In January, children (and families) can get moving during the Ailey Extension Winter/Spring Kids & Teens Sunday Dance series. This Dance...
In January, children (and families) can get moving during the Ailey Extension Winter/Spring Kids & Teens Sunday Dance series. This Dance series is designed to help children get moving and learn the healthy habit of exercising at an early age while having fun.
photo credit: Teen Broadway Jazz at Ailey Extension. Photo by Kyle Froman
The Ailey Extension 16-week session runs Sundays from January 12 – May 10 and offers movement classes for 2-year-old children and their parents; hip hop classes for school-age kids; and ballet, jazz and hip hop courses for teenagers.
Parents/caregivers can join their 2-year-olds at Tiny Steps and encourage toddlers as they develop body awareness and practice creative movement while grade school children who love to move can practice confidence as they learn the fundamentals of hip hop with their age group and meet new friends.
Small children ages 5-7 will exercise basic body isolations, vocabulary, performance quality, and choreography in Hip Hop Moves;
While kids ages 8-11 can focus on the most popular dance moves of the day as they develop coordination and precision while building self-esteem in Hip Hop 4 Kids.
Teens can explore different dance techniques and sharpen their skills in a judgment-free zone as they practice hip-hop, ballet, and/or jazz.
Teen Hip Hop allows teens to learn classic party dance moves and the urban style of dance featured in today’s popular music culture.
Teen Ballet creates an encouraging environment for students to develop technique, flexibility and coordination through combinations.
Teen Broadway Jazz lets students explore the rich diversity of Broadway and the styles of jazz in a welcoming high energy class.
Kids & Teens Sunday Dance Series is open to children of all genders and experience levels. Each class takes into consideration the abilities of the age group to curate an environment that fosters learning skills, boosting confidence and socializing with peers while being taught by the city’s top instructors at The Joan Weill Center for Dance – home of the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, and The Ailey School.
In addition to the Kids Sunday Dance Series, Ailey Extension offers more than 90 weekly classes for adults in over 25 different dance and fitness techniques, including ballet, jazz, Dunham, Zumba, West African, Salsa, Pilates, Masala Bhangra, and many more.
For more information and to register, visit www.aileyextension.com
For their 26th season, Complexions Contemporary Ballet will present its performances at the Joyce Theater in New York City from January 21- ...
For their 26th season, Complexions Contemporary Ballet will present its performances at the Joyce Theater in New York City from January 21- February 2, 2020.
The company will present three dynamic programs including the world premiere of "Love Rocks" featuring the music of Rock Icon Lenny Kravitz, along with the return of audience favorites.
In the first week’s program (Program A), Complexions will present the world premiere of “Love Rocks” a full company ballet set to works by the iconic GRAMMY Award winning singer and songwriter, Lenny Kravitz.
Inspired by his vision and eclectic musicianship, this piece will follow Kravitz’s musical exploration where his lush melodies and retro musical style lay a foundation for passionate storytelling through edgy, athletic and theatrical movement as we examine our humanity and its vulnerability.
Returning this season due to popular demandis “BACH 25.” Set to the music of Johann Sebastian and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the work features the full company in continuous movement to the Baroque composers’ dramatic compositions.
A festive, athletic, neo- classical work in the signature style of Complexions; this romantic, playful, and intensely physical piece celebrates the union of music and movement.
In the second week (Program B), the company will reprise “WOKE,”a physical reaction to the daily news. A bold and dynamic socially conscious one act ballet featuring the full company that examines our humanity in conjunction with today’s political climate.
Set to an eclectic musical track that runs the gamut from electronica to rap, this work is inspired by the enlightened awareness and challenging moral compass of today’s generation. “BACH 25” will also be a part of this program.
All matinee programs (Matinee) will feature “Love Rocks” and “Essential Parts,” a compilation of audience favorites spanning the 26-year history of the company along with a new world premiere solo. Highlights will include excerpts from classics such as “Rise” featuring the music of U2 (2008), and “Choke”(2006) among other audience favorites.
COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet: Feb 19–Mar 3, 2019
During the run, Thursday, January 23 will be dedicated to Complexions’ annual fundraising gala. Proceeds from this gala benefit performance will continue to help build Complexions’ educational initiatives through scholarships, mentorship programs and the continued development of Rhoden’s and Richardson’s methodology of dance training. Complexion’s educational initiatives were offered in six cities this past year, allowing the company the ability to mentor and train hundreds of dancers.
The gala will give audiences an opportunity to see the next generation of performers as they grace the Joyce stage. In addition to the company performing, there will be a new work performed by the students of Complexions’ pre-professional program.
