Guest Post: Join Us for the Final Evening of BP Modern Dance

Today, three striking and athletic dance companies perform in the finale of this year’s Bryant Park Presents Modern Dance. To celebrate the close of another great series of performances, Daniel Gwirtzman, director and choreographer of Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, describes his dancers’ preparations and excitement for the event.

Friday will mark the fourth Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company (DGDC) performance in Bryant Park, and we are sharing many audience favorites from our diverse repertory. These dances, all accessible, theatrical, musical and colorful, have all enjoyed many performances throughout the years. The program, which combines ten dances in thirty minutes, has never been performed in New York.

Dancers practice lifts in advance of today's performance. 

As a repertory company, we strive to maintain detail-oriented and intricate choreographies despite rotating casts of dancers. Throughout the rehearsal process, the lively energy of the movement vocabulary allows each group of dancers to form a welcoming camaraderie with each other despite their various dance backgrounds.

I am excited to announce that long-time dancer Stacy Martorana will join the ranks for Friday’s program (courtesy of Mark Morris Dance Group). Stacy has danced with DGDC since 2006 and has made important contributions to the legacy and history of the company. To be able to dance with her again is pure joy.

Rehearsal, shot from a high angle. 

I know how eager the dancers are to perform these works in Bryant Park, and I wanted to include a few of their comments as well:

From Aslan Rolston: “Today was a very exciting day in the studio. The energy is there, and it's revitalizing! Daniel's work has a layer of challenges but is always met with time, patience, and persistence. I'm really happy to have the chance to learn all of this new repertory.”

From Jeff Davis: “Olympiad is a really challenging, fast and dynamic dance and it has been a great way to fire back into Daniel's style. And I’m very excited to perform in Bryant Park. What a fabulous location to dance!”

Dancers clap after a smooth rehearsal.

From Simone Stevens: “The Summertime Suite embodies Daniel’s choreographic aesthetic: quick-paced and dynamic, and also intricate and original. When the company is together it is such a new and exciting adventure for us all.”

We hope you will come see what all the fun is about!

Bryant Park Presents Modern Dance
Fridays, June 19 - July 10
6pm - 8pm
Bryant Park Stage
#bpmoderndance