OPERA HOUSE

A dune shaped new opera house (with a seating capacity of 2500) and cultural center coming up in island off Dubai Creek, the designs for the same has been developed by Zaha Hadid Architects. All of the facilities are available within a single striking structure. Images of mountains or sand dunes are evoked from the gentle winding form. From the ground the form arises as both are a part of the landscape but with a distinct element in the skyline.

The design calls for an exciting new cultural centre in the new Seven Pearls district of Dubai. This landmark development will accommodate an opera house, playhouse, arts gallery, performing arts school and themed hotel on an island in Dubai Creek just off the mainland part of the district. All of these facilities will be state of the art to host world class performances and exhibitions. The opera house will have a seating capacity of 2,500 while the playhouse will have a seating capacity of 800.

The arts gallery with 5000m2 of exhibition space is indeed a full size exhibition facility comparable to the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The hotel will accommodate guests in a 6 star setting. Sited on an island in Dubai Creek, the development will be connected to Greater Dubai by a road connection to the mainland.

The proposal houses all of the facilities within a single striking structure. The gentle winding form evokes images of mountains or sand dunes. Rising out of the ground, this form is both a part of the landscape yet very much a distinct element in the skyline. The surrounding landscape forms build up to the main building. These constitute open park spaces as well as ancillary functions such as the parking facilities and the monorail station, which are either tucked under or integrated into the andscape forms.

The two peaks correspond to the opera house and the playhouse. The tall requirements of the fly towers are nested under these peaks. From these peaks, the form gradually swoops down to touch the earth. The form is scalloped away where the three major entrances are to be found. The main entrances for audiences visiting either of the two performing arts auditoria are on the north side of the building. At the ground level will be the VIP entrance with car drop off right at the entrance and a separate foyer from the main foyer. This foyer serves both the opera house and the playhouse. The main foyer is a gentle multi-tiered landscape at one floor above the ground floor. It also serves the opera house and the playhouse as well as having an interior connection to the arts gallery.
Floating above this foyer are further foyer spaces serving the balcony levels. The foyer levels from the main foyer level up are visually connected to each other through a series of voids. This allows for direct views between the main foyer at the first floor all the way up to the highest balcony foyer. Surprising views are abundant in this space.
The auditoria are contained in flowing shapes that seem to emerge from the underside of the main shell. This inner shell however, does not quite touch the main shell. Instead, the two surfaces disappear into a light gap between them. Supporting functions found off the foyer are defined by walls that merge into the underside of the main shell.

Designer : Zaha Hadid Architects via Dezeen

MUSEUM of DANCE

Summer Vacation in Stockholm

Stockholm is considered to be an expensive city. However, in the Swedish capital there are lots of ways to spend time without spending a single crown. Today we tell about the 10 best free activities of the city.

1. The first thing that should be done by any tourist who arrives to Stockholm – to go to Gamla Stan. Walking through this quarter promises many discoveries. It was here in 1252 where the Swedish capital was founded. Nowadays, the old district – one of the largest and best preserved one since the Middle Ages among the city centers in Europe, and, simultaneously, one of the main attractions of Stockholm. And because of this all Gamla Stan and the adjacent islands look like a huge free open-air museum. Still, this region carries the risk for the purse: walking on the cobble stones of the narrow winding streets, you certainly will not be able to resist temptation to buy souvenirs from the locals.

2. Traveling to a foreign country, you usually want to get acquainted with its culture and history. You can hire a guide and hear his stories. But do not just hear but also see them for yourself. The easiest way to learn about the life of the Swedes will be available to those who visit the Nordiska Museum. It is the country’s larges place devoted to the local customs and traditions, clothing and fashion, everyday life of the ordinary people. On Wednesdays from 16.00 to 20.00 from September to May, the entrance to the museum is free. Do not miss this chance!

