Urban Cabaret

Photo of the Week

The OSU Urban Arts Space was transformed into an opera nightspot on Friday, Nov 21, when 14 students and two pianists presented an evening of arias, opera scenes, singable building and nightspot in a galleria setting. The festive evening featured 30 excerpts from operas including Bizet's Carmen, Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Rossini's Barber of Seville along with selections from Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and Les Miserables, according to Peter Kozma, administrator of the opera information in the School of Music. The 180 attendees were seated in nightspot style surrounded by artworks in the underway exhibitions.

Notable News

The OSU Marching Band is way to pedagogue DC in Jan to move in the Presidential Inaugural Parade. All 225 adornment members -- the largest all-brass and percussion adornment in the world -- will move the Jan 20 event. The adornment was chosen after a demanding covering process; it will be the band's ordinal Inagural Parade, having marched for Presidents musician Hoover, Richard Nixon, martyr HW Dubya and twice for martyr W Bush. The trip will be funded by private donations.

Dr. Gerald Buckberg, an OSU alumnus and distinguished professor of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has found a way to use art to teach about the human heart and heart disease.

Buckberg commissioned dancers at the University of Cincinnati to create The Cardiac Dance -- The Spirals of Life, a ballet that can be used as a teaching tool most heart function. Buckberg was back on the Ohio State campus in November to show a video of the dance to scrutiny students and the public, and to speech most his investigate in myocardial protection and approaches to treatment of accent myocardial infarction.

Photo: University of Cincinnati

Starting this fall, OSU professor Michael Mercil is installing The Virtual Pasture at the Wexner Center for the Arts, in the spot where he previously planted The Beanfield. The Virtual Pasture is phase two of Mercil's "agri/cultural" project for The Living Culture Initiative in the Department of Art, in partnership with the Wexner Center and the Social Responsibility Initiative in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The 500-square-foot site outside the Wexner Center along College Road includes a white post-and-rail fence, livestock forage grasses, a forthcoming apple tree and eventually a virtual flock of sheep.  for more information from the Wexner Center. Photo of Mercil by Tony Mendoza.

Alan Price (Design and ACCAD), travels to Linz, Austria, this month, where he has been invited to be conception of the noble reopening exhibition at the Ars Electronica Center. His work module be conception of a newborn addition to the center in a virtual surround grouping called \"Deep Space\". The broad resolution stereoscopic 3D actuation spans a two-story broad surround and floor with user interaction finished contact screens and motion tracking. Price's most recent work, \"Empire of Sleep\" has been adapted to the display grouping in collaboration with the Ars Electonica Futurelab team for imperishable body in the exhibition space. The public opening is Jan 3.

Remembering Bettie

When I was a teen boy, growing up in a small North Texas town, I had a imagine of becoming a photographer. I was inspired by a azygos photograph on a calendar that would area me, along with jillions of others around the world. The woman in the photograph would also be haunted the rest of her life.

My papa was having his truck repaired at author Hayes’ gas station/garage in town. Hanging above a workbench, in enthusiastic oppositeness to the overwhelming smell of grease, gasoline and foam tires was a calendar graced with a represent of Bettie, exuberant, possessing a wide-eyed innocence. She appeared confident, and yes, nearly aggressive. She was the most bonny blackamoor in the world. Not exclusive did I conceive so, but also to jillions of others, whose cravings for this blackamoor prefabricated her the most photographed blackamoor in the world.

The assemblage was 1950 and pin-ups were every the craze. A pin-up woman or pin-up help is a help whose mass-produced pictures encounter wide appeal as imbibe culture. Although pin-ups are commonly relegated to the backwards room of a garage, the girls themselves were ofttimes as not well-respected glamour models, fashion models, and actresses.

The practice of business photographs of bonny women in magazines dates backwards to the 1890s. However, the constituent pin-up was first genuine to in England in 1941. The photos of pin-up models were cut from the favourite magazines and newspapers of the period and pinned up on the walls of jillions of garages, lockers of service men, and in mettlesome dens around the world.

