Monday August 1, 2011 - Donna Salgado, one of the choreographers participating in the 2011 Latin Choreographers Festival, invited me to a rehearsal at DANY Studios of the work she's presenting at the Festival with her Continuum Contemporary Ballet.
The work is entitled DIVERSIONS and is set to a sensual, swaying song entitled Ghir Enta sung by the Algerian vocalist Souad Massi. The dance has a sultry quality, with three couples switching partners (Matthew Uriniak and Donna Salgado, above); near the end all six dance in a circle, unconnected. DIVERSIONS is danced on pointe. After the rehearsal I could not get the song out of my mind; so glad it's on YouTube!
Donna Salgado and Alfredo Solivan
Matthew Uriniak and Sarah Atkins; Sarah is dancing with MORPHOSES this season and recently performed with Miro Magloire's New Chamber Ballet.
"Don't look at your partner!" said the choreographer at one point, reminding me of Balanchine's similar admonishment. Above, Ashley Noel and Lester Badenoch try to comply with this directive: a light-hearted moment during this studio session which was a serious workout for the dancers although the atmosphere was relaxed.
It's an extra challenge for a choreographer to dance in her own ensemble work. Donna moved smoothly between the two demands.
Alfredo and Matthew getting some notes before another run-thru.
It was not my lucky day as a dance photographer; most of my images were blurred or off-kilter. I need a lot more practice. But the dancers are all uniquely attractive, so I'll look forward to seeing what my frriend Jaqi Medlock is able to capture at the dress rehearsal which takes place this Wednesday.
The Latin Choreographers Festival open on Thursday August 4th (8:00 PM) at the Baruch Performing Arts Center with additional performances on Friday at 8:00 and Saturday at 3:00 PM.