3.For those who are interested in history will be interesting to visit another cute place. In the heart of Swedish capital in 1986 Museum of Medieval Stockholm was opened. It is dedicated to the emergence and development of the city. The basis of the collection consists of items found during archaeological excavations. Now in the collection of more than eight hundred exhibits there are so many things to pay attention to that you will be transported into the past of this wonderful city. The doors of the museum are open for all visitors year-round.

4. One of the most interesting sights in Stockholm – Changing of the Guard. The ceremony has remained unchanged over the centuries, from 1523 and lasts for about 40 minutes. Today, it involves legions from all over Sweden. During the summer season from 23 April to 31 August, as a rule it can be seen in the western courtyard of the palace at 12.15 (Sundays and public holidays at 13.15). In winter it takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12.10, Sunday at 13.10. Do not forget to arrive a little early to choose a place more comfortable view, because at the appointed time on the area there are going to be quite a lot of people. If you are late, do not despair: the guard will be replaced as early as in 8, 10, 14, 16, 18 hours. This simplified ceremony is not as colorful as the main front door, but still it’s quite interesting.

5. Have you already heard about the famous Swedish design? To learn more about it, you can visit the Museum of Modern Art, and you can just walk around the Östermalm area, which is considered  to be the most fashionable place in the Swedish capital and is filled with boutiques and art galleries. Going through it you will see more works of contemporary art, than if you visited an ordinary museum. This means that the lovers of the art will also get a chance to view all of the wonders of the contemporary art.

6. Not only the fans of ballet, but all passionate music personalities would be interesting to visit the uniqueMuseum of Dance. It invites visitors absolutely free of charge to not only witness but also to join the great art. Multimedia exhibit contains information on the history of dances of various peoples from Europe and Asia to Africa  and Latin America. The museum constantly provides free retrospectives, seminars and educational workshops. That’s one of the main reasons why the place is always rather crowded.

7. Those who have plans to learn many interesting things about alcohol, its consumption and production, listen to traditional Swedish drinking songs and songs all over the world will find a great opportunity of doing son in Stockholm. If on Saturday or Sunday from 10.00 to 12.00 you go to the country’s only museum of alcoholic beverages! Getting in at this time is absolutely free. And, since you saved at the entrance, you can get a guide who speaks your native language and who will tell you about the customs of the Swedish meal.

8. They say that Stockholm is made one third of the water, and a third – of the parks. Walking through the green spaces is one of the favorite activities of the local residents and I would say also of tourists! Enjoy yourself and get wild with the nature. Here you’ll be offered wonderful views of the town hall and Gamla Stan. People come here to play soccer, beach volleyball, do aerobics, yoga, or just spend time talking with friends. The life here is going with a rather crazy flow and everybody simply enjoys the healthy lifestyle.

9. If you’re going to walk around Stockholm in the summer, make sure worth taking a swimsuit. In the summer heat cool the clear waters attracts residents like a magnet. Do not miss the opportunity to swim for yourself: a little capital can boast of beautiful beaches in the heart of the city. Very popular beach  is Rålambshov Park Beach. Families with children usually select a nearby beach Smedsuddsbadet. Opposite to it on the other side on the green Långholmen Island there is another city beach, where youth likes to spend time.

10. Escaping from the summer sun can be done in Stockholm subway tunnels. It is called “the longest art gallery in the world.” Entries in this underground museum  are marked with a big letter T signs (T-Bana). Each line (a total of three – the green, ‘red’, ‘blue’) is framed differently. You are waiting for the fabulous grottoes, Greek sculptures, reliefs, mosaics and video installations. In addition, in the subway there are often arranged exhibitions of modern masters. The most beautiful and interesting line of the Stockholm metro – “blue.” To get into the wonderful world, you don’t nee to pay a fare- but you will still spend money on transport! 

MUSEUM of DANCE

NYSSSA SCHOOL OF DANCE

The National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, New York, has exhibits as well as three spacious studios used by NYSSSA.

