The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Dance

Skyla Schreter Dance Performance Benefit Coming to Chappaqua Performing Arts Center on March 22

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Friday March 22nd at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center

480 N Bedford Ave, Chappaqua NY 10514

8pm GA | 7pm VIP

Skyla Schreter Dance is a genre-defying dance company led by Choreographer and Artistic Director Skyla Schreter. Born and raised in Chappaqua, NY, Skyla was invited to the world-renowned School of American Ballet in New York City at the age of 9. Following years of performances with New York City Ballet before the age of 17, Skyla went on to join the Boston Ballet, and then to join the internationally acclaimed San Francisco Ballet. Skyla’s choreography has been commissioned and presented by prestigious New York festivals such as the Hudson Valley Dance Festival and the Fire Island Dance Festival, events produced by Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Skyla has also received national recognition for her dance films, which she has produced, directed and choreographed. She is a 2024 grant recipient of the New York State Council on the Arts Award for Choreography and has been selected for the New York State Danceforce Choreographer’s Initiative Award for 2024. Skyla is also a Professor of Dance at Vassar College.

On March 22, 2024 the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in Chappaqua, NY will be hosting a fundraising event to benefit Skyla Schreter Dance, raising funds to support the creation and presentation of the company’s upcoming new works – to be performed throughout the Hudson Valley and NYC. The Skyla Schreter Dance Performance Benefit is a rare opportunity to see world-class professional dance in Westchester, and to be a vital part of supporting an innovative, female choreographer-led dance company as they continue their ascent with their uniquely ground-breaking performances. 

The Benefit will include a World Premiere performance of Skyla Schreter’s newest dance piece, “The Flock” – never before presented publicly. Following the performance will be a moderated artist panel with the dancers and collaborating artists of Skyla Schreter Dance. There will be a cash bar and a Silent Auction featuring original paintings by Skyla Schreter Dance collaborating artists Michelle Silver and Aaron Sanders, exclusively available for bidding at the Performance Benefit.

Tickets available at: https://ssdbenefit.bpt.me

                   ~ VIP $100 | GA $60 ~

Press contact: skylaschreterdance@gmail.com

Learn More at skylaschreterdance.com/benefit, and on Instagram @skylaschreter.dance

 

News & Photos Courtesy of Skyla Schreter Dance

Chappaqua’s Netra Easwaran Receives YoungArts Award for Accomplishments in Dance

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Netra Easwaran, a Junior from Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York, has received a 2022 YoungArts award in Dance. Netra has been recognized at the Merit level–the organization’s third-highest honor–and joins 720 of the most accomplished young visual, literary, and performing artists from throughout the county. Selected through the organization’s prestigious competition, YoungArts award winners, all 15–18 years old or in grades 10–12, are chosen for their caliber of artistic achievement by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous blind adjudication process.

YoungArts award winners gain access to one of the most comprehensive programs for artists in the United States, in which they will have opportunities for financial, creative, and professional development support throughout their entire careers. A complete list of the 2022 winners is available online at youngarts.org/winners.

“We are thrilled to announce this year’s YoungArts award winners–an extraordinary group of promising, accomplished young artists–and congratulate each of them on this exciting milestone in their artistic careers,” said Executive Director Jewel Malone. “YoungArts empowers artists to pursue a life in the arts beginning at the critical time when many are faced with decisions about life after high school. We are proud to support these young artists at the beginning of their journeys and look forward to becoming a resource for them at all stages of their careers.”

As a YoungArts award winner, Netra joins a distinguished group of accomplished artists such as Daniel Arsham, Terence Blanchard, Camille A. Brown, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Amanda Gorman, Judith Hill, Jennifer Koh, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Andrew Rannells, Desmond Richardson, and Hunter Schafer.

For the Best Summer Ever, Sign Your Child Up for Dance Camp at Logrea Dance Academy!

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The Logrea Dance Academy (LDA) is offering 4 weeks of dance, fun and learning – beginning July 13th.

Dance Camp at Logrea will take place three times a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with different sessions for different age groups.

For ages 7 to 9, camp will take place from 9:30 a.m, to 12:30 p.m. For ages 10 to 12, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. These summer camp classes include training in ballet, jazz, creative movement, theater dance, dance history, conditioning, arts and crafts–and more!

And for your peace of mind, and the safety of students and staff, Logrea’s class sizes are limited for safe distancing–and all are required to wear face masks. Plus, all classes take place in their air quality-controlled studio.

LDA is also offering summer intensive classes to their LDA students to improve their individual technique, strength and flexibility, running from July 12th through August 6th. These classes are for LDA levels IV through C (Intermediate through Advanced.) They can be taken live or virtually, whichever you prefer. To see the summer intensive schedule, go to www.LogreaDance.com.

About LDA: Logrea Dance Academy has been providing dance education to the children of Westchester for 35 years. The school offers classes in ballet, jazz, tap, modern and theatre dance for students from ages 3 to adult.

The school is led by directors Beth Fritz-Logrea and Jean Logrea, and associate director Nick Logrea. Beth Fritz-Logrea, joined the Metropolitan Opera at age 16, and subsequently became a soloist with the St. Gallen Stadt Theater and Graz Opera House in Austria. Jean Logrea began his formal training at Scoala de Coregrafie in Cluj Napoca and thereafter became a soloist with Opera Romana Ballet Company and the Graz Opera House in Austria. Nick Logrea is not only a classically trained dancer, but is also a Zumba Education Specialist, travelling the US and internationally teaching Master Classes – and appearing in fitness concerts in London, Australia and Prague, among others.

