NYS Music 202​2

Tag: ualbany

  • Dance In Albany Starts Off The New Year With Bay Area Company

    The performing arts centers at the University of Albany and The Egg present ODC/Dance in the 2023 Dance in Albany series. Having recently celebrated its 50-year anniversary, this San Francisco-based ensemble is scheduled to perform on Friday, January 27th at 7:30pm at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center. 

    The Paul Taylor Dance Company will perform March 4, 2023, at The Egg in Albany as part of the seventh Dance in Albany season, co-presented by The Egg and the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.  

    ODC/Dance was one of the first American companies to incorporate a post-modern sensibility into a virtuosic contemporary dance technique. Since founded in 1971 by Artistic Director Brenda Way, the company has performed for more than a million people in 32 states and 11 countries.   

    MOMIX will perform at The Egg in Albany on Oct. 6, 2022, as part of the seventh Dance in Albany season, co-presented by The Egg and the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.

    According to Dance Magazine, “…the major reason to celebrate ODC is its artistic achievements… Over the years, this body of work has become formally more sophisticated without losing its humanistic principals and questioning spirit…” 

    Savion Glover will perform April 22, 2023, at The Egg in Albany as part of the seventh Dance in Albany season, co-presented by The Egg and the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.
    Savion Glover will perform April 22, 2023, at The Egg in Albany as part of the seventh Dance in Albany season, co-presented by The Egg and the University at Albany Performing Arts Center.

    The company will perform three different works on the program. The first being Two if by Sea which is choregraphed by Associate Choreographer Kimi Okada. This dance set explores a couple’s secret language and signals which become increasingly imperative and urgent as their world changes. The dance is accompanied by music from Ijo Ito and Steve Riech. 

    The next show performed is called Unintended Consequences (A Meditation) and is choreography by Artistic Director Brenda Way. This dance originally premiered in 2008 and is set to music by renowned performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson. Commissioned by the Equal Justice Society, this work in particular “offers a cutting critique of human relationships, and of how easily we become isolated,” stated by The New York Times.  

    Originally created for Robert Moses’ Kin in 2014, the last show preformed in called Impulse. This show celebrates “individuality, physicality and ferocity of movement.” The piece was nominated for an Izzie award for outstanding choreography, along with featuring music by Someone Else & Miskate. Izzies are bestowed from the Isadora Duncan Dance Awards program which celebrates the unique richness, diversity, and excellence of Bay Area dance. 

    “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to collaborate with the UAlbany Performing Arts Center and ODC/Dance,” says Dance Department Chair Sarah DiPasquale. “To be a part of the creation of a new work with two prolific American choreographers as an undergraduate student is a once in a lifetime experience — And culminating in a public performance with a professional dance company is icing on the cake! We are so appreciative for the robust learning opportunities that this collaboration has produced for the Skidmore dancers.” 

    Remaining performances in the Dance in Albany series include: 

    New York Theatre Ballet with Bridgman|Packer Dance (February 17) 

    Paul Taylor Dance Company (March 4) 

    Dublin Irish Dance (March 18) 

    Savion Glover (April 22) 

    Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company (May 13). 

    Advance tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for students, seniors, and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Tickets purchased on the day of the show are $20 for the general public and $15 for students, seniors, and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Individual tickets can be purchased on the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s by clicking the link here. 

  • Celebration of Hmong Culture at UAlbany Continues with “The Latehomecomer”

    From Monday, October 24, to Friday, November 4, 2022, A Celebration of Hmong Culture Through the Arts is being presented through the collaboration of The UAlbany Performing Arts Center and New York State Writers Institute. The multi-series event is focusing on Hmong culture and history, with an emphasis on Kao Kalia Yang’s memoir, The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir.

    The Latehomecomer hmong culture
    Gaosung Heu in The Latehomecomer

    Through the collaboration of the Hmong Museum in Minnesota with UAlbany, there will be a display of Hmong story/flower clothes, known as Paj ntaub, presented throughout the course of the entire event, from 11am to 4pm, during the weekdays. The material of these intricate textiles are a significant aspect of Hmong culture, particularly the variety and quality of the content integrated on the story clothes, which helps provide a broader understanding of Hmong tradition.

