On Friday, May 21, 2021, the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company will present a collection of highlights from three of Lar Lubovitch’s well-known works, the duet from Concerto Six Twenty-Two, danced by members of the Lubovitch company; Othello, performed by San Francisco Ballet; and The Planets, created for an ensemble of both ice skaters and non-skating dancers from the US and Canada. This free, on-demand program will be available to watch for only 10 days through Friday, May 31, at 7:30pm EDT (4:30pm PDT). Reservations are required HERE.
Lar Lubovitch is one of America’s most versatile and widely seen choreographers, founding the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in 1968. Over 53 years it has gained an international reputation as one of America’s top dance companies, produced more than 120 dances, and performed before millions across the US and in over 40 countries. Lubovitch is also currently a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Dance at University of California, Irvine.
The list of awards bestowed upon Lubovitch is extensive. A few of them include: a Ford Fellow by United States Artists; recipient the Dance/USA Honors Award; the Prix Benois de la Danse for outstanding choreography at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow (2012); recipient of a lifetime achievement award by the American Dance Guild; an honorary doctorate by The Juilliard School in New York City; and Lubovitch was named one of America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures by the Dance Heritage Coalition. In honor of his company’s 50th anniversary, in 2018 Lubovitch was presented with the Martha Graham Award for lifetime achievement.
As mentioned above, this special screening offers highlights from Concerto Six Twenty-Two, Othello, and The Planets. Concerto Six Twenty-Two premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1986. The male duet from this work was subsequently performed at the Dancing for Life event at the New York State Theatre in 1987, the first-ever response to the AIDS crisis by the dance community. It was Lubovitch who instigated the event bringing together 13 different companies and raising much needed funds for AIDS care, research, and education. Over the past 35 years, the duet has been performed around the world by both the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company and more than 20 other companies. The recording airing in this event was recorded by BBC in 1988 and is performed by the Lubovitch company’s original male cast, Sylvain Lafortune and Rick Michalek.
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company – Sylvain Lafortune and Rick Michalek in “Concerto Six Twenty-Two” – Photo by Jack Mitchell
Lubovitch’s evening-length ballet Othello, choreographed to the original score by Academy Award-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal, had its world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1997. The premiere was a joint production of the Lubovitch Company, American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and San Francisco Ballet. This performance will feature Act III of Othello with dancer Desmond Richardson dancing the role of Othello with ABT. Richardson is an American dancer, co-founder, and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, a company which has performed numerous times here in Los Angeles as part of the Dorothy Chandler Dance at The Music Center series.
Cast of “Othello” choreography by Lar Lubovitch – Photo by Paul Kolnik
It is perhaps a little-known fact that in addition to his work for the concert stage, film, and Broadway, Lubovitch has created award-winning ice-dancing works for Olympians. A few of these artists on ice include John Curry, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Brian Orser, JoJo Starbuck, and Paul Wylie. The Planets was broadcast throughout Canada and the US in 1994 and nominated for an International Emmy Award, a CableACE Award, and a Grammy Award. This screening features the Venus section with a cast of skaters led by Olympic medalists Paul and Isabelle Duchesnay, and dancers led by Sonia Rodriguez (National Ballet of Canada), who were assembled specially for the production.
“The Planets” choreography by Lar Lubovitch – Screenshot courtesy of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company
What: FREE digital program of highlights from 3 televised works by Lar Lubovitch: Concerto Six Twenty-Two, Othello, and The Planets.
When: May 21–31, 2021
What Time: 7:30pm EDT (4:30pm PDT)
Where: Online. To make a reservations (required), click HERE.
For more information about the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, click HERE.
Written and compiled by Jeff Slayton from the press release by Janet Stapleton.
Featured image: Sandra Brown (Desdemona) and Desmond Richardson (Othello) in Othello choreography by Lar Lubovitch – Photo by Paul Kolnik.
