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P.S. 397 2nd- and 3rd- grade contemporary dance class and the kindergartners and 1st graders from the after-school's creative dance class in a performance inspired by Wassily Kandinsky's "Composition V." Choreographer: Annalisa Ledson
The Downtown Community Center's 2nd- and 3rd-grade, and 4th- and 5th-grade contemporary dance students perform a work inspired by Jackson Pollock's "Convergence." Choreographer: Maria Malmstorm
Kindergartners and 1st graders from P.S. 397 ballet class in a dance inspired by Edgar Degas's "Dancers in Pink." Choreographer: Morgan Preston
Kindergartners and 1st graders in P.S. 397 ballet class in a dance inspired by Edgar Degas's "Dancers in Pink." Choreographer: Morgan Preston
Second and 3rd graders from the P.S. 276 hip hop class in a dance inspired by Edvard Munch's "The Scream." Choreographer: Frida Persson
Second and 3rd graders from P.S. 276 hip hop class in a dance inspired by Edvard Munch's "The Scream." Choreographer: Frida Persson
P.S. 276 hip hop class of 4th and 5th graders in dance inspired by Keith Haring's "Best Buddies." Choreographer: Frida Persson
Fourth and 5th graders from P.S. 276 contemporary dance class in a performance inspired by "Mandolin & Guitar" by Pablo Picasso. Choreographer: Frida Persson
"Untitled" by Jean-Michel Basquiat is the inspiration for this performance by the P.S. 276 2nd- and 3rd-grade breakdancing class. Choreographer: Maria Malmstorm
"A Sunday Afternoon on the Isand" by Georges Seurat inspired this dance by the P.S. 225 kindergarten and 1st-grade ballet class. Choreographer: Annalisa Ledson
"A Sunday Afternoon on the Isand" by Georges Seurat was the backdrop for a dance by the P.S. 225 kindergarten and 1st-grade ballet class. Choreographer: Annalisa Ledson
P.S. 89's kindergarten and 1st-grade hip hop class perform a dance inspired by "Best Buddies," by Keith Haring. Choreographer: Bella Takkunen
As Constance Tarbox's costume would indicate, "Lips," by Roy Lichtenstein, inspired this dance, performed by the Downtown Community Center's 2nd- and 3rd-grade hip hop class. Choreographer: Karen Ng
"The Persistence of Memory," by Salvador Dali, was the backdrop this dance performed by the P.S. 276 kindergarten and 1st grade So U Think U Can Dance class. Choreographer: Junie Kenworthy
"The Persistence of Memory," by Salvador Dali inspired this dance performed by the P.S. 276 kindergarten and 1st grade So U Think U Can Dance class. Choreographer: Junie Kenworthy
The Downtown Community Center's 4th- and 5th-grade hip hop class danced against the backdrop of Andy Warhol's "Michael Jackson." Choreographer: Karen Ng
The Downtown Community Center's 4th- and 5th-grade hip hop class danced against the backdrop of Andy Warhol's "Michael Jackson." Choreographer: Karen Ng
The P.S. 343 and P.S. 276 kindergarten and 1st-grade after-school ballet classes joined on stage for a dance inspired by Edgar Degas's "The Blue Dancers." Choreographer: Frida Persson
The P.S. 343 and P.S. 276 kindergarten and 1st-grade after-school ballet classes joined on stage for a dance inspired by Edgar Degas's "The Blue Dancers." Choreographer: Frida Persson
"Starry Night," by Vincent Van Gogh was the inspriation for this dance by the Downtown Community Center's ballet class of 2nd and 3rd graders. Choreographer: Junie Kenworthy
"Starry Night," by Vincent Van Gogh was the inspriation for this dance by the Downtown Community Center's ballet class of kindergartners and 1st graders. Choreographer: Junie Kenworthy
The P.S. 225 breakdancing class performed in front of Faith Ringgold's "Tar Beach." Choreographer: Najee Brown
P.S. 397's 2nd and 3rd grade hip hop class performed a dance inspired by Andy Warhol's "Campbell's Soup Cans." Choreographer: Maria Malmstorm
Piet Mondrian's "Broadway Boogie" was the backdrop to the P.S. 397 4th- and 5th-grade hip hoppers, Choreographer: Frida Persson
The performance by the Downtown Community Center's kindergarten and 1st- grade creative dance class was influenced by Wassily Kandinsky's "Circles." Choreographer: Junie Kenworthy
Text and Photos by Carl Glassman
It was the most artful of all Manhattan Youth dance concerts.
And what art! “A Day at the Museum,” the recent performance by more than 200 after-school students, featured choreography inspired by the work of such artists as Warhol, Pollock and Haring, with costumes designed by Constance Tarbox, to match. On an otherwise empty stage, a projected painting became the backdrop for each of the 20 dances, performed by children from kindergartner to fifth grade.
Susan Kay, who conceived and directed the show, said she wanted this concert to be more memorable—and educational—for the kids, than the many others she has put together.
“It wasn’t about princesses and princes and it wasn’t about fairy tales and all those things that you would expect a production to be about,” she said. “They’re going to remember the painting, they’re going to remember the artist and they may look at fine art in a different way now.”
So, too, she said, will the children in the after school art classes, who were shown the pictures and asked to respond to them, in art works and observations. (An exhibition of their pictures are on display until June 19 at the Downtown Community Center, 201 Warren St.).
On Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Time: “I guess the guy kind of likes clocks.”
On Keith Haring’s Pop Shop: “It looks like fun. I wish I was in that painting.”
On Andy Warhol’s Campbell's Soup Cans: “It makes me think of how much I hate chicken soup and how much my mom never listens to me.”
“For me that was one of the most joyous parts of the show,” Kay said. “Talking to them about the art and listening to what they had to say.”
