By Matthew Wexler
From tap to tango, New York City Center’s annual Fall for Dance returns for its 22nd season, featuring the largest international contingency in recent history.
Spanning 12 days, five programs, and 15 different companies, it’s hard to make a misstep, but to cut through the corps de ballet, 1 Minute Critic takes a peek at four companies that caught our attention. Note that each piece is part of a program featuring other dance companies, offering a varied and eclectic evening of movement, regardless of which performance you attend.
Clara Furey/Bent Hollow: ‘Dog Rising’
A New York City Center commission, Canadian multidisciplinary artist and choreographer Clara Furey/Bent Hollow’s “Dog Rising” makes its US premiere. According to the press release, “polyphony of pulsating bodies mirrors the dynamic flow of matter in a mesmerizing and haunting journey.” We’re not sure what that means, but the nearby Cannadreams Dispensary might help us figure it out. In either case, we’re all in for a performance that focuses on “persistence, groove, and pleasure.” What’s not to like? September 18-19
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Paris Opera Ballet
While Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Paris Opera House gets a makeover down the street in Masquerade, an immersive reimagining of The Phantom of the Opera, the real-life Paris Opera Ballet sends its stars, Hannah O’Neill and Hugo Marchan, across the Atlantic to perform “Afternoon of a Faun,” choreographed by Jerome Robbins (1953) and set to Claude Debussy’s “Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune.” September 20-21
Social Tango Project
You’ll see a bit of tango-inspired movement in Buena Vista Social Club, featuring Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck’s Tony-winning choreography. But the dance form, indigenous to Argentina, steps into all its glory thanks to the Social Tango Project. Choreographer Agustina Videla’s piece incorporates dance, music, and film to evoke the passion and artistry of the tango. September 24-25
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Those who can’t wait for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s annual residency, December 3, 2025, through January 4, 2026, can get a taste of what’s to come when the seminal company presents “Grace.” Originally premiering in 1999, Ronald K. Brown’s stunning choreography nods to modern movement and West African idioms set to a score that includes Duke Ellington, Peven Everett, and Afropop beats. September 26-27
For the complete schedule and tickets, visit nycitycenter.org/pdps/fallfordance
