NEW YORK — Everything about Bob Fosse choreography is difficult. And as choreographer James Kinney recently worked through a Fosse piece with Broadway dancer Skye Mattox, it's not just the moves, it's also the emotions — even the permission to do the well known dance.
What You Need To Know
- iHeartDance NYC is a new series of outdoor dance performances created to help return out of work dancers to the stage
- It's organized by communications professionals and dance lovers Melissa Gerstein and Kimberly Giannelli
- The events are funded by sponsorships, donors and ticket sales
- The next two performances on May 10 and May 24 will pay tribute to the late dance icon Ann Reinking
It’s an iconic number that the late Ann Reinking danced in the 1979 film "All That Jazz," loosely based on the life of choreographer Bob Fosse, and his artistic and romantic partners, ex-wife Gwen Verdon and Reinking.
"It's so difficult. Just the balance alone, and the legs and jumping back and forth between hard and soft and subtle and cool," said Kinney at an Upper West Side rehearsal studio.
Mattox will perform the piece at an upcoming iHeartDance NYC event. It's a new series of eclectic outdoor dance performances with incredible New York City performers. It's organized by Kimberly Giannelli and Melissa Gerstein, two businesswomen who felt the city and state hadn’t done enough for out of work dancers.
"It was really born out of a love of dance and a frustration that no one was doing anything for these dancers who were literally waiting in the wings and having no place to rehearse, to dance, to perform," Gerstein said.
The performances have been taking place with small audiences atop the Empire Hotel, funded by sponsors, donors, and tickets sales. The May 10 and May 24 performances will also pay tribute to Reinking who died in her sleep in December at age 71.
"We were all shocked, and because of COVID we haven't had the opportunity to honor her life outside with a true performance and so I'm so honored to be able to be here and it's very emotional for me, but I'm thrilled," Kinney said.
Reinking was Kinney's mentor and his deep knowledge of the work helped them get permission from the Vernon Fosse Legacy LLC to perform the piece.
It's also an emotional journey for Mattox. She's been out of work and lost her health insurance. She hasn't danced on stage in more than a year. But despite the anxiety, this piece beckons her.
"I saw it when I was little and like come on the sparkle and the hair. Ann Reinking’s performance is just amazing. She’s so beautiful," Mattox said.
Tickets start at $100. It's $50 to view online. And the response has been so overwhelming, organizers are thinking about taking the show on the road.
For more information, visit iheartdancenyc.com.