Ballet Florida, a West Palm Beach institution for almost a quarter-century, closed its doors in June 2009, leaving a vacuum that a new not-for-profit professional dance company hopes to help fill. Explore Dance Theater, founded in 2009 by two former principal dancers of Ballet Florida, Tracy Mozingo and Douglas Gawriljuk, is hosting its premiere company showing at the … [Read more...]
ArtsPaper Interview: Marie Hale, still dancing and teaching
Marie Hale. (Illustration by Pat Crowley)By Sharon McDanielBallet Florida canceled the remainder of its season in March 2009. Wrecked by severe cash flow problems and long-term debt, the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation in July.Yet for 23 years, Ballet Florida was the resident contemporary and classical ballet company of West Palm Beach. Its fine balance of … [Read more...]
Ballet Florida standout Opdenaker launches new company tonight
It was so hard to see him go. Dancer Jerry Opdenaker retired from Ballet Florida in 2006 after 14 years with West Palm Beach’s resident contemporary dance and ballet company. He showed so much personality, imagination, even mischief in his dancing -- especially, he confided, when he was unrecognizable; say, costumed as a Cinderella stepsister or Nutcracker Mouse King. But … [Read more...]
Dance feature: Ballet Florida standout Opdenaker launches new company tonight
Dancer Jerry Opdenaker.By Sharon McDanielIt was so hard to see him go.Dancer Jerry Opdenaker retired from Ballet Florida in 2006 after 14 years with West Palm Beach’s resident contemporary dance and ballet company. He showed so much personality, imagination, even mischief in his dancing -- especially, he confided, when he was unrecognizable; say, costumed as a Cinderella … [Read more...]
Complexions Ballet astonishes at Duncan show
A chance TV viewing of One Last Dance (2003, Patrick Swazye) alerted me to Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Of the film’s extraordinary dance cast, Desmond Richardson’s exceptional segments burned Complexions into my brain. It has taken a long wait to get the troupe to West Palm Beach for anything more than just tantalizing one work on a festival program. But the 15-year-old … [Read more...]
Dance review: Complexions astonishes in Duncan show
A scene from Dwight Rhoden's Mercy.(Photo by Lee Talner)By Sharon McDanielA chance TV viewing of One Last Dance (2003, Patrick Swazye) alerted me to Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Of the film’s extraordinary dance cast, Desmond Richardson’s exceptional segments burned Complexions into my brain.It has taken a long wait to get the troupe to West Palm Beach for anything more … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Jan. 15-21
A wall sculpture by Federico Uribe,made of clothespins and plastic forks. (Photo by Ed Sheahan)Art: The biggest news in the local art world this weekend is artpalmbeach, which opened Friday night. Featuring more than 70 dealers and special exhibition spaces, this show at the Palm Beach County Convention Center looks every bit as dynamic as the Art Basel show last December.Not … [Read more...]
Theater review: Tommy Tune takes pleasant look back at his career
Hoofer and choreographer Tommy Tune turned 70 this year. By Hap ErsteinBigger, or at least taller, than life, 6-foot-6-inch Tommy Tune made a one-night stop on the Kravis Center Dreyfoos Hall stage Tuesday evening with an amiable shuffle-ball-change through his career, appropriately titled Steps in Time.The nine-time Tony Award-winning director-choreographer-performer … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: PB County gets new dance company; FAU gets cache of rare recorded Judaica
Jerry Opdenaker (Photo from his MySpace page).Ex-Ballet Florida workshop chief founds dance companyPalm Beach County has a new dance company, and it will make its debut in early February at the Duncan Theatre, on the Lake Worth campus of what will soon be Palm Beach State College.O Dance was founded by and is named after Jerry Opdenaker, most recently director of the … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Florida Stage moving to Kravis, MCB gets live orchestra back
An artist's rendering of the revamped Rinker Playhouse for Florida Stage. Florida Stage moving to Kravis CenterFlorida Stage is making a long-anticipated move to West Palm Beach.Beginning in July 2010, Florida’s largest professional theater company dedicated exclusively to new and emerging plays will take up residence in the Marshall E. Rinker Sr. Playhouse at the Kravis … [Read more...]