In Performance: Alwin Nikolais Centennial (NYC)

2010 marks the centennial of the birth of the visionary choreographer Alwin Nikolais (1910-1993). To celebrate his work and legacy, Abrons Art Center is mounting this once-in-a-lifetime weekend of reunions and re-creations.

During his tenure as the Artistic Director of the Henry Street Playhouse (1948-69), Nikolais pushed beyond the boundaries of contemporary dance to create hallucinogenic wonders of movement, lighting, sound, and setting. A pioneer of multimedia technology, Nikolais’ prolific imagination shaped 20th-century performance and continues to inspire — and astound — artists and audiences today. The Alwin Nikolais Centennial continues May 4-9 at the Joyce Theater.

From the Horse’s Mouth: Remembering Nik
Featuring Murray Louis & Phyllis Lamhut
April 30 | 8 pm

In this celebratory “live dance documentary,” dance legends Murray Louis and Phyllis Lamhut join with over 30 other artists, teachers, students, and fans onstage to honor Nikolais’ life and enduring influence. Curated by Tina Croll and Jamie Cunningham.

ALWIN NIKOLAIS 2010: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
April 30-May 2

2010 marks the centennial of the birth of the visionary choreographer Alwin Nikolais (1910-1993). To celebrate his work and legacy, Henry Street Settlement is mounting this once-in-a-lifetime weekend of reunions and re-creations.

During his tenure as the Artistic Director of the Henry Street Playhouse (1948-69), Nikolais pushed beyond the boundaries of contemporary dance to create hallucinogenic wonders of movement, lighting, sound, and setting. A pioneer of multimedia technology, Nikolais’ prolific imagination shaped 20th-century performance and continues to inspire — and astound — artists and audiences today. The Alwin Nikolais Centennial continues May 4-9 at the Joyce Theater.

From the Horse’s Mouth: Remembering Nik
Featuring Murray Louis & Phyllis Lamhut
April 30 | 8 pm

In this celebratory “live dance documentary,” dance legends Murray Louis and Phyllis Lamhut join with over 30 other artists, teachers, students, and fans onstage to honor Nikolais’ life and enduring influence. Curated by Tina Croll and Jamie Cunningham.

Homecoming
Featuring Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company
May 1 | 8 pm
May 2 | 5 pm

Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience Nikolais’ work in the theater that served as his long-time artistic laboratory. Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company remounts the iconic Imago Suite (1963), Kaleidoscope (1956), and Noumenon (1953), and the Abrons’ Dance Ensemble performs the perennial audience favorite Tensile Involvement (1953). Curated and performed under the direction of Alberto Del Saz and Murray Louis.