Wednesday November 28, 2012 - I stopped by at Steps on Broadway today where the Steps Repertory Ensemble were rehearsing a new work by Manuel Vignoulle. I got to know Manuel as a dancer through his performances with Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet. This was my first time meeting him, and his infectious energy and devilishly sexy accent made the studio hour fly by. It's always fun when a choreographer leaps in to demonstate during rehearsals, and Manuel was continually showing the dancers what he wanted. His choreography is athletic and risky; a passage of repose contrasts to the edgy, restless atmosphere that the work has built up.
Manuel's piece for the Steps Repertory Ensemble is entitled "Le Moi Sauvage" and it will be part of the Company's Celebrate Dance performances at Ailey Citigroup scheduled for April 19-21, 2013. Chances are it will be shown sooner than that in a studio setting.
Britney Tokumoto, Lane Halperin, Marielis Garcia and Katherine Spradzs
Victor Larue
Discussing the mechanics of a lift
David Scarantino, Gabriel Malo
Landes Dixon
Marielis Garcia
Manuel Vignoulle
Now that I've had my introduction to the Steps Repertory Ensemble (thanks to Mindy Upin), I'm hoping to cover more of their work in the coming months, leading up to their April performances.