60 Minutes goes behind the curtain to show how Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins works hard to build a new future for the New York City Ballet on the legacy of its founder, George Balanchine. Lesley Stahl reports on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Category / News
NYTimes art critic Holland Cotter to speak at Saint Rose
Holland Cotter (Photo_New York Times)
Cotter, who is The New York Times’ co-chief art critic and a senior writer, has been a staff art critic at the paper since 1998. He received the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2009.
The free event will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, in the Saint Joseph Hall Auditorium, 985 Madison Ave., Albany.
Tonight: Polar Express rides again
The Saratoga & North Creek Railway Polar Express Train Ride kicks off its second season in the Capital Region today and runs through Sunday, Jan. 6.
The Polar Express brings passengers on an approximately one-hour round trip to the North Pole, while characters from the animated movie based on the classic children’s story come to life as the book is read aloud. At the North Pole, Santa Claus comes aboard with dozens of elves and silver bells for the children and the return trip includes Santa meeting each child and caroling with the elves.
The Polar Express offers four seating options: coach ($20-$30); premium coach ($30-$40); lower dome ($40-$65); and upper dome ($45-$70).
The train departs at 5:30 and 8 p.m. from the train station at 26 Station Lane in Saratoga Springs. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas. For more information or to purchase tickets call (877) 726-7245 or visit http://www.saratogapolarexpressride.com
Photos: Emily Johnson’s work-in-progress ‘Niicugni’
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In what ways are we defined by the place we come from—and what happens to us when we leave that place? Dancer/choreographer Emily Johnson grew up in Alaska, of Yup’ik descent, and her work uses stories and movement to examine concepts of belonging, identity and environment.
Her new piece, “Niicugni (Listen),” which has a work-in-progress showing at MASS MoCA on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, explores the cellular connection between people and the land they live on. Performed by Johnson (who now lives in Minneapolis) and dancer Aretha Aoki, “Niicugni” unfolds within an installation of handmade salmon-skin lanterns that Johnson designed to evoke her home and heritage.
EMILY JOHNSON: “NIICUGNI (LISTEN)”
Where: MASS MoCA, 87 Marshall St., North Adams, Mass.
When: 8 p.m. Friday (11/16)
Tickets: $12
Info: (413) 662-2111 or http://www.massmoca.org
‘Brunswick’ documentary to air on WMHT
Nate Simms’ documentary “Brunswick” was first screened for the public nearly a year ago at the Spectrum 8 Theatres in Albany.
Next week, the Troy native’s work will be given a broader audience when it airs twice on WMHT-TV Ch. 17 at 10 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12. Simms’ previous works include the book “Focus on the Land: Images of Rensselaer County.”
“Brunswick” is about the tension between development and farming in the Rensselaer County town. It tells the tale of Sanford Bonesteel, a farmer in his 90s, whose lifelong connection to his land is now threatened by small town politics and a planned residential development. Local singer-songwriter Matthew Carefully contributed the musical score.
To learn more, visit http://www.brunswickfilm.com/brunswickfilm/Brunswick.html or http://www.wmht.org/.
Steve Barnes on Stephen Colbert on art and strip clubs
| The Colbert Report | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Difference Makers – Stephen Dick Jr. | ||||
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Here’s the story by Steve Barnes:
The nearly nude dancer climbed atop me as if I were a jungle gym.
She tossed her hair and gyrated her hips downward, pressing her buttocks into my lap.
“Spread your legs wider. Let me get in there,” she said before swinging around and rubbing her chest across my face. When she leaned back, I had breast sweat on my askew glasses. A photo taken by a friend shows a red oval outline on my forehead that could be an injury or giant ringworm. In fact, it is a lip print from the dancer.
I went to the nude juice bar Nite Moves in Latham at the behest of the Comedy Central show “The Colbert Report,” which was eager to exploit the humorous potential of a tax dispute between the club and New York state. My role in the segment of the show, which aired Thursday night, was to review the dancing from an artistic perspective.
I seem to have been insufficiently compensatory for my dancer’s services, performed in the club’s main room, because she said, “You need to read up on strip clubs and strippers.” A buddy handed her more cash.
Although chastised and apparently clueless about tipping nuances, I still recognized that what I’d been watching was art.
The state Court of Appeals disagrees. In a split decision released Oct. 24, New York’s highest court ruled 4-3 against Nite Moves, which has been arguing that its dancers’ performances are akin to ballet and thus entry fees and payments for lap dances are not subject to sales tax. The club’s outstanding tax bill is about $400,000.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Colbert-lap-dances-and-art-4022012.php
Joy Harjo to speak at New York State Writers Institute
Growing up wasn’t so joyous for Joy Harjo.
Joy Harjo
The noted American Indian poet and musician chronicles her troubled childhood and teenage motherhood in her new book, “Crazy Brave.”
In the book, Harjo talks about how dealing with her alcoholic father, an abusive stepfather and being a teen mom nearly pushed her over the edge. It was through poetry that Harjo passed through the turmoil.
Harjo will read from her memoir at the University at Albany this week as part of the New York State Writers Institute’s Visiting Writers Series.
4:15 p.m. seminar, 8 p.m. reading; Thursday. Free. Room 375, UAlbany Campus Center, Uptown campus, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany. 442-5620; http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst
A reception will be held following the evening event.
Green Day + Twilight = new video
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Green Day, The Forgotten, Music, More Music Videos
Green Day may be on hiatus, but here’s its video, related to the upcoming Twilight movie (and the thankfully final Twilight movie).
Festival of Nations returns on Sunday, Oct. 28 (video of Tinikling)
Music, dancing, and foods from around the world are in the spotlight at the 41st annual Festival of Nations.
The event, celebrating culture, art and diversity, will feature food, fun and festivities from 30 countries and Puerto Rico. The Festival kicks off with the Parade of Nations, followed by the crowning of Miss Festival of Nations.
There will be plenty of dancing at the festival, including Ukrainian folk dancing, Greek and Scottish dancing, and arts and crafts from many different countries.
At a glance
Festival of Nations
When: 11:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany
Tickets: $5 adults, $2 children ages 3-12
info: 371-3737; http://www.festivalofnations.net
