NYC Dance – Mitzi Adams

Lonestar: A Night of Magic

Back in February I was at my local YMCA stretching at the barre in the dance studio in a flat back position, when I noticed a gold, coin-like object at my feet. I swiftly picked it up, and upon examination, I figured it to be a cheap emblem of a Joan of Arc-type character, who on the front, with a staff in her hand, appeared as if climbing a mountain. Wow, I thought. Is this a sign? Am I going to conquer something big? Not knowing anything, I placed the fake coin in my pocket and secretly kept it on my dresser. Blink. Now, I am in the midst of producing Lonestar. Considering I only started the process of putting together a 90-minute showing in February, I think there must have been magic in the air the night of March 26th! If I were to say there were supernatural occurrences at work in the theater of the 14th St Y, it would not seem far fetched that evening. The spirit of Joan of Arc? Was I that peasant girl acting under divine guidance?

First off, Mercury was in retrograde, and against all odds, rabbits were being pulled out of hats to get all aspects coordinated technically, after a semi-disastrous dress rehearsal the night before. Going into this, I knew it was not going to be easy. I knew a few things regarding that dress rehearsal and did my best to trust my instincts, that no matter the challenges, we’d persevere. I knew that: one dancer was not going to be present; trial-runs with multiple lavalier mics were going to be tricky; some costumes hadn’t yet been tried on/and or altered; some cast members would be meeting one another for the first time; I had only just finished certain pieces days prior; I had only just met up for the first time with one dancer to rehearse the day before, (as I trusted his independent rehearsals) plus one shared Zoom rehearsal; 13 different pieces had to be teched, (including the films to be shown), and somewhere in the short 6 hours the crew had to take at least two 15 minute breaks! Well, with much adrenaline flowing, we survived that experience, and the adventure that preceded that night was uncanny to say the least. Why? I was locked in the NJ transit bathroom on route to NYC that day, which led to an all out intervention where, pheww, I eventually got out! Symbolic much?

With the pell mell state of that description, the night of the showing was quite the opposite. Though I was still flying around on my broomstick doing everything last minute, the totality of the performance was nothing shy of a miracle! Despite a few technical glitches, the performers were on top of their game! The crew on lighting and sound stirred all the ingredients, and the stage manager was my absolute rockstar, shifting all the gears to make the whole machine operate smoothly. The stage was smokin’ hot with the unbelievable prowess of each individual artist — I was standing in awe of what I witnessed… pure magic!

I shouldn’t be so surprised, though, as when you have professionals of such a high caliber, they rise to the occasion. Perhaps, it was more disbelief in how the 2 months of a rollercoaster ride, with 4 premieres to boot, made it to the finish line. Typically, companies would have 2-3 nights of a run; however, given that I’ve been hanging by the rafters, commuting to NYC from PA, and currently a 2-year caretaker to my father — I’ll take what I can get. My deepest thanks goes to the exquisite artists who managed to avail themselves for this jiffy-mix time of ours. They were the wands in Lonestar’s magic box.

That triumphant warrior coin I found? It delivered on our promises to keep the arts alive. And, no matter the trials and tribulations that each one of us had been going through, frazzled and ill-affording of the time spent, we somehow, through the grace of the universe, manifested 90-minutes of wizardry — and for that, I am eternally grateful. With that staff helping me, we lowered the curtain on Lonestar that magical night, as we defied Mercury’s chaos, and gave thanks to our guides.

_{Many thanks to my husband and GM for ACD, Don Adams, without whom this project would never have happened!}

Photos: A. de la Rita
Screen grabs: Joel Stephen video
Performers:

_{From: Adams Company Dance presents Lonestar: A Showing of Dance, Film Shorts and Spoken Word}

See some of our pics in our photo album here

LONESTAR: March 26th at The 14th St Y

Join us for an Evening of dance, film shorts, and spoken word!