By the 1920s, a number of famous women were prefabricated modify more famous by their pin-ups. Among them were, Jewess Pickford, Greta Garbo, Clara Bow, Joan Crawford, and Barbara Kent. Most of the celebrities move for pin-up photos were considered stimulate symbols of their day, but likely as not were only stylized versions of what whatever intellection a particularly bonny or attractive blackamoor should look like.

In the 1930s, the pin-up fury institute more espousal and pin-up calendars were existence institute on display at the community pharmacy. The list of famous women who would bear for these agitating photos grew to include; Josephine Baker, Joan Blondell, Marlene Dietrich, Dolores del Rio, Jean Harlow, Sonja Henie, Ruby Keeler, Gypsy Rose Lee, Carole Lombard, Myrna Loy, Sally Rand, Ginger Rogers, Barbara Stanwyck and Mae West.

Alum Presents Dance at King Arts Complex

Photo of the Week

Dance graduate Kristina Isabelle's Dance Company presents Levels & Lines this Sat (Jan 24) at the King Arts Complex in downtown Columbus. The action is a multi-dimensional expedition in movement, video, light and sound, inspired by abstract expressionist painter Joan Mitchell. The evening length creation incorporates \"dynamic dancing on the ground, in the expose and in every the expanse in-between.\" In take of the inauguration of the country's new president and to reaffirm a commitment to the community, the King Arts Complex is offering admission to the action on a \"pay what you can\" basis. Above, dancers are Jeff Fouch, Zoe Rabinowitz, Maggie Page, Jessica McKelvey and Kristina Isabelle. Photo by Stephanie Matthews.

Notable News

The Andy Warhol exhibit at the Wexner Center continues to draw big crowds. The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) recently called the exhibit \"deeply illuminating\" and \"easily one of the major social events in river at the moment.\" Check out the exhibit before it leaves Feb 15. Upcoming events include a speech by Susan Rossi-Wilcox about a Warhol cookbook on Jan 28, the next First Sunday on Feb 1 and several closing events. Thursdays feature liberated admission 4-8 pm.

Ohio State’s Cartoon Research Library has a newborn study -- the Cartoon Library and Museum. The newborn designation comes on the heels of the acquisition of the International Museum of Cartoon Art Collection, which brings its holdings to more than 400, 000 original works of art used in its active aggregation program. The Cartoon Library and Museum is exploring options for a possible newborn positioning with museum-quality galleries and added storage for its rapidly-growing collection. (No Honest Man Need Fear Cartoons, Homer Davenport, 19th century. From RSWCGA - Richard Samuel West Collection.)

Jan 25 is the last period for the Non Fiction Design Collective aggregation Shakespeare Wooden Minnow at the politico Studio in Philadelphia. The Columbus-based agglomerated is a assemble of quaternary artists working together: Rebecca Harvey and Steve Thurston (Art) and alumni Guy Michael Davis and Katie Parker, who join forces in the creation of tableware, bricks, lighting and other objects. The show is the prototypal to come from the politico Studio's call for curatorial proposals.

Synchronous Objects Launched

It was a packed house at a symposium Apr 1 at river State celebrating the launch of the interactive web send Synchronous Objects for One Flat Thing, reproduced. The symposium featured choreographer William Forsythe and web send collaborators Maria Palazzi (ACCAD), Norah Zuniga clarinettist (Dance) and another river State researchers from a panoramic range of disciplines. It was held at the Wexner Center, concurrent with the opening of the exhibition William Forsythe: Transfigurations. The interactive web send (above), now available to the public, is the result of a multi-year cooperation with The Forsythe Company, supported in Germany, and river State. The send presents an example collection of screen-based visualizations (video, digital artwork, animation and interactive graphics) that reveal interlocking systems of organization in the choreography. It has been featured in the New York Times, the metropolis Dispatch and the online place Information Aesthetics.

Notable News

It's never hard to find things to do around the river State campus . . . but for one hebdomad in late April, there's a bounteous bunch of subject events all feat on at once! We're calling it Big Arts Week and it includes everything from a student organization-sponsored subject festival to exhibitions, a film fest, variety exhibit and the always popular OSU Jazz Festival.