    The Latehomecomer hmong culture
    ‘Crossing the Mekong River’ Story Clothe

    The documentary Being Hmong Means Being Free that was screened on Thurs., Oct. 27, at 4:30pm, which frames a lens of modern-day Hmong life in America through the perspective of program host, Lia Vang, centers around a Hmong immigrant community in Wisconsin. The film further examines concepts rooted in ancient Hmong culture and provides a connection to how these traditions have progressively shaped the Hmong community, and also looks at the challenges in Hmong life during contemporary times.

    Secondly, a duo-performance of the Literature to Life stage adaptation of The Latehomecomer is set to happen at the Performing Art Center. On Thurs., Nov. 3, a pre-talk show will be presented at 7pm, prior to the public performance starting at 7:30pm, following a second part of the performance on Fri., Nov. 4 at 10am, which is solely for high school students.

    Directed by Elise Thoron, The Latehomecomer this theatre work starts as author Kao Kalia Yang is born in the Ban Vinai Refugee camp in Thailand and eventually arrives in the United States.  The book and stage presentation follow her journey from a quiet, reticent student struggling to speak English while facing racial discrimination to a self-empowered young woman claiming her voice to tell the untold story of her people. They tell a universal story of immigration through the specific lens of this ancient culture inextricably bound to the history of the war in Vietnam.

    Driven to share her family’s history after her grandmother’s death, The Latehomecomer is an eloquent, firsthand account of a people who have worked hard to make their voices heard. In search of a place to call home, thousands of Hmong families made the journey from the war-torn jungles of Laos to the overcrowded refugee camps of Thailand, finally emigrating to America. Winner of a PEN USA Literary Award for Nonfiction and Readers Choice Award, The Latehomecomer is the first memoir written by a Hmong-American to be published with national distribution. A Hmong written language was not taught or used until the 1950s so the author plays a significant role in bringing the culture into the realm of literature.

    The Latehomecomer is performed by Gaosong Heu, a performance artist, musician, vocalist, published writer, educator, arts administrator and entrepreneur based in Saint Paul, MN. She received her B.A. in Theater Arts from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and her Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Columbia University. Gaosong has over 15 years of training in Western Classical music, as well as training in traditional styles of Hmong folk music.

    There will be a public performance at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 7:30pm, preceded by a pre-show talk beginning at 7pm. A second performance will take place on Friday, November 4, 2022 at 10am exclusively for high school student groups. 

    Advance tickets for the public performance are $15 for the general public and $10 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Tickets purchased on the day of the show (pending availability) are $20 for the general public and $15 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Individual tickets can be purchased on the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s site at www.albany.edu/pac.

    Admission to the morning matinee is free for high school student groups. Reservations are required. Educators wishing to bring groups can contact the UAlbany Performing Arts Center office at (518) 442-3995 or PAC@albany.edu.  Home school students and parents are also welcome.

  • Flamenco Rhythms Performance to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at UAlbany PAC

    In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts on Thursday, September 15th, the UAlbany Performing Arts Center presents Flamenco Rhythms. The show will be held on Wednesday, September 28th, at 7:30pm on the UAlbany campus located at 1400 Washington Avenue. The program features virtuoso guitarist Maria Zemantauski, percussionist Brian Melick, and dancer La Nina. 

    musician with guitar, dancer with shawl, musician with drum

    Guitarist and composer Maria Zemantauski is one of the world’s few heralded female flamenco-style guitarists and one of even fewer female flamenco composers. She is a nylon-string guitarist and composer whose style is influenced by a variety of musical genres, most notably, Spanish classical and flamenco.