Adams Company Dance presents, Lonestar: A Showing of Dance, Film shorts, and Spoken Word

Nine exquisite performers explore the universal need for oneness, and the capacity for the human spirit to endure. Soloists will be highlighted in four premieres, as well as in gems from ACD’s repertoire. Now in their 34th year making dances, ACD will feature an elite fleet of artists including guests from the companies of Alvin Ailey, Limón, and Carolyn Dorfman Dance. These poignant films, and emotionally charged dances, and texts concern deep matters of the heart, and are poised to create a sense of spiritual theater. The RT: 90 minutes

Where: The 14th St Y, NYC
344 East 14th Street (at 1st Ave)
New York, NY 10003

Visit The 14th St Y here : 344 East 14th Street (at 1st Ave)
New York, NY 10003

When: 3/26/2025 at 7:00p (RT: 90m)

Tickets: $15 at door or online at: Brown Paper Tickets

(Exact value appreciated at door)

Contact: Don Adams, GM at: 203-829-4767

Extraordinary Artists… Raw Power… Unforgettable Performances…

March 26th at the 14th Street Y – Save the Date!

***A Program Defining the Power of One***

Adams Company Dance Presents, “Lonestar,” at the 14th Street Y on 3/26 at 7p!

Join us for an evening of dance, film shorts, and spoken word that will feature 6 artists who will perform in four
premieres, and some favorite pieces from ACD’s repertoire and filmography. Based on the themes of solitariness, this showing juxtaposes raw power with sensitive artistry.

If you’ve kept up with my blog posts, you’ll see that a month ago, that this all was a blur of an idea, but with the passing of each day, the content evolved, the cast came forth, and viola, Lonestar was born. As with many of my productions that originated from my inimitable “Jiffy-mix” style — just add water and stir, there’s an element of risk, but always impassioned!!

Artists so far include: Dominique Dobransky, Lila Kushner, James A. Pierce, III, Richard Sayama, Mark Willis, and Susana Garcia.

Check Back soon for ticketing and updates on this production.

Project To Be

^{(Shortly after this rehearsal with Payton Primer, she was asked to join the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Congratulations to her! )}

On this storied adventure of becoming a caretaker for my father, plunging into ambitious waters of dance making has me getting swallowed into the undertow, as the current continues to strongly pull me away from the stuff that keeps me one with myself. Thus, the long pause in my blogging chatter. Sigh! It’s not been easy, of late, to rally my task force to get back into NYC for a swim. That being said, I dove in head first this December, as I made my way to the studio again to launch a new project. Ideas have been brewing for some time now, and actualizing them will include, dancer, Payton Primer, for starters.

You’ve seen Payton in ACD’s performance with the American Dance Guild at the Ailey Citigroup Theater production back in 2022. She is the consummate professional dancer, not only competent technically, but also equipped with an arsenal of expressive gifts that she shares generously with an audience. Not all dancers are artists, but Payton shines as one, and our first rehearsal for this project to be, had artistry written all over it. In our short hour and a half together, I felt as if no time had passed between us. It seemed like yesterday when we were rolling around the floor together, giggling, creating, and as well, sharing deep personal thoughts on where the pin had been pushed into our colored, and somewhat tarnished maps of life. If every chapter were shiny, and easy going, no doubt, the art world would look lackluster and boring, right?

Watching as she carved her way through space — swirling, and extending her beautiful limbs beyond her personal sphere, the disjointed pieces of myself began to knit together, as oneness arrived again! I was so far from dad duties. I was back making sand castles on the beach while the waves gently crested, and fell upon the shore. Delighted to no end that Payton swam laps around this new material so quickly, I left feeling fulfilled and inspired that the process had begun for the project to be — more to be revealed in 2025!

And, to top it off that day, my husband, Payton, and I went to see Alvin Ailey at City Center, where we met up with company member, Christopher Taylor. Christopher formerly had worked with ACD in several projects, and also knew Payton, as they danced together in a piece at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, several years back. That was the concert where I originally spotted Payton, and circled her name in the program — keep and eye on her. Looks like we’ve come full circle!

