New York Notebook
Black Swan, Brazil-style
Their combination of athleticism and experimentation has made Cisne Negro (“Black Swan” in Portuguese) one of Brazil’s most exciting companies. They return to the Joyce Aug. 15–20 with guest artist Marcelo Gomes, that dashing ABT principal who grew up in Brazil. For starters, audience members are escorted to their seats by swans/dancers in Gigi Caciuleanu’s Swan’s Lament. Gomes will dance in Sabia, a beguiling work by Vasco Wellenkamp that has become the company’s signature. Calunga, by Rui Moreira, takes us on a journey into Brazilian folklore, mixing African, European, and Indian traditions. Flock, also by Caciuleanu (who directs the National Ballet of Chile), uses Stravinsky’s music for Firebird. See www.joyce.org. —Holly Cavrell
Socrates’ Slow Exit
We don’t usually think of renegade Mark Morris as serene, but that’s exactly what his piece Socrates is. We see beautifully gentle groupings while we hear the story of Socrates’ chosen death by hemlock. Tender images of people helping each other drop to the ground (as each unlocks his inner Socrates), together with Satie’s piano music, form a sort of reverie. Although it’s part of Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival, the program, which also includes Morris’ Renard to Stravinsky and a new work to Hummel, is Mozartless. Aug. 18–20 at the Rose Theater. See www.lincolncenter.org. —Wendy Perron
In the Park for Now
Young Soon Kim, that tireless presenter of the White Wave festivals in Dumbo, now presents just her own company as part of SummerStage, the city’s free and free-roaming festival. As with Jennifer Muller, with whom Soon Kim has danced, the movement is luscious and full-bodied. Her latest work, So Long for Now, has live jazz music and shares a program with dre.dance at the East River Park Aug. 19. For SummerStage’s full schedule, go to www.summerstage.org/dance. —W. P.
Gigi Caciuleanu’s
Flock. Photo by Reginaldo Azevedo, Courtesy Joyce Theater; Domingo Estrada, Noah Vinson, and Maile Okamura in Socrates. Photo by Matthew Karas; Young Soon Kim’s So Long for Now. Photo by Yi-Chun Wu.
