Carolyn Kelemen

‘Fortune’s Child’ at Baltimore Theatre Project

For the world premiere of Mark Scharf’s play, Fortune’s Child, the weather outside Baltimore’s Theatre Project was, indeed, “frightful,” yet inside the historic 1887 building, the atmosphere,...

Ballet West’s ‘The Nutcracker’ at The Kennedy Center

Ballet West blends old & new in holiday classic Remember the way the holiday season used to make you feel? Remember walking around full of expectation, certain that wonderful, impossible, magical...

A Duo of Dance and Comedy: Arts Collective @ HCC’s ‘Hallow-Scream’ and Washington Ballet’s ‘Petite Mort’

The late Alan M. Kriegsman once told dance critics at a conference that a “laundry list” of reviews should be avoided at all costs. With apologizes to Mike (who was a dear friend and colleague),...

‘Beijing Dance Theater’ at The Kennedy Center

Chinese dancers meander through the grass without a GPS It can be a long ride home to Baltimore from the Kennedy Center, especially on a rainy night. After last evening’s Wild Grass presentation by...

‘Chéri’ at The Kennedy Center

Revisiting Chéri – and a Baltimore visionary The venerable Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts turned avant-garde last night with the return of modern dance maven, Martha Clark, and her latest (and...

It’s a Bittersweet Homecoming for ‘Evita’ Stars Sean MacLaughlin (Juan Peron) and Caroline Bowman (Evita)

It’s a bittersweet homecoming for Evita stars The final stop on the Evita tour at The Kennedy Center is bittersweet for hometown stars, Sean MacLaughlin (Juan Peron) and Caroline Bowman (Evita). Both...

Charm City Welcomes Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Theater

Monday morning’s ribbon cutting ceremony at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s (CSC) new digs in downtown Baltimore was unique. No phony large scissors but rather a Lieutenant Governor wielding a...

‘Face of America’ with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Band of Horses, and Oregon Ballet Theatre at Wolf Trap

Dancers face the wilderness in Pacific Northwest Celebration at Wolf Trap. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a lovely place to spend a late summer evening. The setting is serene, and...

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘The Adventures of Tapman’

(The Best of the Capital Fringe) The Tap Dance Kid meets Batman with some fancy footwork Ratta-ta-tap. The masked man moves across the floor. A-shoom, he leaps into the air. His fluid arms and legs...

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘Song of Myself: The Whitman Project’

(Best of the Capital Fringe) Robert Michael Oliver is a tour-de-force in his one-man show It’s got to be tough to do a solo show, opening night at 9 p.m. on a sultry summer night, but remarkable,...

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘The Hello Girls: Unknown Heroines of WWI’

(Best of the Capital Fringe) Ellouise Schoettler enlightens us in her one-woman show. US history provided little to inform us about the role of women in “The Great War.” However, Ellouise Schoettler...

Preview: Pennsylvania Ballet Brings A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ to The Kennedy Center

A few years ago the dance planners at The Kennedy Center came up with a terrific idea: Invite nine regional ballet companies to perform one special work in three separate concerts, held towards the...

The Bolshoi Ballet’s ‘Giselle’ at The Kennedy Center

The Bolshoi sweeps into The Kennedy Center with dreamy ‘Giselle’: Catching up with ballet’s romantic masterwork Any time you have David Hallberg on a ballet bill, you are guaranteed a sellout. Better...

The National Symphony Orchestra: ‘New Moves Symphony + Dance: From Schuman to Bernstein’

New Moves: symphony + dance delights both dance fans and music aficionados. Give a MacArthur “Genius” award to the person who came up with the idea to merge music and dance in the National Symphony...

American Ballet Theatre at The Kennedy Center

A trio of new and old works prove American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is A-ok and it felt like William Shakespeare was smiling in the dark when the American Ballet Theatre presented Frederick Ashton’s The...

New York City Ballet’s ‘Jewels’ at The Kennedy Center

NYCB shows its ballet gems at the Kennedy Center Be still my heart. The New York City Ballet is back at the Kennedy Center, and best of all, dancing Jewels, George Balanchine’s full-length classic...

Local Dancers Shake Off the Winter Blahs as Arts Collective Dance Company (ACDC) Presents Concert on March 6-8th by Carolyn Kelemen

Local dancers shake off the winter blahs Even people who don’t normally like modern dance love watching the works of Joan Nicholas-Walker. There’s something very smart and seductive about the way she...

