza, the Better Fast Food Choice – A Review 

    April 26, 2023
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Search
    Archives
    • October 2023
    • April 2023
    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • August 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    Most Popular

    Traffic in Jamaica Will Worsen With The Coming of New York Islanders

    October 12, 2018

    York College Alum Dedicates Book to Journalism Professor

    April 29, 2016

    CUNYFirst Still Draws Resentment from Students, Admins Defend Software

    October 29, 2014
    News

    York College Will Soon Be Home to the First Ever NCAA Track and Field in Southeast Queens

    October 16, 2023

    MTA’s Fare Hike Effect on York’s Students

    October 12, 2023

    CUNY Chemistry Professor Facing Decades in Prison

    October 9, 2023
    CAMPUS

    How Professor Nina Buxenbaum uses art for activism

    October 23, 2023

    SGA’s new President: Driven to Succeed

    October 20, 2023

    MTA’s Fare Hike Effect on York’s Students

    October 12, 2023
    X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube Snapchat SoundCloud
    Copyright © 2024 Yorkpbnews.net All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.