For their May11th “ballroom” showcase at the Danny Kaye Playhouse. I put ballroom in parenthesis because, though the studio specializes in Latin / Ballroom instruction (and is the studio where I took lessons with Pasha), it seems that they are really expanding, at least for their biannual showcases, which used to be student-oriented and are increasingly centering on pro performances — and pros of all kinds, not just ballroom.
The May 11th show will feature, in addition to Pasha and Anya (!); David Parsons Dance Company performing Caught (regular readers of this blog know how I feel about that dance 🙂 ); Sabra Johnson, Travis Wall and Twitch from So You Think You Can Dance; the Mark Stuart Eckstein Dance Company (which I don’t know of); choreographer Tricia Brouke’s OtherShore; opera star Aprile Millo; and for ballroom, the EXCELLENT Eugene Katsevman and Maria Manusova, top American Smooth contenders J.T. Thomas and Tomas Mielnicki, and (the very good, very sexy) former Latin junior champs Manuel Favilla and Karolina Paliwoda.
Expected guest attendees include Baryshnikov (!), Desmond Richardson (!), Edie Falco, Susan Sarandon, Cynthia Nixon, Mickey Rourke, Barbara Walters, Antonio Banderas, Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, and more — including judges and choreographers from SYTYCD (which DTS studio owners Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin choreograph for as well).
I’m happily stunned that my ballroom studio has become kind of this major outlet for popular concert dance in the city!
There’s also an after-party at the studio, as well as a pre-show reception at the Danny Kaye Playhouse for Angel on a Leash, which the program is benefitting. Angel on a Leash sponsors rehabilitative dogs (for people with seeing, hearing disabilities, etc.) Go here for more info.
Thanks for the info. I haven't seen Pasha and Anya since the Superstars of Dance or whatever that awful show was called. Any chance of posting a video of the dance….or at least a couple of pics??? : )
Wow, sounds like a star studded guest list.
I hope so, Laurel! I am going to really get on their case about it this time, because last time I don't know that they ever produced pictures or videos — I kept asking. I know this theater is unionized and they have very specific policies about videotaping and photographing (mainly, that none is allowed except by professionals who've obtained authorization beforehand), but I will definitely ask the studio what can be done because it's not like everyone who watched So You Think You Can Dance and fell in love with Pasha and Anya, et al. lives in New York and has access to this, right?! I mean, it doesn't make sense to have something like this only for the NYC community.
OMG, I saw Eugene and Maria compete in person a few years ago at the USA finals and they are INSANE! What an event. I'm glad that their work on TV is creating a greater awareness of dance and ballroom is getting more connected with other kinds of dancing. I imagine you'll have front row seats. WOW.
Hi Joanna — Yes, I'm hoping they can give me front row seats! I know, Eugene and Maria are incredible. They were my favorite couple from the last show. And they are getting better and better. I really love watching them dance!
hey, thought you might like to know about a site called sparkle-plenty, which specializes in custom logo work for t-shirts (or whatever) in swarovski crystal and/or rhinestone. they've done stuff in the past for dancers and dance studios (both as promotional use and staff use, also as fund-raisers). check 'em out. 🙂
p.s.
was the red-haired lady in the above photo on “what not to wear”???
hey, thought you might like to know about a site called sparkle-plenty, which specializes in custom logo work for t-shirts (or whatever) in swarovski crystal and/or rhinestone. they've done stuff in the past for dancers and dance studios (both as promotional use and staff use, also as fund-raisers). check 'em out. 🙂
p.s.
was the red-haired lady in the above photo on “what not to wear”???