11 Dance Performances to See in December
MOMIX dancers in Light Reigns, one of many pieces being performed in the troupe’s three-week run. Photo by Charles Azzopardi
Catch MOMIX, Caleb Teicher, Nutcracker variations and more
—
New York’s dance scene doesn’t slow down for the holidays. There are end-of-the year showcases where you can catch exciting up-and-comers, a buzzy new show from tap-dancer Caleb Teicher, three weeks of MOMIX magic and two premieres at the recently opened Perelman Performing Arts Center. And don’t forget that three of our picks for November— at New York City Center, New York City Ballet’s beloved George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker and a new mounting of Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring at Park Avenue Armory—continue for a few more weeks.
If you’re a TDF member, log in to your account daily to see what we’re selling as ticket inventory changes frequently.
—
Runs December 6-10.
Catch tomorrow’s dance luminaries today at this annual showcase starring the talented students in Juilliard’s lauded dance program. Each class collaborates with a renowned choreographer on a world premiere. This year’s lineup features Lauren Lovette’s Pangaea Calling for the freshmen; Hope Boykin’s I Dare… You for second-year students; Raja Feather Kelly’s MUD | LOTUS for the juniors and Omar Román De Jesús’ EROICA for soon-to-be graduates. All four are set to music by contemporary composers. Can’t make it in person? The performance on Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. will also be live-streamed to at-home audiences on Juilliard’s website for FREE.
—
New York Live Arts, 219 West 19th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in Chelsea
Runs December 7-9. If you’re a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase discount tickets.
—
Marymount Fall Repertoire
Theresa Lang Theatre, 221 East 71st Street between Second and Third Avenues on the Upper East Side
Runs December 7-16.
—
Is It Thursday Yet?
Perelman Performing Arts Center, 251 Fulton Street at the intersection of Vesey and Greenwich Streets in the Financial District
Runs December 8-23. If you’re a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase discount tickets.
The glorious new Perelman Performing Arts Center, a cutting-edge downtown culture hub with three flexible theatres, commissioned this world premiere, co-created and co-choreographed by Jenn Freeman and Sonya Tayeh, who won a Tony Award for her work on Moulin Rouge! The Musical. A mix of movement, live music and home video footage, Is It Thursday Yet? is a compelling examination of how Freeman’s autism diagnosis at age 33 impacted her life as well as her interpretation of her childhood.
—
The March
Perelman Performing Arts Center, 251 Fulton Street at the intersection of Vesey and Greenwich Streets in the Financial District
Runs December 10-16.
—
Caleb Teicher: Bzzz
The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street in Chelsea
Runs December 12-17. If you’re a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase discount tickets.
Acclaimed tap dancer Caleb Teicher (SW!NG OUT) teams up with a pair of champion beatboxers to explore the rhythmic and sonic connections between their art forms. Teicher’s ensemble of six performs to an array of sounds conjured live by SPIDERHORSE, aka Chris Celiz and Gene Shinozaki.
—
Koma Otake: You
Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church, 131 East 10th Street between Second and Third Avenues
Runs December 14-16.
Best known for his decades of spellbinding work as part of the duo Eiko & Koma, Otake branches out on his own with the multidisciplinary You. In this solo, Otake interacts with memories, moments and objects, including his own paintings.
—
Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues on the Upper East Side
Runs December 14-17. If you’re a TDF member, log in to your account to purchase discount tickets.
Choreographer Francis Patrelle resets the classic Christmas ballet in 1895 New York City, with Clara and her Prince dancing through historic landmarks such as Gracie Mansion, the Crystal Palace in the New York Botanical Garden and Central Park. New York City Ballet’s Miriam Miller and Tyler Angle appear as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, while Ballet Academy East students fill out many roles.
—
Graham 2 Holiday Event
The Graham Studio Theater at Westbeth, 55 Bethune Street between West and Washington Streets in the West Village
Runs December 15-16.
Graham 2, the performing ensemble of the Martha Graham School, presents a festive sampler of solos and excerpts from more than five decades of the famed choreographer’s repertory. The students are joined by participants in the Teens@Graham program, and former company member Jesse Factor embodies the great lady herself, offering humorous guidance through her career highlights.
—
The Bang Group: Nut/Cracked
Kaufmann Concert Hall at 92NY, 1395 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street on the Upper East Side
Runs December 16.
David Parker’s whimsical deconstruction of the Tchaikovsky ballet is not for purists. He takes a playful approach to this old chestnut filled with tap, disco and vaudeville performed to jazzy arrangements of the score by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller and Fred Waring. The matinee is followed by a family-friendly party in a winter wonderland setting. Can’t make it in person? Starting December 17, you can stream it for 72 hours.
—
MOMIX
The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street in Chelsea
Runs December 19-January 7, 2024.
MOMIX, the ensemble of daredevil dancer-athletes who bring Moses Pendleton’s fantastical imagination to life, comes to the Joyce for an extended engagement featuring highlights from the troupe’s 40-plus-year run. Prepare to be amazed and mesmerized.
—
TDF MEMBERS: Go here to browse our latest discounts for dance, theatre and concerts.
Susan Reiter covers dance for TDF Stages.