    Flamenco Rhythms Performance at UAlbany Performing Arts Center for Hispanic Heritage Month 9/15

    She has performed Flamenco Rhythms in Spain, Italy and across the continental United States to great acclaim. By embracing the classical and traditional flamenco repertoire for her foundation, she takes her audience on a musical journey inspired by her flair for experimentation and pure love of the instrument. Zemantauski’s relationship with the UAlbany Performing Arts Center goes back to 2012 when she was involved in the first residency by NYC-based Flamenco Vivo at the venue. 

    Flamenco Rhythms Performance at UAlbany Performing Arts Center for Hispanic Heritage Month 9/15

    Musician, educator, author and designer Brian Melick has been professionally involved in music since the early age of 13. He is a featured recording artist on over 400 commercially released recordings on independent as well as major labels in addition to his seven solo projects. Melick is a highly active drummer performing locally as well as around the United States and Canada.

    Lastly, La Nina is a native of Colombia who studied flamenco in Spain at the Academia de Flamenco de Mariquilla and in New York City with master teachers Jose Molina, Jorge Navarro and Mariano Parra.

    Admission to the Flamenco Rhythms performance is free. No reservations or tickets are required.  For further information, contact the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s main office at (518) 442-3995 or click the link here. 

  • UAlbany Performing Arts Center Announces Performances for 2022-23

    The UAlbany Performing Arts Center has announced its 2022-23 season performance schedule including the previously announced Dance in Albany and Creative Life series, spotlighting local artists, events celebrating Hmong culture and other diverse touring artists’ performances.

    Godspell at Univeristy at Albany

    A local trio consisting of flamenco guitarist Maria Zemantauski, dancer La Nina and percussionist Brian Melick will perform Flamenco Rhythms on September 28 to celebrate of National Hispanic Heritage month. The guitarist and dancer will also offer Tacones y Manos Calientes on September 29 & 30 for high school student groups.

    In October, Captial Trio, UAlbany’s ensemble-in-residence will offer two programs on October 25th to celebrate its 25th anniversary. They will also offer high school student groups Life Hacks: Classical Music Edition, as well a public concert. On February 8 & 9, there will be several screenings of The immersive film a love letter to Brian, Lesley and Michelle will be screening in Februrary. Director and Skidmore College faculty member Hettie Barnhill will lead a discussion after each of the screenings. Original contemporary Iran play White Rabbit, Red Rabbit will perform in March to clebrate the World Theater Day.

    In late October and early November, the project Celebrating Hmong Culture through the Arts will take place. It includes Paj ntaub in cooperation with the Hmong Museum in St. Paul from October 24 through November 4, Hmong culture film Being Hmong Means Being Free, and a Literature to Life verbatim stage adaptation The Latehomecomer.

    More music performances will also be held in this season. UAlbany Physics professor Keith Earle and local choreographer Ellen Sinopoli will collaborate on the ChoreoPhysics: Demonstrating Concepts through Dance the PAC’s annual artist-in-residence exchange program will host the Stockton Chamber Players on February 22.

    Other fascinating performances such as Pang!, the triptych of live radio plays by Dan Froot and Company which involved a forest of microphones, sound effects, props and musical instruments. Selected Shorts, Public Radio International’s wildly popular series and podcast, will be offered on April 29 as a unique evening of literature in performance.

    Tickets for those events with admission charges can be purchased through the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s web site at www.albany.edu/pac.

