UBA Bounce

By Zoe Wolfe

Dance is an interesting form of performance. Virtually any type of movement can be classified as “dance”. In UBA Bounce (UBA is pronounced oo-ba), the chosen form of movement is – no, not bouncing – rolling. The performers slide, glide, twirl and even walk on large exercise balls and circus globes. This style of movement is very intriguing. It’s not commonly used outside of the circus, but it clearly has its place in this dance piece. Using the balls gives the dancers freedom that feeds into a playful quality. In one dance, the performers dive off of the balls over and over again. It is clear that they are thoroughly enjoying themselves.

This deliberate carefree-ness, however, is not followed through in all of the dances. In many, it seems as though the balls have control over the dancers, forcing the dancers to struggle with the balls. This struggle is apparent from the moment the lights come up. We see a dancer standing on a green ball, trying to be as still as possible and yet quivering with a look of two parts concentration and one part horror on her face. While I understand that working with rolling objects is hard, as an audience member, I don’t want to see the work that the performers have to put in.

UBA Bounce is presented as a series of dances. While each one is good in its own way, they do not work together as a cohesive piece. All in all, UBA Bounce is like many shows at the Fringe Festival; it shows much promise, but it isn’t quite there yet.

Schedule and ticket information here.

Stomp

by Melissa Miranda

Stomp is musical entertainment for all ages. This performance doesn’t have a storyline or characters, just music. And not the type of music that you hear a band play or listen to on the radio — this music is made by objects that we see and use every day. The performers use garbage cans, brooms, newspapers, plastic bags, stop signs, sinks, lighters, and more to create different beats and patterns.

The theatre is unlike any other theater I have been to. The stage is small and there are what seem to be millions of things hanging on the walls. These objects turn out to be what the performers use to make music.

The eight “stompers” move their bodies to the rhythmic beat of the music, dancing like they are at a party, not onstage. Although there’s no speaking, the performers use phsyical comedy and facial expressions to make the audience laugh. The show makes me feel empowered and energetic. I feel the urge to dance and to make music with everything around me.

Stomp is perfect for teenagers who enjoy music and love to laugh. It takes music and movement to a whole other level.

TICKETS: PxP Special 2 for 1 ticket offer • Feb 16th-Mar 25th, Tue-Fri @ 8, Sat & Sun @ 3 • Code PLAYBY • Phone, box office or online • Orpheum Theatre, 126 2nd Ave.

Groovaloo

by Marlyn Palomino & Mitzi Sanchez

Marlyn: GROOVALOO is a group of young people expressing themselves through freestyle dance. Although each story is different, the characters are connected by the desire to be heard and to be who they want to be. Each character has his or her own identity and passion, which they are able to discover by accepting themselves. They use their talents to learn from their mistakes and turn them into something positive.

Mitzi: It is an amazing performance. The dancers dance for laughter, tears, madness, fears and hope. They create their dreams through movement. It is incredible how someone can express every little part of life by dancing. GROOVALOO uses dance as communication between body and soul, to express what is too complicated for words.

Marlyn: The characters show us that in life, nothing can come easily. There will always be challenges and tough choices. Many of the people around us might not agree with the things we believe in and that is always going to affect us and create obstacles, but we can never give up on our goals because they are our spirit. We were born with this spirit and it makes us unique. We should fight against the barriers and negative voices that are trying to bring us down.

Mitzi: The message of the show is dare to dream. No matter what, you should never give up on your dreams.

Marlyn: The energy is so contagious that you want to dance with them onstage.

Mitzi: The flips, the coordination, every detail of GROOVALOO is spectacular. I learned that dance is like someone’s pulse, heartbeat and breathing. It is the rhythm of life. It is the expression of happiness, joy, sadness, and even envy.

Marlyn: I highly recommend GROOVALOO to teenagers because it shows us how to express our feelings and envision the talents and strengths that we have. We all have our own story, and admitting it without shame is a way to heal many of the things that have been hurting us. It is important for teenagers to learn how to step up and seek the things we want.

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: $25 tickets • Union Square Theatre, 100 E. 17th Street

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

by Nunny Reyes

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs truly unlike anything I have seen before. In theatre, it is natural to expect dialogue, a rising climax, and perhaps a twisted plot. While watching this dance performance, I realized that I needed to forget my expectations for a play when I watch dance. Dance is all about letting go and just being able to experience what is occurring onstage at that moment.

The show was broken up into three acts highlighting the advancements of African Americans and the Harlem Renaissance. The costumes were vibrant and the stage was constantly changing in order to depict a different street or a new jazz club.  Each performer looked physically different, but they were united when they danced. This was apparent in the dance of three Harlem Renaissance divas. The three divas each wore a different dress of black, gold or red. Although each diva had a different singing style and costume, the moment that the music began, they each expressed the same passion for dancing. Without missing a beat, these three powerful women made the stage theirs and invited those in the audience to clap and be a part of the performance as well.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is not your typical performance. The dancers were incredible and did a great job of making the audience feel connected to the show. Alvin Ailey is definitely a must see for all because it definitely takes you out of your comfort zone. There is not one message that the play tries to convince you off but instead it encourages you to enjoy the experience and forget the rules that once may have known about onstage performances.

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: thru Jan 3rd • $10 student rush • W. 55th between 6th & 7th Ave.

Alvin Ailey Dramaturgy

by Jahnesha Huertas

The mission of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is to establish a cultural community that emphasizes the humanity and beauty of African American heritage and diverse cultures to unite people of all races, ages, and backgrounds. Founder Alvin Ailey began creating pieces that drew from his Texan background that emphasized the blues, gospels and spirituals. He called these inspirations ‘blood memories.” Throughout his lifetime, Ailey created 79 ballets and emphasized that the mission of his company was not only to showcase his original works, but to recreate works of the past that were important for modern audiences. In all, over 200 works by more than 70 choreographers have been performed by The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Burn the Floor

By Melissa Miranda

           

Burn the Floor was an energetic and suave performance unlike any other show on Broadway because it doesn’t have a storyline, only ballroom dancing.

Burn the Floor opened my eyes to many different styles of dancing. There was the Cha Cha, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Swing, Samba, Lindy, Jive, Rumba, Quickstep, and more. The dancers had perfect technique and made the dancing look effortless – I wanted to get up and dance, too! The performers made contact with the audience with their facial expressions and by dancing in the aisles. The dancers’ costumes glowed onstage and the lighting made the colors pop.

 
I would recommend Burn the Floor to anyone who is a dancer or who has an interest in dance. It is an important production for a young person to see because it is unique and shows how much time and effort goes into making a dance performance. It takes perseverance, strength, confidence, and a lot of practice.

This is one of the best Broadway shows I have ever seen because it’s all about dance – and I love to dance. Burn the Floor gets two thumbs up from me!

HOW TO SEE THE SHOW: $26.50 student rush, 2 per valid ID • Longacre Theatre, 220 W 48th St.