Amar Ramasar News

The New York Dance and Performance Awards (The Bessies), New York City's premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field, today announced the nominees for the 2014-15 season at its annual press conference. The 37 nominees were selected by the Bessies Selection Committee, an independent committee of 39 dance industry professionals. Produced in partnership with Dance/NYC, Bessie Award categories include Outstanding Production, Outstanding Revival, Outstanding Performer, Outstanding Music Composition or Sound Design, and Outstanding Visual Design. The list of nominations follows. 

The DRI Foundation, the charity arm of the world's foremost business continuity certification and education nonprofit Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI) International, in partnership with 39 Steps and Red Rope Productions, will be hosting an exclusive, one-night benefit titled Dance for Nepal tonight, June 30 at 7pm, at the Union Square Theatre (100 E. 17th St.) in Manhattan.

The DRI Foundation, the charity arm of the world's foremost business continuity certification and education nonprofit Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI) International, in partnership with 39 Steps and Red Rope Productions, will be hosting an exclusive, one-night benefit titled Dance for Nepal on Tuesday, June 30 at 7pm, at the Union Square Theatre (100 E. 17th St.) in Manhattan.

SAB's annual Workshop performances have been a treasured staple on NYC dance lovers' calendars ever since 1965 when the legendary Alexandra Danilova, then a faculty member, initiated the iconic spring ritual. The event is not a graduation ceremony, but rather a tantalizing glimpse of what the future of dance may hold. This year, not only the school's most promising advanced students but also a group of prodigiously talented nine to 14-year-olds took the stage in fully costumed performances of excerpts from the New York City Ballet repertory, danced to live orchestral accompaniment.

On May 21, 2015, at the David Koch Theater, New York City Ballet performed three works created by choreographers of today.

Jerome Robbins choreographic masterpiece, Goldberg Variations, to Johan Sebastian Bach's musical masterpiece of the same name, was first on New York City Ballet's program on Wednesday evening, May 13, replete with many stars of the company. Pianist Susan Walters sat far left on stage level, playing beautifully. The curtain opened on Faye Arthurs and Zachary Catazaro, in Baroque costume, dancing the Theme. Catazaro, a soloist with NYCB, showed himself to be an ideal classical danseur noble. He is handsome, debonair, confident, and secure, dancing with subtle nuances to his movement, which enriches the experience for the audience, as well, no doubt, for his own pleasure. Part I Variations featured dancers wearing contemporary leotards and dance skirts. With a distinctly Robbins flair, they became a painting in motion, exuding feeling. Emilie Gerrity, corps de ballet, and Lauren Lovette, soloist, were captivating in their duet. Part II Variations offered several gems. Tiler Peck and Gonzalo Garcia were playful and fun to see. Amar Ramasar, who joined NYCB in 2001 and became principal dancer in 2009, continues to grow as he matures, with fully developed expression and superb partnering. Maria Kowroski's long lines filled the stage. There was a cornucopia of beauty and joy via this coupling of dancers and choreography. Only the second group of corps de ballet in blue seemed to misunderstand the Robbins' spirit, particularly in their runs with knees bent, kicking back. Towards the end of Part II, the dancers changed into Baroque style costumes. Arthurs and Catazaro then returned in contemporary costumes. Finally, there was a group salute to the pianist, unusual and fitting.

The spring 2015 season of the New York City Ballet at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center boasts not one but two programs featuring George Balanchine's minimalist masterpieces that are affectionately referred to as the "leotard ballets" by dancers and devotees alike. On the evening of May 1st, "Balanchine Black & White 1" proved once again that plotless ballets stripped of elaborate sets and costumes do indeed achieve Mr. B's goal of focusing on the movement and the music. What is so remarkable is that each of the three works on the bill, all of them with the dancers in practice clothes, is uniquely compelling. This feast of Mr. B's earliest neoclassical creations holds the audience in thrall from start to finish without ever becoming repetitious.

Over the past three seasons, The Metropolitan Museum of Art has seen some of the most intriguing and unexpected performance offerings around— often inviting audiences to engage with their surroundings as well as the performances. Leading with curiosity and innovation, the 2015-2016 season of Met Museum Presents continues this line of inquiry featuring a roster of powerful performances, new commissions, and fearless artists, all taking the Metropolitan Museum as a starting point.

The 5th Annual Dance Against Cancer was held on Monday, April 27, 2015.  The event had over 500 guests attend and raised more than $243,000 for the American Cancer Society that will benefit research initiatives and patient and family service programs.

