Elisa Kimble

It takes more than talent to tell the life story of a well-known person with passion, humor, and originality in sixty minutes and succeed, but that's just what Francesca Harper accomplished performing her one woman show The Look of Feeling, a Celebration of American Dance Pioneer Denise Jefferson on Saturday May 17, 2014 at the Susan Baston Theater on West 43rd Street.

Baldwin through Dance: Charles O. Anderson, Dianne McIntyre

The Dance Theatre of Harlem Celebrates its 45th Anniversary at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

New York Live Arts hosted a light breakfast and media briefing on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, to declare 2014-15 The Year of James Baldwin, which will launch April 23 - 27.Curated by celebrated non-fiction writer Lawrence Weschler, in collaboration with New York Live Arts Executive Artistic Director Bill T. Jones, this five day festival-the second annual Live Ideas-will include lectures, panels, performances and a full range of artistic responses to the enduring pertinence of the work of the American essayist, novelist, playwright and social critic.

On a dark stage eight dancers lift Annique Roberts to the spotlight as she stands on their shoulders above them. I wonder, is she a sacrifice or a goddess? She falls back into their hands, and the music begins. This is the opening to Torch, passionately performed by Ronald K. Brown's EVIDENCE, the BRIC House resident company.

The West Harlem Library Series and Green Gurl Productions presented Singin Wid a Sword in Ma Han on Saturday October 26, 2013 at the George Bruce Branch library.

The Apollo Theater's presentation of James Brown: Get on the Good Foot, a Celebration in Dance on Friday October 25, 2013 was an astounding array of funk and fine art, with a familiar bass line that riveted throughout the souls of the audience. The show included tap dancing, breakdancing, modern dance, fine lines, bright colors, afros, funky gyrations and, at moments, sacred translations.

When benevolence, fine artistry and pure movement conjoin, you get Dance Works Unhinged, a benefit concert choreographed and performed by members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. On Sunday July 20, 2013, the Ailey Citigroup Theater presented an evening of original works for a good cause: the support of the Ailey Dance Resource Fund-ADRF--which provides financial assistance to company members in the form of career transition grants, creative endeavor grants, and emergency loans.

CheckiT Dance presented its third annual Check Us Out Dance Festival: A Celebration of Female Choreographers, on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at Summit Rock in Central Park. The evening included works from more than 10 female choreographers from the United States and abroad. CheckiT Dance is an all female modern dance company focusing on gender issues, female identity, objectification and the exploration of traditional gender roles.

French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) presents The Ulysses Syndrome celebrating World Nomads Tunisia On Thursday May 14, 2013, as part of the fifth edition of its biennial World Nomads Festival, the French Institute Alliance Française presented The Ulysses Syndrome, a dance choreographed by Jonah Bokaer. Jonah Bokaer is American and part Tunisian. He explores his familial roots by performing this meditative work with his Tunisian born father, Tsvi Bokaer.

I was introduced to American griot, educator, activist, and poet Sekou Sundiata (1948-2007) on Saturday April 27, 2013 at The Apollo Theater's TONGUES OF FIRE CHOIR performance, a part of the Blink Your Eyes: Sekou Sundiata Revisited series.

On March 9, 2013, two emerging modern dance companies, Riedel Dance Theater and Ariel Rivka Dance, shared the stage at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. They presented works not only of opposite emotional extremes, but of equal performance value.

The Water is Clear and Still is set in an immersive performance installation, seen at close range and from multiple perspectives. It was a one hour exhibit of pure flight, infinite extensions, wistful dancing, emotional connections and exploratory art, based on Jamaica Kincaid's short stories from the collection, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER.

On March 3, The Martha Graham Dance Company finished its season, entitled 'Myth and Transformation,' at the JoyceTheater. Since the company lost many of their costumes and sets to Hurricane Sandy, the great legacy Martha Graham-- that force of nature and company founder--created, has been tested. However, this year's engagement proved to be the gift that legacies are built on.

If you are ever in Harlem make sure you visit the Apollo Theater. During the 30's and 40's this was one of New York City's hottest night clubs, the place where the music of Billie, Ella, Dinah, Sarah, Duke, and Dizzy became legendary. In an effort to recapture that bygone glory, the theater is presenting Apollo Club Harlem, an enterprising and captivating attempt not only to revive the jazz spirit of 125th Street, but rekindle it as well for a new generation of jazz and pop music enthusiasts.