Since the 1930s, the 92nd Street Y has provided a home for modern dance—a space for experimentation, discussion, demonstration, and community interaction. Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, Hanya Holm, and Anna Sokolow were among the dance center’s founding faculty when it opened in 1935. Katherine Dunham, Pearl Primus, Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, Pearl Lang, and many others developed important work there. In 1960, Alvin Ailey debuted his most famous work, Revelations, in Kaufmann Concert Hall—and later credited 92NY with helping launch his own dance company. More than a stage, 92NY helped shape the very contours of modern dance as we know it. In this evening event, a gathering of three generations of choreographers, dancers, and directors reflect on the institution’s enduring influence and their personal connections to it. Joan Finkelstein, Executive Director of the Harkness Foundation for Dance and former Director of Dance at 92NY, will join them in conversation to look back and consider how the spirit of experimentation that began at 92NY continues to shape the art form today. Registration required.
New York City, NY; NYC