Producers Erin Fogarty and Daniel Ulbricht have partnered with the American Cancer Society to present the 5th annual Dance Against Cancer on Monday, April 27, 2015 at the AXA Equitable Theater, 787 Seventh Avenue (between 51st and 52nd Streets). VIP guests will enjoy cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres at 6pm, followed by world premiere dance performances at 7pm from companies including New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Gallim Dance, members of NYC's Broadway community and more. Tickets are $150 for General Admission, $300 for VIP and $500 for Preferred VIP with dress rehearsal access and are available at dacny.org. All proceeds from this event will benefit research initiatives as well as all patient and family service programs that American Cancer Society funds. Since its inauguration, Dance Against Cancer has raised over $325,000 in support of the American Cancer Society.

The Steps Beyond Foundation's Artists Talk Series presents PASSING IT ON: A CONVERSATION WITH AMERICAN DANCE MACHINE 21 with Nikki Feirt Atkins, Robert La Fosse, Tome Cousins, Lars Rosager, Margo Sappington and ADM dancers Georgina Pazcoguin, Amar Ramasar, Jessica Lee Goldyn.

Steps Beyond Foundation continues its Artists Talk series with A Conversation with American Dance Machine 21, featuring directors Nikki Feirt Atkins and Margo Sappington, joined by Robert La Fosse, Tome Cousins, and Lars Rosager, along with ADM21 dancers Georgina Pazcoguin, Amar Ramasar, and Jessica Lee Goldyn, Sunday, March 22 at Steps on Broadway.

In an incredible coup for Ballet Kelowna, New York City's finest dancers will travel west to light up Kelowna's Community Theatre (1375 Water Street) with the anticipated Canadian premiere of The Ashley Bouder Project, tonight, March 3 at 7:30pm. New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Ashley Bouder, and an elite ensemble of the company's greatest artists, will present a performance experience of the highest caliber in the only Canadian engagement.

In an incredible coup for Ballet Kelowna, New York City's finest dancers will travel west to light up Kelowna's Community Theatre (1375 Water Street) with the anticipated Canadian premiere of The Ashley Bouder Project, March 3 at 7:30pm. New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Ashley Bouder, and an elite ensemble of the company's greatest artists, will present a performance experience of the highest caliber in the only Canadian engagement.

An evening of duets, for Dance from the Heart will be this coming Monday, January 26 at 7:30pm at Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue (at 19th Street). ?Dance from the Heart (#dancefromtheheart) will feature legendary dance companies and today's most sought-after choreographers. The evening is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Tickets are still available for this very special event.

An evening of duets will take a unique twist as fiery violinist Charles Yang joins Marcelo Gomes, the Brazilian-born principal dancer for American Ballet Theatre, in an explosive performance at Dance from the Heart on Monday, January 26 at 7:30pm at Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue (at 19th Street).

Dance from the Heart, produced by and benefiting Dancers Responding to AIDS, returns on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 7:30pm, with the rare opportunity to see on one stage the talents of American Ballet Theatre, Parsons Dance, Dorrance Dance, choreographer Sonya Tayeh and more at the Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue (at 19th Street).

American Dance Machine for the 21st Century (ADM21) will present 15 show-stopping musical theater dance numbers performed by stars from the musical theater and dance worlds during its Joyce Theater debut today, November 11-16, announced Nikki Feirt Atkins, Founder and Executive Artistic Director and Margo Sappington, Artistic Director. All performances will feature live music and will be directed by Margo Sappington with musical direction by Eugene Gwozdz.

American Dance Machine for the 21st Century (ADM21) will present 15 show-stopping musical theater dance numbers performed by stars from the musical theater and dance worlds during its Joyce Theater debut November 11-16, today announced Nikki Feirt Atkins, Founder and Executive Artistic Director and Margo Sappington, Artistic Director. All performances will feature live music and will be directed by Margo Sappington with musical direction by Eugene Gwozdz.

On the first ever World Ballet Day, October 1st 2014, I postponed watching the video stream of five top ballet companies in favor of attending what turned out to be a mesmerizing mixed bill featuring Balanchine ballets to the music of Stravinsky at the Koch Theater in Lincoln Center. YouTube can wait for me to catch up on the video stream later, but being in the audience at a live performance is always a one-time experience never to be recaptured except in the mind's eye.