Tickets range from $20 to $65 and can be purchased by phone at 212-242-0800 and online at www.Joyce.org
For the most up-to-date schedule, visit - www.complexionsdance.org
Can fire fighters be good childcare providers? This funny question was explored in Paramount Pictures's film PLAYING WITH FIRE. To get t...
Can fire fighters be good childcare providers? This funny question was explored in Paramount Pictures's film PLAYING WITH FIRE. To get the equally funny answers to this question, we attended an advance screening for film, followed by a kids day junket with the director and cast.
Note: I was invited as media by Paramount Pictures to the film screening and press junket. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own
Since our review of the film will post later this week, I wanted to share the Q&A interview, plus what it was like meeting John Cena and discussing My Little Pony.
While my convo with John about My Little Pony is certainly interesting. It's nothing compared to the moments my son had with John and the rest of the cast.
My son sat with the other kids in their own row and took turns waiting for the mike. And when it was his turn, he was such a professional. He asked his question clearly and to the point!
I was SO proud! So what question did my son ask?
Is your movie from a book, real life or you just like made it up?
Andy Fickman: Movie is just made up. But it was inspired by, I think, people reading stories about the smoke jumpers. They live a very isolated existence because their depots are not like a fire station in the middle of the city.
They are up in the mountains so they can fly away and go fight in the mountains. And, that story was developed--took 14 years to make that story.
While my son had a good question, so did the other kids! Read on to learn what John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, Christian Convery, Finley Rose Slater, and director Andy Fickman shared....
Do you own up to big mistakes, like the little boy in the suds scene
Keegan-Michael Key: I feel like I'm owning up to some mistake every day. Cause it's very good to say--to hold yourself accountable for your actions. Then you can learn from them. And also, it helps wipe the slate clean every day if you--if you really do it. And, the only key to it really, I think, is that you just have to really be sincere.
Sometimes, you ever like you say you're sorry, but you're not really sorry? And then, later on you're like, I'm sorry. But you always feels better if you really apologize from a very genuine place.
So, my answer is I do it--I do it every day.
Christian Convery: Well, I've done a few big mistakes. And I learned not to climb big structures when it's raining outside, cause I had a huge scar on my face. I had to stay at the ER for a couple of hours. Yes, that was a big mistake.
Brianna Hildebrand: Yes, I've made a lot of mistakes in my lifetime. I think I would second what Keegan said, you know? It's always good to kind of clean the slate. Start fresh. Say sorry and move on.
Did any past experiences help you with the role?
Andy Fickman: I will say the experience that helped me, and hopefully we were able to pass it along to everybody, is we spent time with the real smoke jumpers in Reading, California. And, everything that you see in the movie, the look of the movie and the wardrobe, everything was helped by the actual smoke jumpers. And so, that was the thing that inspired me the most.
Finley Rose Slater: Well, I love making the movie.
Keegan-Michael Key: When we were young, I used to follow my best friend, who is now a firefighter in real life. We used to get on bikes and ride to fires and stand behind fire trucks.
And, he--my best friend--used to watch. He was like, I'm going to do that one day. I'm going to be that or a fighter pilot. So, he did do it.
So, I've been able to watch a lot of fires. So, I get experience of what it's like when they me about their job and what it's like to be in the mask, seeing the smoke and how hot it really is inside the room. So I use a little bit of that.
Christian Convery: I've been in movies that help me understand what goes on in film sets and I think that really helped me understand what goes on.
Brianna Hildebrand: I have some older brothers, so, I the experience of being a younger sibling helped me sort of wrap my mind around what it would be like to be an older sister.
As you can see both the director and cast brought something into making their characters special in "Playing with Fire". Overall they did a great job and it's a film that will connect with families.
And what about the "My Little Pony" convo with John Cena? I'll share that in my full review post!
SYNOPSIS
Playing with Fire opens in theatres on November 8
When straight-laced fire superintendent Jake Carson (John Cena) and his elite team of expert firefighters (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane) come to the rescue of three siblings (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery and Finley Rose Slater) in the path of an encroaching wildfire, they quickly realize that no amount of training could prepare them for their most challenging job yet – babysitters.
Unable to locate the children’s parents, the firefighters have their lives, jobs and even their fire depot turned upside down and quickly learn that kids – much like fires –are wild and unpredictable.
Starring: John Cena, Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, Brianna Hildebrand, Dennis Haysbert, Judy Greer
Playing with Fire - Official Trailer
Directed By: Andy Fickman
Produced By: Todd Garner, Sean Robins
Executive Produced By: Mark Moran
