New York Notebook
Resplendent Fusion
The scintillating surprise of the 2008 Fall for Dance festival was an excerpt from Pichet Klunchun’s Chui Chai. It was astounding to see how harmoniously his quirky personal movement coexisted with the shimmering regalia of his troupe in a slow-mo traditional Thai procession. This month Lincoln Center Festival brings the full-length piece, whose title translates roughly as “transformation,” to John Jay College. Klunchun, who trained in classical Thai mask dance, is possibly the only postmodern choreographer in Thailand. In Chui Chai the dancers transform from ancient to contemporary, male to female, and spareness to splendor. July 24–25. See www.LincolnCenterFestival.org. —Wendy Perron
The Americas—Latin Style
Dancer/choreographer Ursula Verduzco put her vision for Latino choreographers into action when she founded the Latin Choreographers Festival in 2008. A vehicle for showcasing both veterans (like Pedro Ruiz) and newcomers (like Jaciel Neri), the festival has welcomed dance artists from Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba as well as the U.S. Verduzco gives them a forum where they can shake loose from Latino stereotypes. July 16–18 at the DNA Theater. See www.latinchoreographersfestival.com. —Abbey Stone
Savion’s Got Sole
If you haven’t already seen Savion Glover at the Joyce during his three-week run, you’re not too late. Until July 10, the greatest tap dancer of this generation sets the stage afire with his mesmerizing, syncopated rhythms. In , he’ll dance to the sounds of some of the pop musical geniuses of our time. It will make you feel you’re peering in on an artistic revelation. Rather than performing to you, or for you, he lets the beats out of his body with such necessary force that it proves tap is not a dying art form, but very much alive. www.joyce.org. —Emily Macel
Photo of Chui Chai
by Edmund Low, courtesy Fall for Dance