    Schedule for UAlbany Performing Arts Center 2022-23 season

    Urban Bush Women – 9.20 & 9.21 7:30pm
    Urban Bush Women lec/dem for high school student groups- 9.21 10am
    Flamenco Rhythms – 9.28 7:30pm
    Tacones y Manos Calientes for high school student groups -9.29&9.30 10am
    MOMIX at The Egg – 10.6 7:30pm
    The Creative Life: A Conversation with Lucy Sante – 10.18 7pm
    Limón Dance Company – 10.21 8pm
    Display of Paj ntaub (Hmong story cloths) – 10/24 thru 11/4 various
    Life Hacks: Classical Music Edition for high school student groups – 10.25 10am
    Capital Trio – 10.25 7:30pm
    Being Hmong Means Being Free – 10.27 4:30pm
    The Latehomecomer – 11.3 7:30pm
    The Latehomecomer for high school student groups – 11.4 10am
    ChoreoPhysics for high school student groups – 11.9 10am
    La Serpiente – 11.13 7:30pm
    The Creative Life: A Conversation with Maira Kalman – 11.16 7pm
    ODC/Dance – 1.27 7:30pm
    a love letter to Brian, Lesley and Michelle for high school student groups – 2.8&2.9 10am
    a love letter to Brian, Lesley and Michelle – 2.9 7:30pm
    New York Theatre Ballet with Bridgman|Packer Dance – 2.17 8pm
    Stockton Chamber Players – 2.22 7:30pm
    Paul Taylor Dance Company – 3.4 8pm
    Dublin Irish Dance – 3.18 7:30pm
    White Rabbit, Red Rabbit – 3.26 7:30pm
    White Rabbit, Red Rabbit for high school student groups 3.27 10am
    Pang! for high school student groups – 4.20&4.21 10am
    Pang! – 4.20&4.21 7:30pm
    SaViON GLOVeR and The CeLeBRaTeD ORCHeST’DaNCE RA – 4.22 8pm
    Selected Shorts – 4.29 7:30pm
    Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company – 5.13 8pm

  • Sonia Manzano, “Maria” From Sesame Street, Will Make Two Appearances at UAlbany This Weekend

    Update 4/28: Due to illness, Sonia Manzano will not be appearing at UAlbany on Saturday, April 30, 2022 as previously planned. The 4pm Creative Life Conversation at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center for which Manzano was to be the guest is canceled.The 7:30pm performance of Selected Shorts will take place as planned at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center. Actors Patricia Kalember (The Tick) and Bhavesh Patel (The Good Wife) will be joined by a third actor to be named shortly who will replace Manzano.

    Sonia Manzano who, for almost five decades played Maria on Sesame Street, will make two appearances at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center this week, both on Saturday, April 30th.

    Sonia Manzano

    Manzano’s first appearance will be at 4 PM, where she will be the final guest of The Creative Life: A Conversation Series at UAlbany. Here, Manzano will discuss her creativity, craft, and career with host Joe Donahue from WAMC. This event will be free and open to the public. No tickets or reservations will be required.

    Her second appearance will then be at 7:30 PM. Here, Manzano will be participating in a series called Selected Shorts. Selected Shorts is a series in which prominent creatives read classic and new works of fiction. Manzano will be reading alongside Patricia Kalember, famous for her role in Sisters, and Bhavesh Patel.

    Sonia Manzano
    Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

    Sonia Manzano will read a special selection of brand-new work by authors Carmen Maria Machado, Jess Walter, Jenny Allen, Etgar Keret, and Lauren Groff commissioned for the 35th anniversary of Selected Shorts.

    Tickets are still available and are $10-$15 in advance and $15-$20 on the day of the show through the UAlbany Performing Art Center’s box office at (518) 442-3997 or tickets@albany.edu.

  • Blind Visionaries, Combining Live Jazz And Painting, Coming to UAlbany Performing Arts Center in February

    A new art exhibit opens at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center. Blind Visionaries is a visual and musical installation that combines images from blind photographers and live jazz. The performance will be on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center. 

    The photographers are from a New York City based group called the Seeing with Photography Collective. They use a new method of painting referred to as “light painting” which they will perform in a concert with a live jazz band. Their work is being published in the book Shooting Blind by Aperture. 

    At the event itself a voice narration from the members of the collective guides the participants through the same artistic process. At the same time, their photographs are projected on the walls to create a connection between the visual and musical. 

    The musical accompaniment is courtesy of Daniel Kelly. The long time composer and performer, who even worked with Lauryn Hill in the past, will be playing with his band the Danny Kelly Trio. 

    The group also features Adam Coté on bass and Bram Kincheloe on drums. In addition to the Feb. 3 performance Blind Visionaries will host a free show for high school students on Feb 4. Free reservations at the Performing Arts Center website. 

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