RitzDolls

Moving on!

myron — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:59:41 +0000

The holidays take a strange toll on a performer. We had so much fun during Nutcracker this year. GREAT audiences, energizing music, beautiful weather, no injuries and not one performer came so late that we had to hold the show. (it’s happened a lot; over-slept, forgot we had a show, dog ate my costume, and didn’t feel like it, are among some of my favorite reasons.) Even with all this, it still takes a toll. Lots of shows, high-energy dancing, holiday parties, etc. So…January just kind of goes by with all of us trying to get going on the next project. Now, it’s almost the end of January and we have been good dancers; taking class, cleaning the studio, re-arranging furniture. All the things you needed to get to in November but December came instead. We start rehearsals in 10 days for the next show and it’s amazing how we naturally start getting excited and before you know it dancers are saying, “When do we start? I can’t wait.” So…here we go; “Johnson and Rydberg-Our Way”. Original live music ! What better way to spend January thrtough March but dancing to live piano? Hope you come to see it…..I’ll keep you “POSTed” XO

Happy New Year

myron — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:26:58 +0000

Thank you everyone who has been so supportive of The Dolls over the past year. It has been an exciting and full year filled with what will certainly be wonderful memories for seasons to come. Peace and joy in the New Year! XO, Myron

10 days till Christmas

myron — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:00:37 +0000

The show is open. It was a very crazy tech-week. Everything managed to come together beautifully however, thanks to all the people who helped make the show happen. From the costumes, the lights, the new set painting, the wigs, the music and of course the performers pulled out all the stops and are continuing to do so. After having done so many different versions of this show it’s hard not to compare one version to another (especially when I can hardly remember anything from year to year) but from what I have heard from audience members…this is everyone’s favorite version so far. That makes me happy. I love being in the wings and hearing the audience laugh….on Saturday night they added 10 minutes to the show length just from laughter and applause. REALLY cool. If you are thinking about coming to the show, hurry and get your seats because they are going REALLY fast. That also makes me happy because if no one came…none of the hard work would matter. Please stay after the show and say hello to us in the lobby if you do come. We love to meet and hear what your thoughts are. Happy Holidays.

happy thanksgiving

myron — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:24:21 +0000

Day off today but can’t stop thinking about the show! So much to do yet and so little time. I think I am going to change where intermission comes this year……I wonder why I never thought of this before? Oh well….time to baste the turkey. I really do think this year that The Nutcracker may be the best one yet, I hope you all come to see us. XO, Myron

Zenon at the Ritz

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:21:41 +0000

If you didn’t see it last week, Zenon has three more shows this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Zenon dancers prepare for Saturday's performance /Parker Michels-Boyce photo

The program showcases three premieres, including a new full-company, modern-dance work by New York choreographer Sydney Skybetter, The Laws of Falling Bodies. Skybetter’s work has been hailed for its rigorous formalism and emotional depth.

Zenon dancers during Saturday's performance of The Laws of Falling Bodies /Parker Michels-Boyce photo

The program also includes repertory favorites, Not From Texas (Megan McClellan and Brian Sostek) and Booba (Doll) (Andrea Miller)

Zenon dancers during Saturday's performance of Not From Texas /Parker Michels-Boyce photo

More information >>

Nutcracker- not so suite 2009

myron — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:07:55 +0000

Time flies! Holiday time already. Seems like a month ago that we were getting ready to open “The Little Matchgirl” at Christmas last year. I am so happy to be doing Nutcracker again….like hanging out with an old friend. That’s quite the statement considering this will be the 20th version for us. It certainly helps that we never do the same show from year to year to keep up our interest and excitement. This year is turning out to be an enormous amount of fun so far. With everything that is going on in the world right now I decided to keep the show light hearted, colorful and fast paced. It seems there are only about 12 different Christmas songs that you hear over and over again, well, I found some that will make you smile. It’s amazing to me how this quirky take on the classic story can bring all of the same emotions that a more classical version does- maybe more (in my opinion). I was rehearsing the Barbie and Ken pas de deux the other day with Zhauna and Michael and they blew me away with how they become living dolls right before your eyes. The transformation is freaky and their 20 years of experience makes it something that I can’t imagine anyone else even attempting to do. It really is fun to choreograph on them. We are about half way thru the show at this point and LOTS of work to do. Even though we have done 20 versions it still is one of the most complicated shows we do. Storytelling is a different challenge from unrelated dances choreographed for an evening. Challenging and rewarding in the end. For example, we have about 30 dances in the Nutcracker and each one has to move the story forward with lyrics, movement, costumes etc. You should see my desk at this point in the process. Piles of CDs, layers of papers and scripts, drawings, notes, costume sketches and books of inspiration; several versions of the original tale, picture books from New York City Ballet, The Kirov, The Royal Ballet so I can always remind myself what I am deconstructing and as a constant reminder of the beauty of this story no matter how contemporary and kitchy I make it. I hope if you have seen our Nutcracker before that you will come again and see yet another adventure for Marie and her doll, and if you have never seen this show….get over here. Everything you have heard about the show it is true! Now, I am off to choreograph Marie and her Ken doll to “There Can’t Be Anyone As Beautiful As Me” then Rat Queen and Nephew to “You’ve Got Something I Want” by Blossom Dearie then a Rat dance to some Missy Elliot followed by Marie’s solo at the end of the show (can’t give that song away)….come and see. More later…………………………………………..XO,Myron

