Joyce Theater hosts "Choreographers & Cocktails" A Winning Concoction

The Joyce Theater is home to a multitude of talented dance companies on a more moderate scale.  The talent, however, is extraordinary & often delightfully atypical.  For those who appreciate dance, and to all others who don't yet know how fabulous & crucial dance is, the opportunity to view in an intimate studio space, several dance companies rehearsing is spectacular.  The evening sparkled with creativity & champagne.  There were 6 dance companies/work shops opened to a free flowing format.  This was a rare & wonderful opportunity to see how the artistic director conveys their vision to their dancers & interactive/co-operative method that help shape the work.  Several of the studios had live musicians performing with their pieces.  I was completely blown away by the Dorrance Dance Co. which blends tap & contemporary.  Toshi Reagon vocal accompaniment was uncommonly evocative & effective, adding a mystical tonal aesthetic.  In another studio, the phenomenal Wendy Whelan, former NYC Ballet star.  Whelan worked on a pas de deux with Brian Brooks.  Gaining backstage access of this collaboration was a rare & stunning opportunity.  Sara Mearns a current soloist with NYC Ballet was in another studio working on a piece being created by Jodi Melnick. Melnick studio had the accompaniment of an oboist, flutist & trombone player with a commissioned score.  The delicious hors d'oeuvres & drinks were an added treat to an exceptional experience of behind the scene peeks at rehearsals & refinements.   Dance is in our DNA; the most colorful combination of artistic expressions and a unifying colorblind collaboration.