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OCTOBER 22, 2009

Stunning Joffrey Revival of Lubovitch's Othello Opens in Chicago

Ice Theater of New York Honors Lar Lubovitch

Company Member Christopher Vo Performs in Princess Grace Award Celebration

Third Chicago Dancing Festival a Major Success


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Stunning Joffrey Revival of Lubovitch's Othello Opens in Chicago

Fabrice Calmels and April Daly in Joffrey Ballet's revival of Lar Lubovitch's Othello. (Photo courtesy of Joffrey Ballet)

Fabrice Calmels and April Daly in Joffrey Ballet's revival of Lar Lubovitch's Othello. (Photo courtesy of Joffrey Ballet)

 

On October 14, 2009, the Joffrey Ballet staged the much-anticipated Chicago premiere of Lar Lubovitch's Othello at the Auditorium Theater. The final performance is October 25th. Tickets are still available and may be purchased by visiting the Joffrey Ballet website.

 

In the Chicago Sun-Times, Hedy Weiss praised this "magnificent revival" for its "gorgeous blend of ballet and contemporary movement," especially evident in Lubovitch's "particularly ingenious way with partnering" and his "sophisticated soliloquies, duets...and tense triangulated relationships." In sum, she wrote, "in his enthralling, boldly original Othello, choreographer Lar Lubovitch proves himself a true master of words-into-motion 'translation,' weaving this classic tale of love and all-devouring jealousy in the most fluid and audacious dance terms." For the complete review, click here.

In his review published in the Chicago Tribune, Sid Smith describes the production as “equal parts lyricism, conflict and horror,” especially in the “the exceptional, climactic pas de deux.” According to Smith, “however fresh your Shakespeare, you’re not quite prepared for how shattering and creepy the final pas de deux of Othello must be – this is a dance between a husband and the wife he’s about to kill.” For the complete review, click here.

Lar Lubovitch created Othello in 1997 through a ground-breaking three-way production that was jointly underwritten by American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Ballet and the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. The music was composed by Oscar-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal. The design team for the current production consists of George Tsypin (scenery), Jack Mehler (lighting), Ann Hould-Ward (costumes) and Wendall K. Harrington (projections).

The world premiere of the dance was presented by ABT and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York in 1997. Othello was subsequently recorded for broadcast as part of PBS's Great Performances in 2002 (directed by Matthew Diamond and performed by San Francisco Ballet). Othello has also been performed by the Norwegian National Ballet.

Ice Theater of New York Honors Lar Lubovitch

Paul Wylie.
Paul Wylie.

On October 26th, Lar Lubovitch will be honored by Ice Theater of New York at its annual gala. The star-studded event, which will be held at the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, will also honor Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie, who has worked with Lubovitch.

During the celebration, Ice Theater of New York will present a performance of Lubovitch's work Tilt-A-Whirl, created in 1979. The dance was originally performed by John Curry and Dorothy Hamill on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York (approximately 20 years before Lubovitch's Othello graced the same stage). Monday's performance will be the first time the dance has performed in more than 30 years. Ice Theater of New York will honor Lubovitch with a Choreography Award in recognition of his many works for skaters -- from pieces for Paul Wylie, John Curry and Peggy Fleming, to the televised ice ballets, The Planets and The Sleeping Beauty -- and for advancing the art-form of dancing on ice.


"In addition to his work for stage, screen and television, Lubovitch has also made a notable contribution to the advancement of choreography in the field of dance on ice," explains Moira North, executive director of Ice Theater of New York. "We applaud the priceless contributions he has made to the ice dance community by presenting him with the ITNY Choreography Award."


Tickets to the event start as low as $25. For ticket information, click here.

Company Member Christopher Vo Performs in Princess Grace Award Celebration

Christopher Vo.
Christopher Vo.

Lubovitch company member (and 2007 Princess Grace Award winner) Christopher Vo was featured in the opening performance for the 2009 Princess Grace Award celebration on October 21st. The celebration was held at Cipriani 42nd Street in the presence of Princess Grace's son, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. The annual gala serves as the primary fundraiser for the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, and aids it in its goal of provideing financial assistance to the most talented emerging artists in theater, dance and film.

For more information about Christopher Vo, click here.

Third Chicago Dancing Festival a Major Success

Little Rhapsodies. (Photo by Nan Melville).
Little Rhapsodies. (Photo by Nan Melville).

This summer's 3rd Annual Chicago Dancing Festival was yet anotehr major success. On August 20th, the Lubovitch company presented a performance of Little Rhapsodies at the Harris Theater in Chicago, as part of the festival.


Writing in the Chicago Tribune, Sid Smith praised the "effervescent trio in Lubovitch's Little Rhapsodies -- a showcase for flashy, artful Jonathan E. Alsberry, coyly acrobatic Attila Joey Csiki, and silky Jay Franke." For the complete review, click here.

 

Founded in 2007 by Lar Lubovitch and Jay Franke, the Festival has grown in size and scope each year. Originally a 3-day festival including three mixed-bill performances, the festival has now grown into a 5-day multi-venue event -- and is still totally free to the public. This year, performances were held at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Columbia College, and the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. In addition to its generous individual supporters, the festival is supported by both the City of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art.


Order your Broadway tickets here -- you save
and the Lubovitch company gets a 5% contribution!

 

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