Center for the Arts

Click, clack, tap, clap: The StepCrew

The StepCrew performed tonight at the Center for the Arts.  The StepCrew is the new international dance production featuring some of the world's top talents in Irish Step, Ottawa Valley and Modern tap dancing as well as fiddling. Featuring a cast of seven outstanding dancers, The StepCrew seamlessly transitions through traditional classic steps, modern interpretations of Celtic dances and electrifying new compositions.

The company gave a pre-performance talk in the mainstage theatre, introducing what would be seen in the show and talking a little more about Ottawa Valley dance.

Three types of dance styles were performed in this one show, and the dancers told the audiences a bit of what to look for.  Each style has a distinct shoe:

Irish step shoes have fiberglass taps, dancing in a more traditional irish step style, and produce a sharper clack. Modern tap shoes have metal taps on heel & toe, and the choreography reflects a more modern influence. Ottawa valley shoes  2-piece tap that makes a noise in the air when the dancer flicks a foot, and the choreographic style is influenced by a blend of Irish step, older Irish step traditions, and French Canadian culture that all converged in the valley formed by the Ottawa river, just south of Ottawa, Canada.

Each style has similar beats, but melodies unique to its origin.

The StepCrew features and was founded by Jon Pilatzke (Chieftains/Bowfire), Stephanie Cadman (Bowfire), Cara Butler (The Chieftains), Nathan Pilatzke (The Chieftains) and Dan Stacey (Seven Nations). The 12 member troupe also includes a female vocalist and a four-piece band featuring some of the leading musicians on the scene today, as well as choreographer/dancer Sarah Uddin and Joe Dwyer (Riverdance). In existence for about 3 years, though they tour mainly in the fall & spring.

Most members of the group hail from Canada, though at least one is from the US.  The group mainly tours in the US, and they all have side projects and other engagements in addition to collaborating on The StepCrew.

Shaolin Warriors: Chuck Norris Would Approve

Choreographed and disciplined, these monks move with grace and power.  Tonight we presented Shaolin Warriors, a stage production of Shaolin monks performing incredible martial arts.  With dramatic backdrops and lighting, colorful costumes and lots of fast-paced action, this is a great show for all ages.

The audience entered the theatre to see this amazing image:

 

Three monks came out to the front of the stage, and under a spotlight, each demonstrated quick movements, finishing to face the audience.

The rest of the group arrived as a synchronized unit, appearing to glow.

 

This will get your adrenaline pumping.

 

The audienced loved them.  I had to take photos from the side aisles, so you can't see the entire backdrop, which is painted to look like a life-sized temple.  If you missed it, you'll just have to come next time. 

Zodiaque: The crème de la UB dance

Zodiaque Dance Company began their 36th season this Wednesday, with a performance that includes choreography by Cathy Allen from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; UB faculty member Anne Burnidge; Buffalo’s own Barbara Denny, celebrated Canadian choreographer David Earle; Jon Lehrer, Artistic Director of LehrerDance; Karen Schupp from Arizona State University; and Zodiaque Dance Company Artisic Director, Tom Ralabate.

 

I was able to catch the beginning of Thursday night's performance in the Drama Theatre at the Center for the Arts.  The Drama Theatre is the dedicated space of UB Theatre & Dance.  Embodying the department's theme "Versatility Matters," Zodiaque Dance Company often includes a wide variety of choreographic styles and music.  The experience offers the company members the opportunity to broaden their horizons. 

 

The photographs shown here are from the performance's first piece "Out for a Walk" by guest choreographer Cathy Allen, whose residency and choreographic work is made possible through a generous donation to the Zodiaque Fund from Tom Ralabate and Thomas Mitchell.

There are still a few performances tonight at 8pm, Saturday at 8pm and Sunday matinee at 2pm.

Ballet Hispanico: Smokin' Hot in Club Havana

The latest installment of our M&T Bank Dance Series performed tonight: Ballet Hispanico.  Led by new Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro, this company brings a blend of Latin-American and Hispanic diaspora cultures into various dance forms that manifest through a variety of styles in one evening.  Mr. Vilaro gave the pre-performance talk in the screening room at 7pm. 

A tradition of our dance series, the pre-performance talk gives students and audience members a chance to connect with the company on a personal level, and perhaps learn a little bit more about the history of the company, the influences on the choreography they will see, and hear stories from company members.

Partnering traditional Latin-influenced social dance with modern stage production, Club Havana was the first piece of the evening.  Starting with a smoky, dance-club atmosphere, the dancers partnered up for some sexy Cuban club-style movements, complete with cigars.

Each movement of the piece gathered energy, finishing with a feeling of celebration.  This company is athletic, precise, energetic, and really enjoy themselves. 

 

A high-energy string extravaganza

The eight-member fiddle-heavy production Barrage performed tonight in the Mainstage Theatre. 

Barrage doesn't just play music, though.  Backed by two guitars and a drumset, the fiddle players run and jump, twirl and dip, dancing to the music as they play.

Every movement is choreographed to the range of fiddle-driven songs: some folk, some Celtic, even some Middle Eastern-inspired.

 

The result is a rollicking good time for everyone involved. 

Photos from Corea, Clarke & White

Super jazz-fusion trio Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White performed tonight.  Here are some photos of the event:

The Atrium just before the doors opened:

Monaco's Violin Shop & Music Center has supported many events over the years at the Center for the Arts:

Volunteer ushers Tom & Anthony assisted patrons entering the theatre:

The legendary trio:

The acoustically exquisite Mainstage Theatre:

Thanks to all who attended.