November already?

myron — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:11:17 +0000

Stay tuned for many new posts from me starting in November. Nutcracker time!!!!!

I am sure I will have plenty to talk about. Between now and then…enjoy Halloween.

2 days…..

myron — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:29:43 +0000

2 days until we open our season….exciting. Also, only 2 days left to purchase season tickets. They are an amazing deal so please check out the details…..I know you always mean to make it to the Dolls shows but sometimes time goes by so fast. The season ticket is a good way to support The Dolls AND always see the new shows, in great seats of your choice PLUS discounts with all of our neighborhood partners. Hurry….48 hours left.

One week until the curtain goes up!

myron — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:07:07 +0000

The last week of rehearsals are always amazing. We move to the stage from the studio and I get to step back and see the dances from a distance. The set, lights and costumes all added on and then…… it hits you that the show and the dances you made up are what is going to be seen by the audience in a few days. Too late now to make any major changes…..polish them up, pay attention to detail but that’s about all you can do now. So exciting actually for me. The first day on stage is like Christmas. Opening a present. Keep in mind that we don’t always love every present we get and I don’t always love every show, at first anyway. Sometimes the dances that make me the most nervous that first day are the ones I love the most after the final work is done. All this to say…I am so excited for Pas de Quatre! I think it’s going to be surprising, funny, intriguing and beautiful. The dancers look so beautiful. The costumes are very sparkly and you know how much I love that. The dances are created so specifically for the performers that this event will only happen this one time….I really hope you come and see it.

2 weeks from opening

myron — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:32:10 +0000

Well, we are into week 4 of rehearsals. Cleopatra complete. The Firebird complete. Le Bleu Dieu complete. Scheherazade 3/4 complete. My brain is reeling from music, twirling, kicking, bumping, stomping and counting. In week 1 I was full of enthusiasm. In week 2 I was kind of wondering why I picked 4 ballets in 4 weeks. In week 3 I got nervous and anxious. Now, in week 4 I am excited and full of enthusiasm again. Not sure anyone really cares what goes on in the mind of a choreographer but it is really a roller coaster ride. I guess I love going in the studio and having these beautiful faces staring at me wondering what Iwant them to do and of course not having any idea. Something about those faces (friends and colleagues) that suddenly I have all the ideas I need and off we go. Tonight we are performing for the Metro Magazine Block Party. I forgot to figure out what we were gonna do. In the past 2 hours we got it together….no drama, no bad attitude….just eager artists ready and willing. So, tonight we are performing a solo from Cleopatra and a duet from The Firebird. Costumes are not done yet so ,I am going to announce to the audience that I will not let the costumes be seen until opening night. That should work right? Who would know. We’ll be lucky if we get the costumes together before then……”I love the theatre”.

Today we were working on Scheherazade and Cassandra (famed bellydancer and director of Jawaahir Dance Company) generously came by to work with the dancers. Amazing!!!! The dancers were so thrilled and grateful.

Yesterday a friend of the Dolls; Tara, called to say that she wanted to donate some of her costumes from Afghanistan! Wow! She said ” they come from a famous designer in Uzbekistan who designs costumes that are too “over-the-top” for anyone here except for us. “I can’t wait to see what you do with them” she said. Tomorrow she is dropping them off as a donation. Wow! This alone should help change your mind if you had any reservations about coming to see “Pas de Quatre”. Speaking of which, season tickets are selling very well. You only have 2 more weeks to get all four shows for a rediculously low cost. Plus, discounts for our neighborhood partners; Modern Cafe, Erte, Northeast Social Club and 331.

Enough for now……the block party is starting in a few minutes.