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The Best Dance Shows This Fall in NYC

From the New York City Ballet to the Broadway greats, New York City is home to some of the world’s most incredible dance offerings. Here are our picks of what performances and discussions to see this fall to get your dance fix.

Serenade

A scene from NYCB's production of Serenade. Photo: Paul Kolnik

Ballet fans, of course, always know to head to Lincoln Center, where the New York City Ballet will kick off their fall season on September 20. Their season will include such classic Balanchine works as Firebird, Jewels, Stars and Stripes, and Serenade, along with a program of new works by 21st Century Choreographers. In October, American Ballet Theatre will then take over the David H. Koch Theatre for their fall season, which will run from October 19-30. Included in their season are the pieces Prodigal Son; a world premiere by choreographer Jessica Lang; and Symphonic Variations, which will feature ballet superstar Misty Copeland.

But that’s not the only dance taking place at Lincoln Center this fall. To mark the 15th anniversary of September 11, Dance/NYC and Buglisi Dance Theatre will once again partner to present the 6th annual presentation of The Table of Silence Project 9/11. Taking place in the public space of Lincoln Center Plaza, the ceremonial performance brings together 100+ dancers and musicians for a ritual of spiritual peace and healing, choreographed by Jacqulyn Buglisi and collaborator artist Rossella Vasta. For those who can’t make it to Lincoln Center in person for the performance, which will take place at 8:15 AM on September 11th, the performance will also be streamed online at tableofslience.org.

Another annual dance event to look forward to each fall is City Center’s Fall for Dance festival, which features five different programs of works by choreographers and companies from all over the world. Participants in this year’s festival, which will run from September 26 – October 8, include tapper Ayodele Casel, Nederlands Dance Theater, Hong Kong Ballet, and world premieres of new pieces by STREB Extreme Action and British choreographer Wayne MacGregor, whose piece will be performed by renowned ballet dancers Alessandra Ferri and Herman Cornejo. City Center’s dance-filled fall season will also include three programs from Damian Woetzel’s Vail International Dance Festival (November 3-6) and Russian ballerina Natalia Osipova & Artists (November 10-12).

NY Quadrille  

NY Quadrille. Photo: Len Prince 

New York City’s other major home for dance is The Joyce Theater, whose fall dance offerings will include NY Quadrille (September 27-October 9), which will transform the Joyce and feature programs by four contemporary choreographers that span all four sides of the theater; Danish Dance Theatre (October 13-16), Denmark’s leading contemporary dance company; Paris-based choreographer Jérôme Bel (October 20-22); and renowned contemporary company Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company (October 25-November 6). 

To experience a wide range of performances throughout the city, check out the public events by the CUNY Dance Initiative, a residency program for dancers and companies by the City University of New York. Companies performing this fall as part of the initiative include Caleb Teicher & Company (September 29), who blend traditional American dance forms ranging from contemporary to tap; tap company Apartment33 (September 30); and Dzul Dance (September 24), who blend dance with aerial and circus arts. Jazz dance fans, meanwhile, can check out the New York Jazz Choreography Project’s fall program. Taking place on October 22 and 23, the performance includes pieces by choreographers and companies that span all styles of jazz, from musical theatre and swing dance to contemporary jazz.

Over on the Upper East Side, the famed Harkness Center for Dance at the 92nd Street Y will continue its dance programming this fall with its Dig Dance series of dance performance weekends. The series will include performances by Flamenco performer Belén Maya, a selection of several Korean male choreographers, and Christopher Caines Dance, whose immersive two-act ballet will be inspired by 92Y’s beautiful Buttenweiser Hall. For those looking to hear from dancers, as well as watch them perform, the Harkness Center will also continue their Fridays at Noon series of discussions and performances this fall, with sessions focusing on Flamenco dance; the male dancer and choreographer; Jean Erdman, a dancer and choreographer who explored mythical themes with her husband Joseph Campbell; and tap dancer Kazu Kumagai.

 Works & Process

The Guggenheim's Works & Process series returns this fall. Photo: Guggenheim Museum

A few blocks away, the iconic Guggenheim Museum will present their own behind-the-scenes look through their Works and Process series, which will return this fall with several dance-based discussions and performances. Audiences can look forward to programs by contemporary company Kate Weare Company (September 18); Jonah Bokaer and Daniel Arsham’s Rules of the Game (October 31), which features an original score by Pharrell Williams; dancers and choreographers from Juilliard (November 20); and innovative Dutch company Nederlands Dans Theater (November 15). 

About the Author

Alison Durkee is a New York-based arts journalist and critic with a background in theatre and dance. She currently serves as the Features Editor of London theatre website Everything Theatre and also covers news and politics for Mic.com.

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