Kristen Schaal is a sexy librarian

She wants to help you find your book.  The lovely Kristen Schaal lit up the intimate Drama Theatre (maybe because she tried some hot wings) tonight at her first appearance in Buffalo.

The local audience gave Kristen an enthusiastic welcome.

Jazz Fusion Evolution: Corea, Clarke & White on Sept. 25

Miles Davis' electric bands in the late 1960s served as the incubator for several pioneering jazz fusion bands, including Chick Corea's legendary Return to Forever (1972-77). Return to Forever commanded the fusion universe, expanding the language from funk-fueled electric rock-jazz, to the acoustic quietudes of Corea's more classically-inspired pieces. After their successful reunion tour last year, the harmonic convergence that Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White felt has led to the formation of the jazz supergroup - COREA, CLARKE & WHITE.

With the ever-expanding Corea ouevre at their fingertips and the incredible improvisational skill and musicianship of all three jazz legends, this trio soars through acoustic bliss, funky jazzitude, mind-expanding classical and all worlds in between. Corea, Clarke & White are musical masters sending audiences on sonic explorations of wondrous proportions.

Since I can't pretend to be an expert on these incredibly prolific musicians, here's a video and some links to check out for more reading:

Check out Chick Corea's official website, Stanley Clarke's website, Lenny White's website and this lovely video from the 2008 Return to Forever tour:

This has a add this widget.

 

Kristen Schaal - Alternative Comedy's Sweetheart

by Abigail Wyse

I went to a comedy club once and made the mistake of sitting in the front row. I served as a muse of sorts to the first comedian, whose entire act more or less centered around poking fun of me. Though the crowd roared, I didn’t find the show all that amusing and soon after renounced live comedy as something that just wasn’t for me.

Then I learned about Kristen Schaal and alternative comedy.

I had been a victim of traditional stand-up comedy, which relies on punch line based jokes and loves to use stereotypes to make fun of others. Making a conscious break from the mainstream comedic style of the time period, alternative comedy uses other elements to draw the laughter out of the audience. For the most part, alternative comedy is comprised of intelligent commentary and jokes, so it requires some level of intellectual participation from the viewer. Rather than making fun of others, alternative comedians prefer to often look inward and laugh at themselves and the daily occurrences of their lives. Other characteristics of alternative comedy include political satire, breaking social taboos and barriers, especially in terms of language, improvisation, personal narrative and use of characters. Alternative comedy assumes a well-informed audience, as many alternative comedians are not only driven to entertain but to send a message as well.

Alternative comedy originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970’s and was influenced by both British nonsense writings of the Victorian period and the Satire Boom of the 1950s and 60s. Developed during a period of serious political division in Britain, this style truly is a product of its time and environment. Alternative comedy made its debut in America on the left coast in Los Angeles. It all began when performance artist-turned-comedian Beth Lapides began putting on comedy shows at less likely venues. She and her fellow soon-to-be alternative comedians dubbed their show “Un-Cabaret” for their untraditional humor and approach to live comedy that was based in storytelling and stream-of-consciousness rants. Today, alternative comedy is experiencing a revival in many places such as Toronto, Chicago and Seattle.

On the other side of the country, Kristin Schaal hosted a weekly variety show called “Hot Tub” in New York, where the East Village serves as the primary hub for alternative comedy acts. The Longmont, Colorado native moved to New York after graduating from Northwestern University to pursue a career in comedy. Schaal got her first break in 2005 when her show “Hot Tub” was voted “Best Variety Show of 2005” by Time Out New York’s reader poll and she was also included in New York Magazine’s list of “The Ten Funniest New Yorkers You’ve Never Heard Of.” She has quickly become a staple in the East Village alternative comedy scene, which features shows that offer more character-based and surreal humor. She is also a founding member of “The Striking Viking Story Pirates”, which adapts stories by children into sketches and songs.

Among the various highlights of Schaal’s career is her performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London at The Secret Policeman’s Ball to aid Amnesty International. She has won many awards for her live comedy, including “Best Female Stand-Up Comedian” at the 2007 ECNY Awards and the Barry Award for her show “Kristen Schaal as You Have Probably Never Seen her Before” at the 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Schaal has also appeared on television, most notably for her role as the stalker-fan Mel, on HBO’s Flight of the Concords, as well as on The Daily Show, where she often serves as the show’s “Senior Women’s Issues Correspondent.”

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Burka Ban
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

Schaal will bring her brand of alternative comedy to The Center for the Arts on September 18, 2009.

Aural Pleasantries: The Decemberists and the Heartless Bastards

What an amazing show last night!  The Heartless Bastards opened for the Decemberists in the acoustically exquisite Mainstage theater.  Vocalist and songwriter Erika Wennerstorm powered through rock in a way that won over anyone who wasn't familiar with the band.  I'm not a professional music critic, so you just have to take my word for it, or check this video:



The Decemberists were brilliant, as always. There is so much to be said for musicians who are consummate showmen and appreciative of their audience.  The crowd got to its feet to cheer the first set - the complete Hazards of Love album start to finish.  As the second set started, nearly everyone in the room stood, danced and clapped along.  Frontman Colin Meloy introduced a couple of new songs which were met with thunderous approval. The band finished the second set with a cover of Heart's Crazy On You:

I'll post more photos to our Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/UBCenterfortheArts