Call for artists! The second annual Art Al Fresco, a day-long event in the Short North to prominence the power of open art, is seeking entries for this year's event, scheduled for Aug 15. Last year, the outdoor event drew over 10,000 people. Up to 50 artists module create temporary open art installations in outdoor venues, from parks and courtyards to rooftops and sidewalks. Applications, due May 22, are acquirable online.

Student filmmakers take note! InMyShorts.com is seeking submissions for an online film festival. Submit your work online by Apr 11 and compete with other OSU students for prizes and recognition. Top-rated films module be shown at the Landmark Gateway Theatre on Apr 11 at 7 pm. Go to the website, \"join\" the river State University group and upload your video to enter the competition. Videos must be under 10 minutes and under 50 mbs. All categories are accepted, and can be anything from empiric to musicals to Hollywood!

The media-savvy Builders Association returns to the Wexner Center Apr 16-18 for Continuous City, a exhibit that looks at how our \"networked selves\" are extended to occupy multiple locations. Sequences filmed in Columbus module be integrated in Continuous City's globe-spanning dreamscape.

FEVER

FEVER, an original musical presented by SOUTH GATE STAGE at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre, Hollywood, as part of The Festival of New American Musicals.

Written and Directed by Howard Dando

Technical Director: Steven Torres; Choreographers: Angelica Cota, Kelly Molnar, Jill Connerly, Mary Castillo, Marisol Marquez; Music Director: Allan Waddington; Vocal Director: Marisol Marquez; Video Production: Jose Makepeace; Additional Lyrics: Frank Dineen

THE AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL

Howard Dando, Producer for the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, PA.

Companies: the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Jose Limon Dance Company, Merce Cunningham and Company, Erick Hawkins Dancers and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

A year long program with six major American Dance Companies in residence for one week each, presenting workshops for intermediate and advanced dance students and peforming evenings at the Walnut Street Theatre.

THE PENNSYLVANIA BALLET

Founded by Barbara Weisberger in 1963, Pennsylvania Ballet has been in the forefront of American dance. The Company was established through a Ford Foundation grant to develop regional professional dance companies. The Company performed in the national spotlight for the first time in 1968 at City Center in New York – a highly successful debut that led to national touring, appearances on PBS' acclaimed Dance in America series, and as the official company of the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Principal Dancers: Alba Calzada, Jean Paul Comelin, Fiona Fuerstner, Keith Martin, Hilda Morales, Ross Parkes, Barbara Sandonato, Alexei Yudenich (1968 City Center)

Barbara Weisberger, Artistic Director and Founder, Bobby Rodham Resident Choreographer, Edward Caton and William Dollar, Company Teachers, Fiona Fuerstner, Ballet Mistress, Maurice Kaplow, Music Director, Jennifer Tipton, Lighting Designer, Howard Dando, General Manager

NEW WORLD BALLET

"At intermission audiences were asking whether the New World Ballet was as good as they thought it was, whether it might not in fact be better than American Ballet Theatre ... the New World Ballet was as good as a company of dancers ever gets." Marquee Magazine, Miami

"Armed with first rate-dancers and visually striking staging, the troupe established itself as an artistic force ...if there is just one lasting legacy for Miami let's hope it is the New World Ballet." Laurie Horn, Miami Herald

"An unqualified success... Miraculous" Joe Valicenti, Miami News

Howard Dando, Director; Norbert Vesak, Artistic Director; Akira Endo, Conductor; Tony Tucci, Lighting Designer; Christina Giannini, Costume Designer; and Choreographers: Lynn Seymour, Vincente Nebrada, Norbert Vesak, Valeri Panov (Photo: Peggy Cromer)

DANCERS: Cynthia Gregory, Fernando Bujones, Anthony Dowell, Evelyn Hart, Galina Panova with Naomi Sorkin, Helene Roux, Zane Wilson, Alejandro Menedez, Jim Sutton, Michel Rahn, Joanna Berman, Ralph Di Rienzo, Renee Laverdiere, Lori MacPherson, Michal Margulies, Robert Masen, Victoria Rinaldi, Sharon Solik, Richard Schlein

NEW WORLD BALLET was part of a Mobil Showcase 6 one-hour specials with Placido Domingo, Henry Moore, Moses Pendleton, Twyla Tharp and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre for the ABC- Arts and Entertainment Network

For New World Ballet and Festival DOCUMENTS (Reviews and Articles) click below:

For a short clip from the New World Ballet one hour ABC TV special click below:

DANCERS IN THE DARK

THE NOVEL...

