Posts by Janice Steinberg
A “My Fair Lady” that Draws Gender Battle Lines
Dripping with sexism and class snobbery, “My Fair Lady” is one of those musicals so grating to 21st century sensibilities, one might feel it should remain on the shelf. Ah, but the Lerner-Loewe tunes are magnificent. And any tale that’s persisted from Greek mythology to Shaw’s “Pygmalion” to “Pretty Woman” clearly touches deep psychological chords.
Enter Bartlett Sher, whose “My Fair Lady” shifts the story’s focus from its Pygmalion, the arrogant Henry Higgins, to Eliza Doolittle as a smart, scrappy woman who insists on dictating the terms of her own life.
Read MoreBalance, Beauty Captured by San Diego Dance Theater
San Diego Dance Theater’s show was titled “Capturing Balance,” and all three pieces, in particular a radiant premiere by Khamla Somphanh, involve searching for equilibrium … and often finding it elusive.
Read MoreDance Bonanza from Litvak, Malashock
We’re vaccinated. We’re masked. And we’re returning to theaters to see dance! Last week, I got to shows by two companies, Litvak Dance and Malashock Dance. Both featured work by multiple choreographers, making it a dance bonanza.
Read More“Ofrenda” a Day of the Dead Banquet
An ofrenda (offering) is an altar made to welcome departed family members on Day of the Dead. The welcome from “Ofrenda” was so spectacular, surely the nearly 3,000 living souls at the Rady Shell on Sunday were surrounded by legions of spirits, drawn to the heart-melting singing, thrilling percussive footwork, and parade of vivid costumes.
Read MoreA Feast of Choreographic Invention: City Ballet’s “On the Move”
I was mesmerized by the dancers’ wrists, which in all three pieces are often flexed at dramatic 90-degree angles, both up and down. In another arresting gesture, they hold their wrists crossed as if shackled. And that’s just some of the choreographic invention on display from City Ballet’s Geoff Gonzalez last Saturday.
Read MoreLitvak’s Dance and Setting Enchant
While it’s been thrilling to return to live performances, much of what I’ve seen had a sense of compromise. Happily, nothing felt second-best about Litvak Dance’s performance on August 28. Sadie Weinberg, who launched this North County company just three years ago, is a powerhouse networker. She recruited two guest choreographers to create work for the company: New York-based Rebecca Margolick, one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” this year; and Texas-based Joshua Manculich, who’s made dances for companies around the country.
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