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ‘Program A’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Alvin Ailey American Dance Celebrates Rich Heritage at the Kennedy Center Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater “came home” to the Kennedy Center last night, dancing a program of familiar works, a true...

The Washington Ballet’s ‘Blues/Jazz Project’ at Sydney Harman Hall by Carolyn Kelemen

DC Ballet shakes up expectations Yes, even classical ballerinas let their hair down once in a while. They relish tossing off those stiff upper body movements and tapping their feet to a syncopated...

Mariinsky Ballet’s ‘Swan Lake’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Swooning over the first “Swan” Like those fabled swallows renowned for returning to Capistrano each spring, swans settle regularly in our area this time of year. Back in the heyday of classical ballet...

Tonight at 7:30 PM: ‘A Labor of Love’ Silver Anniversary Cabaret at Howard Community College by Carolyn Kelemen

TONIGHT at 7:30 PM at Howard Community College’s Smith Theatre A Labor of Love’s A Silver Anniversary Cabaret will star local and Broadway stars who are there to raise money for the Emergency Fund of...

‘A Labor of Love’ Silver Anniversary Cabaret Tomorrow Night-December 2nd at 7:30 PM at Howard Community College to Raise Money for the Emergency Fund of AIDS Alliance of Howard County by Carolyn Kelemen

Tomorrow night at 7:30 PM at Howard Community College’s Smith Theatre A Labor of Love’s A Silver Anniversary Cabaret will star local and Broadway stars who are there to raise money for the Emergency...

Matthew Bourne’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Bourne takes a big bite out of ballet tradition in his Gothic Fairy Tale ‘Sleeping Beauty.’ There are many descriptive words to describe Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty at The Kennedy Center through...

Suzanne Farrell Ballet at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Farrell gets good times rolling at The Kennedy Center Hold onto your hat and step lively. The ballet season at The Kennedy Center finally gets into the gusty days of fall with a whirlwind of activity....

‘David Dorfman Dance: Come, and Back Again’ at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Dorfman mines comic gold in his junkyard dance Anyone who ever yawned through a pretentious ballet or heaved a sign of relief when a particularly ominous modern dance finally ended can breathe a bit...

‘Giselle’ at The Washington Ballet by Carolyn Kelemen

The Washington Ballet gave us the willies in a haunting production of Giselle on All Hallow’s Eve. Dressed in midnight black, artistic director Septime Webre bounded onto The Kennedy Center stage just...

An Interview with Jason Downs on ‘Why I Am Not Famous?’ at Howard Community College This Friday and Saturday 10/11&12@8 pm by Carolyn Kelemen

Multi-talented Jason Downs deliberates ‘Why Am I Not Famous?’ Howard County Community College alum/actor/singer recently discussed his touring production of Why Am I Not Famous,” slated at HCC’s...

Capital Fringe Review: ‘They Call Me Q!’ by Carolyn Kelemen

Qurrat Ann Kadwani is a tour-de-force in her one-woman show It’s got to be tough to do a solo show, opening night at 10 p.m. on a sultry summer night, but remarkable, energetic, and seemingly tireless...

Capital Fringe Review: ‘Romeo and Juliet’ by Carolyn Kelemen

‘A Romeo to die for’ Be still my heart! On a sultry summer night, just like Juliet (a feisty Raven Bonniwell), this writer fell in love with Romeo (Sean Huddock) in the We Happy Few production of...

Capital Fringe Review: ‘Madam Ambassador’ by Carolyn Kelemen

Madam Ambassador offers inside-the-beltway humor It helps if you are a “political junkie” or, at least, up to date on our State Department appointments to fully appreciate Madam Ambassador, a...

Capital Fringe Review: ‘heady collectables’ by Carolyn Kelemen

Don’t turn your head away from ‘heady collectables’ or you’ll miss some terrific dancing Here’s a “heads-up” on a not-to-be-missed show during the Capital Fringe Festival. Head on over to the GALA...

Ballet Across America III-Program C by Carolyn Kelemen

Ballet Across America III-Program C: As American As Apple Pie Hoist the flags. Toss the balloons. Throw some confetti, too. The third installment of Ballet Across America III (wrapping up at The...

‘Ballet Across America III-Program B’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Ballet Across America III-Program B: Cheers for the Home team, the Washington Ballet While George Balanchine was again celebrated in Ballet Across America III at The Kennedy Center Opera House, last...