_{Payton, Chris, and me after Ailey’s performance}

Spring Cleaning

It’s always Spring when we think “where did I put that vacuum cleaner?” This Spring, I’m harkening back to “Pie, Picket Fences & Purgatory, ” a production I choreographed through the mediums of film and performance art. It attempted to reveal how the euphemistic “American Dream” falls between the cracks of the perfect picket fence/apple pie-idealism. The image of Annie vacuuming, donning her June Cleaver-like costume, reminds me of the false hope that Trump is toting around as he dares to sell bibles in an effort to “clean-up” his act and suck all the money he can out of the American people’s pocket books in an effort to pay off his court fees — blasphemy at its finest. Extend your leg as high as you can go, pretend to be vacuuming, and wear your Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes, as you try to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes — this is our new purgatory, and there’s no salivating over freshly baked apple pies here!

I digress. Back to Spring cleaning. Last May after a move I made, I reluctantly cleaned out my costume closet, and away went years of ACD’s most revered pieces. It rattled me at first, but eventually that uncomfortable feeling turned into intrigue for new exploration. Don’t you hate that adage, out with the old, in with the new? It says everything, I guess, but when I think ahead with the elections coming up, I cringe that the old will remain, and the new will hobble into hiding. Here’s where imagination comes in. So, back to creative thoughts on vacuuming and dusting off that porch furniture so you can enjoy the fresh flowers and proverbial picket fences in your yard. Maybe tongue-in-cheek will help us through this period of time right now, until we can find our true direction. Until then, I’m watching a documentary on Dante while wearing pearls, eating pie, and picking dust bunnies off the floor.

Featured photos: Fay Li

Performers: Annie Heinemann, Dori Jones, Milan Misko

Dance and Live Music Tonight at SUNY Brockport!

Tamara Wilcox and I met when I did a residency at Eastern Michigan University back in 2005. A pianist and music specialist, Tamara was not only a huge talent musically, but also very well versed in collaboration and music editing. After many projects together over the years, I am delighted to present, yet another collaborative event where Tamara will play her live, original compositions, alongside my choreography at SUNY Brockport, NY, as part of her evening program, shared with musician Dr.Nancy Washer.

This evening’s concert will enable the audience to watch on a video screen, select pieces of Adams Company Dance that were previously set to Tamara’s scores. ACD’s “Flight” will be featured, with solits Christopher Taylor, and extraordinary dancer, now a rising star in Alvin Ailey. This pairing of Tamara playing live keyboards, while simultaneously filling the stage with dance on the big screen, will surely delight! Women who dazzle me by their artistry are high up on my list, and Tamara fits the bill!

The Veil of Winter

Through the bleak mid-winter, there’s a necessary time to go inward, and fill the well of creative thoughts. It’s a reflective time to look through the fine veil of what was, and into the future of possibilities. The image with Claire Hancock holding up a vintage scarf from my piece, “Dream Spell,” feels like it describes this quiet time with a gentle, ruminative, dream-like state — so appropriate for this time period. The day my dancers came together, working in my Jiffy-Mix style, felt like a dream — where the unconscious met cosmic visions, and a bizarre narrative unfolded like a dramatic play. Those were the ingredients that whirled through my mind then, and as for now… I’ll dream about how thin the veil is that lies between the falling of snow, and the budding of Spring.

Dancer: Claire Hancock in “Dream Spell.”

Honoring MLK, Jr

On this January 15th, I bring to you yet, again, a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr, through this time-honored piece, “Undisclosed Recipients: A Tribute to MLK, Jr.”

***“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”*** ~ MLK, Jr.

Dancer: James A Pierce, III
Photos: Cathryn Lynn

Reflections on 2023

“Solely United” was a pure experiment in 2023. James A. Pierce, III, and Mark Willis came together to award me a gift that keeps on giving. A film short embracing the human spirit at its core, that I can continue to watch whenever I want. Woven among three sections of poetry, and featuring spoken word and dance — this poignant, experimental interplay between two performers, invites you into a mystical journey of darkness and light.

Our film footage was shot on February 2nd, 2023 at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, NY, by Joel Stephen — a longtime partner with ACD. And, with the magic of my editor, Val Gomez Acosta, we whipped together this rare experiment pulling levers, in a couple of dozen hours. The day at the theater was another one of my Jiffy-Mixes, where when all was said and done, we probably were working only 2.5 hours.