“A fascinating romp through the dance world with cutthroat competition and lusty dancers. The pages flew by and I wished it wouldn't end.”

“An entertaining, well crafted look at the excitement, grace, glamour and underbelly of the ballet world - written by someone who knows that world intimately. Reads like a movie.”

“Anyone who has ever danced will love, hate and empathize with the characters in this gossipy, gritty, novel, and for everyone else, it's great eye-candy, a fast read and a darn good story.”

Amazon Book Reviews

Novel is available from Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Foyles of London and major book sellers throughout the world.

Click below for Video excerpts of two scenes from the novel with dancers of The Anaheim Ballet: Elan Alekzander, Vanessa Sah, Kaitlyn Jenkins, John Ayayi, Samantha Bell, Whittney Chiang, Elizabeth Herrmann, Kathleen Jenkins.

Novel now available as an EBook on KINDLE, SONY READER, SMASHWORDS, and Smartphones, PDA's, etc.

Novel available in print at Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=%22dancers+in+the+dark%22&box=%22dancers%20in%20the%20dark%22&pos=-1

Novel also available in print at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Dancers-Dark-Modernity-Howard-Dando/dp/0595178618/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217524981&sr=8-23

Selections from the the novel can be read at Amazon, Google Books, Kindle, Sony Reader, etc.

STARS OF THE AMERICAN BALLET

“A unique happening... an example of dance of a standard never seen before ... a triumph"

Alan Peterson, Dance Magazine

"America is the acknowledged center of world ballet ... Stars of the American Ballet showed how

and why." Dora Sowden, Johannesburg Star

"Excellent performance...it was marvelous!" Anna Kisselgoff, New York Times

STARS was created with a tour of South Africa, and created international headlines for being the first company to perform in front of a multi-racial audience in the history of South Africa. The company also performed the World Premier of master choreographer Anthony Tudor's 'Sunflowers' . STARS toured for six years playing to over 60 cities each year and became the most booked touring company in America.

Howard Dando, Founder and Director

Artistic Directors: Hilda Morales, Phyllis Papa, Paul Mejia, Resident Choreographer, Stephen Simmons, Resident Designer, Rick Paul

DANCERS: Fernando Bujones, Violette Verdy, Susanne Farrell, Patricia McBride, Jacques D'Amboise, Helgi Tomasson, Ted Kivett, Peter Martins, Karena Brock, Eleanor D'Antuono, Wayne Eagling, Merle Park, Merill Ashley, Allegra Kent, Kay Mazzo, Zina Bethune, Keith Martin, Hilda Morales, Marianna Tcherkassky, Cynthia Harvey, Lawrence Rhodes, Kirk Peterson, Warren Conover, Veronica Tennant, John Prinz, Anne Maria D'Angelo, Betty Chamberlain, Lynda Kuchera, Charles Maple, Phyllis Papa, George de la Pena, John Sowinski, Lisa Moon, Gigi Nachtsheim, Kimberley Pearce, Mark Mejia, Roberto Medina, Larry Hunt, Meg Gordon, Cathy Contillo, Karen Hebert, Cynthia Showalter, Barbara Weil, Roland Morrisette, Carmela Sanders, Russell Chambers, Thomas Banasiak, Sergio Cal, Manuel Urrego, Roger Rouillier, Ken Woodson, Steve Huber, James Vincent, Miguel Campaneria, Lars Rosager, Deleah Shafer.

For STARS Slide Show click below:

For Stars of the American Ballet Dance Studio interview by Howard Dando with Violette Verdy click below:

Theatre and Dance Archives

WELCOME ...

This site will present many previously unseen photos and videos, reviews and articles from Theatre and Dance productions that I have had the honor of producing or directing. Materials are archived for theatrical research for performers, directors, choreographers, designers and audiences.

If you have materials related to these productions feel free to contribute.

Thank you,

Howard