Is there heaven on earth? Living and working intensively with a group of passionate dancers, choreographers, and educators comes pretty close. Throw in access to gorgeous studios at the National Museum of Dance and Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs; 35 young dancers hungry to learn modern dance; projects with the American Dance Legacy Institute; and visits by other dance scholars and artists. This heaven is the New York State Summer School of the Arts (NYSSSA) in Dance. While NYSSSA’s ballet program is conducted in conjunction with New York City Ballet’s season at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, this 4-week modern dance intensive is directed by former Paul Taylor dancer and Juilliard faculty member Carolyn Adams along with her sister Julie Adams Strandberg, who heads Brown University’s dance program. Every year, the pair assembles a dynamic faculty including musicians, professional dancers, and established and emerging choreographers who set and create work on talented teenagers from New York State. With the age spread of the faculty and guest artists plus the presence of family members ranging in age from just a few months old to nonagenarians, NYSSSA Dance feels like an intergenerational artist village. I have had the privilege of serving on the staff and faculty side of NYSSSA Dance for several summers - and it was there that I really started researching and teaching - so it holds special significance for me. It is one of my artistic homes, populated by an inspiring and supportive artistic family.

This year is the 20th season of NYSSSA Dance, and I spent last week in Saratoga to help with preparations for an alumni reunion and to reconnect with colleagues and former students. Each morning, I joined students and other faculty in rigorous classes taught by Carolyn Adams, Robert Battle (director of Battleworks Dance Company), and Battleworks dancer Erika Pujic. The teenagers spent the rest of their days in rehearsals with Robert & Erika; Toronto-based choreographer Danny Grossman (another former Taylor dancer) & dancers Eddie Kastrau and Laura Bennett; Jessica Lang; Kanji Segawa; and Marisa Ballaro (a NYSSSA alum herself). Meanwhile, I kept myself busy by assisting with some logistics, taking a little time in the studio to improvise, and treating my sore muscles to a mineral bath (Saratoga is known for its spas). Even better, I had the opportunity to coach dancers in a few works for Saturday night’s faculty concert. I started serving as a rehearsal assistant while I was injured in college and grew to love this role, keeping it even after my body healed and I returned to the stage; in fact, with my graduate degree in directing dances from Labanotation scores, I spent plenty of time leading rehearsals and polishing pieces for performance. I relished jumping back into this position after a year away, and armed with a more thorough understanding of dynamics and energy from my experience dancing in Israel, I had fun applying this knowledge in my coaching.

The reunion weekend itself was terrific. I caught up with old friends and met other alumni at receptions, took Robert Battle’s invigorating master class, enjoyed a lecture-demonstration showcasing NYSSSA students in the repertory they were learning, taught part of Donald McKayle’s Rainbow Etude for an alumni workshop, and proudly watched the dancers I coached in the faculty concert. I also celebrated late into the evening for a few nights (what else can you do when you have such a great group of people assembled with good food and music?), so while I already miss everyone, I’m happy to get some more sleep again!

Here are some photos from my week in Saratoga, and soon I’ll also post some from the faculty concert.

Clapping and drumming on the floor to applaud master class teacher Robert Battle and musician Tom Farrell.

Teaching part of Donald McKayle’s Rainbow Etude for an alumni workshop. Photo by NYSSSA co-director Julie Strandberg.

Demonstrating more of Donald McKayle’s Rainbow Etude for an alumni workshop. Photo by Julie Strandberg.

Laura Bennett’s Reverieduring dress rehearsal for the faculty concert. Laura is the program coordinator for NYSSSA dance, and because she was also dancing in this piece, I helped out as rehearsal assistant. The dancers are Amy Marie Burns, Erika Pujic, Jude Sandy, Melody Gamba, Laura Bennett, and Marisa Ballaro. Photo by Laura Frank, who is also a NYSSSA counselor.

Some of the NYSSSA alumni, faculty, and family members after an alumni brunch. There are talented NYSSSA alumni studying dance in college, performing with major choreographers like Mark Morris and Bill T. Jones, dancing on Broadway, choreographing, directing their own companies, and teaching dance in a variety of settings.