Val Gomez Acosta was one of those rare finds. My former editor from my last project, Tareek Jones, had gotten a new job, and was unavailable right when I needed to start my work editing. I lucked out finding Val — a former graduate from Yale, who responded to my inquiry. I knew right away that we’d be a match. Without the genius of the editing of Val’s technically superior work, this film never would have gotten off the ground. From our shoot date up until May, I was consumed with an impending move. It all coincided where the film was finished within a day of the moving truck arriving! Our magic together worked! Our YouTube LIVE premiere was fit into a chaotic time in my life, and yet, we pulled it off in May. It deserves much more attention than what I was able to give it, but perhaps in the near future, we can revisit another go at it, in a new state of mind, and virtually, in a new state!

Val Gomez Acosta

I owe a debt of gratitude to James and Mark for trusting me with this huge experiment. As they are both pros, they dug their heels in and brought out the best of their abilities, and gave me the most wonderful gift from 2023~

Mark Willis & James A. Pierce, III

I invite you to see their work, if you haven’t seen it yet. I’m sure they’ll move you in many ways! Cheers to 2023 being all about experimentation, finding great talent, and transitioning!

Watch Solely United Here

2022: A Night of Magic with the American Dance Guild

On Friday December 2nd, I had to make a judgement call to bring in a replacement dancer to cover Derick McKoy, Jr, after learning of his sickness. It was a tough call to make, considering the concert was just three days away. Erring on the side of caution was the best measure; however, and so within a few short hours and after a few phone calls, I found a new dancer to cover Derick’s role. Thankfully, I was in the know of this new dancer and he was ready, willing and able to be a quick study.

And quick study he was! It was the day before the show, and DaJuan Foley jumped in with full gusto, and within two hours, learned the whole piece! Unbelievable! I was with Payton, the female dancer, and DaJuan the whole day, as after the rehearsal we quickly jumped in a cab and got to our tech rehearsal at the Aliey Center where we went into the early evening — whirlwind!! Our tech ran smoothly and the dancers felt pretty good, albeit exhausted. We planned on one more rehearsal the following day before the show. OMG!! No stress here!

With our last rehearsal Sunday the 4th during the day, we were able to whip up a fairly decent run through, though I barely got through giving notes before we were called to stage for ten whole minutes of last minute spacing. I sent the dancers home for a few short hours after that to gather their wits, and then we met up that evening for the concert. Needless to say, I was a tad nervous, mostly about getting the sewing done on the costumes last minute. Relief came when the dancers were dressed and I saw the costumes were going to function properly. I hugged them, and as I do before every show, I bestowed the piece to them — it’s now yours… go make magic on stage, I said!

And, magic they did make! From the moment they stepped onto to the stage, I was blown away by their beauty. Good things come in small packages, as both dancers stand just a wee bit over five feet tall! It was so fun looking at them eye-to-eye while working together! Magically, their statures appeared to look larger on stage — a comment I often got in my professional dancing years. The immense joy I felt as they took their final bow, made all the last minute changes worthwhile. I Will Show You An Ocean, had its second run on the Ailey Citigroup Stage — this time on the festival bill of the American Dance Guild, for which I was so honored. These two talented dancers are sure to be turning heads for years to come!

Feature Images by Robin Michals

Check out some more images from our duet here.

Join us for an Evening of dance, film shorts, and spoken word!

Extraordinary Artists… Raw Power… Unforgettable Performances…

Adams Company Dance Presents, “Lonestar,” at the 14th Street Y on 3/26 at 7p!

Join us for an evening of dance, film shorts, and spoken word that will feature 6 artists who will perform in four premieres, and some favorite pieces from ACD’s repertoire and filmography. Based on the themes of solitariness, this showing juxtaposes raw power with sensitive artistry.

Join us for an evening of dance, film shorts, and spoken word that will feature 6 artists who will perform in four
premieres, and some favorite pieces from ACD’s repertoire and filmography. Based on the themes of solitariness, this showing juxtaposes raw power with sensitive artistry.