MAY LESSONS!

April Showers bring May Flowers and let me tell you, NYC is ready!  Although it seems the entire world is celebrating the fall of a certain fellow named Bin Laden this week, I am choosing to celebrate all the great events that are heating up in Dance World this month, with a Calendar rivaling Summer! Mark your calendar for some of the Events below and stay tuned this month to learn more:

B. IS FOR BALLERINA:  Tune in this month for our very first Ballerina Interview -- I'm not going to spill the beans, but this is gonna be so fun.......I can't wait!

CALL FOR CHOREOGRAPHY: 4th ANNUAL LATIN CHOREOGRAPHERS FESTIVAL!
Are you a Latin Choreographer? Well check out The Latin Choreographer's Festival Website for more information on this years exciting event!  Already in their 4th Year, it is finally official that this exciting and often sold out Festival is here to stay! NOT LATIN? FEAR NOT!  Each year they showcase one Non-Latin Choreographer as well -- so no excuses, Apply Now! DEADLINE: MAY 28th!

ABT SEASON LAUNCHES AT THE MET MAY 16th! You MUST see this season at The Met!  We've got Swan Lake, Cinderella & Sleeping Beauty coming and then we've got the Classics to Premiers program with shorts by Wheeldon, Ratmansky, Tudor and Hollywood's Oscar bringing Choreographer, Benjamin Millipied.  And also, let's not forget the luscious and heart-wrenching Lady of The Camellias with Roberto Bolle and Diana Vishneva.  Add to this that they are bringing more Ballet Stars from afar than ever before, with Roberto Bolle, Diana Vishneva, Natalia Osipova, Alina Cojocaru & SEMIONOVA!  And then consider our already fantastic home company there with Principal Premieres with Cory Stearns and that this is sadly, the last season of none other than Jose Manuel Carreno -- and you will see that it's a crime to miss even one day!  And with Student Ticket prices being as affordable as a movie, you can't make any excuses!  

MAY PROGRAMMING:
May 16: Begins with the rock star preformances of The Gala including 12 PIECES OF GREAT DANCE! 
May 18: Super Hero Soloist Daniil Simkin premiere's his Basilio for The Met in the the 2:30 matinee of Don Q. & Cory Stearns debuts as a Principal with Michelle Wiles in the evening!
May 21: Polina Semionova and David Hallberg heat up the afternoon with Don Q. for the Sat. Matinee!
May 23: Alina Cojocaru and JOSE MANUEL CARRENO finish the Don Q. run Monday evening!
May 24-26: 3 days of a Mixed Billing with Tudor, Ratmansky and Wheeldon all on the same night!  Don't miss your chance to see today's most desired Choreographers all on one program!
May 27-31: Close out May with the dramatic powerhouse of Giselle with Diana Vishneva and Marcelo Gomes, as well as New York's favorite Ballet Couple, the dignified Irina Dvorvenko with Maxim Beloserkovsky and then of course, Jose Manuel Carreno with Julie Kent!



THEN, on top of all this, ABT presents additional May programs at the The Kaye Theatre:

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
2011 Spring Performance
The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre presents the Pre-Professional Division students performing excerpts from

“Les Sylphides,” as well as new works by Harriet Clark, Franco De Vita, Susan Jaffe and Raymond Lukens
Tuesday, May 10 at 8PM & Wednesday, May 11 at 2PM
On Sale Date: March 15

Tickets: $30, $25
Seniors and Students: $27, $20 (must be purchased in person with a valid I.D.)
Contact: The Kaye Playhouse Box Office (212) 772-4448


ABT II
American Ballet Theatre presents ABT II in an evening of mixed repertory featuring classical and contemporary work including the New York City Premiere of Jessica Lang’s Vivace Motifs.
Wednesday, May 11 at 8PM & Thursday, May 12 at 8PM

On Sale Date: March 15

Tickets: $35, $25
Seniors and Students: $30, $20 (must be purchased in person with a valid I.D.)
Contact: The Kaye Playhouse Box Office (212) 772-4448

MAY 12th:  NEW CHAMBER BALLET is one of my favorite small companies -- and is premiering another glorious evening of live music and new ballet choreography on thier program on the  'New Voices' Series at at the Center for Performance Research in Brooklyn. On the program are Night Music, Moments, Silk for 2 and Toccatina, with guest violinist Jennifer Choi.

Few are as talented as Magloire at curating a chamber sized company with such exquisite taste, so show your support for the development of new ballet by attending this special evening!

Thursday, May 12th, 2011, 7:30pm

Center for Performance Research, 361 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
Tickets are $15. For reservations, call (718) 349-1210 or email info@cprnyc.org

For directions, click here.

Unfamiliar with the New Chamber Ballet experience?  Check out The Times article here -- as well as my own interview with Director, Miro Magloire in my Men In Tights Column, here!

MAY DANCE AT THE JOYCE: May is bringing loads of excitement at The Joyce Theatre with Armitage Gone through May 8th, Danza Contemporanea de Cuba May 10-22 and Complexions Contemporary Ballet May 24-29th!

In addition check out their MASTER CLASS SERIES with $15 classes May 13th & 20th from 10am -12 noon with Danza Contemporanea de Cuba!

Please contact Tiffany LaPearl at tlapearl@joyce.org to register or if you have any questions.



MAY WORKSHOPS AT PERIDANCE! Peridance is getting a headstart on the Summer -- check out these great workshops in May, listed below!

New Teachers/ClasseMaija Garcia
Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co.
May 2 - 6
Kate Skarpetowska
Modern Workshop
May 2 - 6
Baila Society
Salsa
May 7 - June 25

Nicole Wolcott
Contemporary
May 16 - 20
Helen Pickett
Forsythe- Based improv
May 16 - 20

Amanda Wells
Modern
May 23 - 27

Bennyroyce Royon
Contemporary
May 30 - June 3
Limón Repertory
Betty Jones
May 31 - June 10


Stay tuned for more updates as we go forward in May, and enjoy smelling the flowers!

B.