Sunday April 13th, 2014 - This afternoon I stopped in at the NYU/Tisch studios where Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance are preparing for their upcoming performances (details above) at St. Marks Church near the end of June.
Cherylyn's musical sensibilities, her keen sense of structure, and the way she draws nuances of personal expression from her dancers have put her on my A-list of current choreographers. Having watched her work for the past few seasons, I haven't sensed a single false step either in her choreography or her choice of music...or of dancers.
Above: dancers Lila Simmons and Michael Gonzalez
For the upcoming St. Marks season, Cherylyn will present movements from two earlier works: her Bach/Couperin ballet Triptych and last season's beautifully crafted Treize en Jeu, set to Franz Schubert's Trio in E Flat Major for piano, violin and cello. A new work, Ru, is inspired by Kim Thúy's novel of the same name and centers on a young woman’s life as a post-Vietnam War political refugee. Drawing upon the passive resistance of T’ai Chi and to be styled in costumes reminiscent of the traditional Vietnamese áo dài dress, Cherylyn's new work - so evocative even now in a studio setting with the dancers in practice clothes - is set to a score by Scott Killian.
Here are a few photos I took of Cherylyn's dancers at today's rehearsal:
Michael Gonzalez and Giovanna Gamna
Christine Luciano
Eliza Sherlock-Lewis
Travis Magee and Elliot Hammans
Giovanna Gamna
Claire Westby
Adrian Silver and Selina Chau
Lila Simmons and Giovanna Gamna
Michael Gonzalez
Claire Westby discussing the fine points with Christine McMillan
Adrian Silver and Selina Chau
Travis Magee
Selina Chau
Selina and Travis
Visit the Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance website here.