Additionally, LDA’s large faculty are professionals who have worked in the business – some from Broadway, others from prestigious dance companies, and many travel from NYC to teach LDA students.

The school is also the official school of the Westchester Ballet Company, where Beth Fritz-Logrea and Jean Logrea serve as Artistic Directors.

Why expose children to the arts? Research shows it expands them in so many different ways – helping them acquire skills that can greatly impact their academic school success – and make them into more well-rounded adults. Students at LDA learn life lessons like discipline, poise, confidence, respect, teamwork, and perseverance. Many of LDA students have moved on to prestigious dance companies and Ivy League colleges. Some have taken their dance training and moved on to careers in musical theatre. But whether a student wants a career in dance, or just wants to dance for the joy of it, he or she will learn skills at Logrea that will last a lifetime. 

LDA is located at 2 Dale Avenue, Ossining, NY. For more information on Summer Dance Camp or Logrea Dance Academy, go to www.LogreaDance.com – or call us at 914-941-2939.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Halloweekend’ Event at the Irvington Theater Promises a Livestream of Spooky Surprises

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It started on Halloween six years ago…

That’s when Dou­glas Mc­Clure, John Mal­one, and a few of their friends dressed up as the Ra­mones and per­formed on North Dutcher Street where they live. Since then, the ritual has joyfully multiplied into a treasured Irv­ing­ton tra­di­tion: community bands providing their neighbors with a rock and roll soundtrack (and the accompanying light show) while trick-or-treaters and their families crowd the Village side streets to sing and dance along.

“We’ve got ar­chi­tects, psy­chol­o­gists, vet­eri­nar­i­ans, teach­ers, and tech­nol­ogy pro­fes­sion­als,” said McClure of the musicians who comprise each act. “It runs the gamut.”

Half Halloween concert finale at Irvington Theater on April 26, 2019, featuring local bands Wild Thyme, Lennon + Friends, Evil Eckar with special guest the Dirty Irv Horns, and the North Dutcher All Stars.
“The Cure” performing on North Dutcher Street, Halloween 2018. 
The audience was captivated by “Tom Tom Club” and “Talking Heads” at Irvington Theater’s Half Halloween Concert.
“Devo” (fronted by Doug McClure) at Irvington Theater’s Half Halloween Concert.
Downtown Irvington, just before Halloween’s musical magic begins.

The Halloween Bands (as they’ve been collectively dubbed) don’t let their moniker dictate their performance schedule; last spring, they came together for “Half Halloween,” a spectacular concert fundraiser on the Irvington Theater stage that thoroughly enchanted audience members of all ages. For the first time, four beloved bands were all in one place: Lennon + Friends, Wild Thyme, Evil Eckar, and the North Dutcher All-Stars. Local resident Rich Lobel made a wildly entertaining Master of Ceremonies, and the whole evening was replete with uncanny impersonations, impromptu aisle dancing, spooky surprises, and a karaoke contest that brought down the house. The Village of Irvington was abuzz for weeks, basking in the afterglow of such palpable community spiritedness and intergenerational celebration.

“Ever since that magical night, people always ask us if we made a movie of the show,” said participating musician Miyuki Furtado, who also serves on the Irvington Theater Commission. “Folks who missed it were so disappointed, and anyone who was there wishes they could see it again.”

That wish is about to come true. For the first time ever, Irvington Theater will stream this legendary concert for a one-night-only Halloweekend event – from their stoops to our stage, and now directly to you! Costumes, candy, and household watch parties are strongly encouraged.

Furtado says it’s the perfect time to revisit such a cathartic, live event: “Especially now, with so much uncertainty in the air, that night takes us back to a feeling not so long ago… when we could all gather together and share an incredible, creative community bond that made everyone on the stage and in the audience feel so welcomed, close, and inspired.”

This world premiere concert film will stream at 7:30pm on Friday, October 30. Purchase your ticket ($12 per household) to receive the viewing link and password at irvingtontheater.com/irvingtonanywhere. 

Irvington Theater is home to a diverse range of innovative programming that entertains, enlightens, and inspires, establishing itself over its 118-year history as the cultural heart of the Rivertowns. The theater continues its tradition with unprecedented reach with “Irvington Anywhere,” their entirely virtual fall season of short films, lively concerts, and classic celebrations. Irvington Anywhere is made possible thanks to the generous support of Eric Bernstein of Compass, Dobbs Ferry.

 

PHOTOS BY Paula Romanow Etzel

20 Local Dancers to Appear in 19th Year of MCD’s Nutcracker

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Twenty students from the Armonk Center for Dance will appear in MCD’s 19th annual Nutcracker at The Riverside Theatre in New York City December 6-8th, 2019.

Local dancers include Lily Auster, Dani Eder, Abby Eickelbeck, Kourtney Gann, Jillian Gendal, Ella Horowitz, Zoe Horowitz, Grace Kretzmer, Phoebe Miles, Jordyn Ogilvie, Brooklyn Ogilvie, Olivia Peters, Finnley Silverstein, Skylar Silverstein, Ainsley Sorenson, Kendall Sorenson, Charlotte Thielmann, Alexa Tusiani, Abbie Varco, and Emma Zhu will appear alongside an international cast of professional dancers in MCD’s Nutcracker! The dancers range in age from six- to 18-years old.

This holiday classic features dolls coming to life and soldiers and mice battling. Watch Clara journey through the land of Snowflakes to a land of Sweets where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy. This show is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Tickets are available by calling 212-870-6784 or by logging onto trtnyc.org/upcoming-shows.

PHOTOS BY RICHARD CONDE PHOTOGRAPHY