‘Ballet Across America III-Program A’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Ballet Across America III-Program A: Opening Night: A Trio of Top Troupes Takes The Stage For the return of Ballet Across America at The Kennedy Center Opera House, last night’s audience included...

‘Hemingway: The Sun Also Rises’ at The Washington Ballet at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Whisk mom to the Washington Ballet for a heady trip of Hemingway Forget flowers. Candy is passé. What most mothers want on their special day is to be taken someplace special. This weekend you couldn’t...

Meredith Monk at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Meredith Monk: shaking off the old notions It’s often difficult to shake off the pre-conceived notions and expectations of what a particular dance concert is going to be like. I am not exactly clear...

American Ballet Theatre’s ‘Le Corsaire’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

American Ballet Theatre puts on a swashbuckling show at the Kennedy Center The American Ballet Theatre, currently dancing at the Kennedy Center, turned 75 in 2012, which is a remarkable achievement no...

American Ballet Theatre Mixed Repertory Program at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

ABT springs into dance Perhaps it was the blossoming cherry blossoms nearby. Or the promise of full spring which always brings a fresh look to art. Or that we’re so hungry for dance that takes us to...

Remembering Carol Bartlett By Carolyn Kelemen

Dancers gather to celebrate Carol Bartlett, her life and legacy. Most college and prep school dance concerts serve both as a showcase for the dancers and a homecoming. Last Sunday evening, however,...

The New York City Ballet Comes to The Kennedy Center 3/26-31 & Interview with Dana Jacobson by Carolyn Kelemen

Do I hear a waltz? A waltz is a waltz is a waltz unless, of course, it’s the New York City Ballet dancing the beautiful Vienna Waltzes this weekend at The Kennedy Center. Then it’s something special!...

Helen Hayes Nominees Partied Hardy and a Visit with Nominees Toby Orenstein & Larry Munsey by Carolyn Kelemen

The snowy rain throughout DC last night hardly dampened the warm, friendly spirit of theater folks gathered in the Hamilton Hotel’s chic downstairs lounge a la cabaret. The cozy room (with a stage and...

Arts Collective @ HCC Dancers Showcase Their Talent Tonight @8 and Tomorrow @3 by Carolyn Kelemen

College dance concerts are always a fun place for brushing up on modern currents in the art, but spring semester programs are often a pure delight. They represent the culmination of eight months’ work...

Arts Collective @ HCC Dancers Showcase Their Talent This Thursday Through Sunday by Carolyn Kelemen

College dance concerts are always a fun place for brushing up on modern currents in the art, but spring semester programs are often a pure delight. They represent the culmination of eight months’ work...

‘Stars and Stripes: Tour-de-Force’ at The Washington Ballet at Sydney Harman Hall by Carolyn Kelemen

The Saturday matinee performance of Stars and Stripes: Tour-de-Force was, indeed, a tour de force for The Washington Ballet, the dancers, choreographers, and anyone else who had a part in this lively...

Bill T. Jones and Anne Bogart’s ‘A Rite’ at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Just when you think there’s nothing new under the sun, leave it to MacArthur Genius award-winner Bill T. Jones to find a new outlet for his creative talents. And a new term, “dacting,” dance and...

‘Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Watching Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform is a spiritual experience. Beauty, power, and strength reach out from the stage to grab hold of an audience. Now, more than ever, it’s time to...

National Ballet of Canada’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Canadian dancers chase away winter blahs Washington area folks are dealing with the winter doldrums and the concern about RGIII’s surgically repaired knee. If you’re looking for some daylight, hurry...

‘Cinderella’ Comes to Hippodrome Theatre Tomorrow Night at 7:30 PM & 2 PM on Saturday by Carolyn Kelemen

Russians return with beloved classic What is it about Russian dance that makes it so difficult to describe its virtues? Those four syllable names? The technique that Pavlova once danced? The drama of...

‘Fiesta de los Reyes Magos/The Three Kings Day Celebration’ at Gala Hispanic Theatre by Carolyn Kelemen

Three kings, a live donkey and dancers galore add up to a GALA DC celebration Since the annual Fiesta de los Reyes Magos/The Three Kings Day Celebration has become so popular in the DC’s...

The Best of 2012: Part 1: ‘Dance Memories, 10 Favorites of 2012’ by Carolyn Kelemen

Alicia’s star still shines the brightest Off stage, she is a stunning five foot 10 inch woman with incredibly long arms and legs that go on seemingly forever. When she dances, she stretches her...