REVIEWS
“Ms. Stekelman, an Argentine who has collaborated with ballet and modern-dance troupes, is in love with the tango. In "Boccatango," at the Joyce through Aug. 14, she combines tango steps with balletic turns and modern-dance stretches and contractions. She has thereby broadened the technical and expressive range of contemporary dance, much as Jerome Robbins and Agnes de Mille did by incorporating American folk dances into their ballets.”
- The New York Times
“For the first time, tango’s rhythms, musicality, and delicious tension between the sexes merged with modern dance’s sense of drama. The result was completely fresh. They are already in a miss-them-at-your-own risk category. By intermission, the packed house of nearly a thousand was on its feet, cheering.”
- Dance Magazine
“Ana Maria Stekelman, a choreographer who delights in blending traditional Argentine tangos with ballet and modern dance, contributed (to Ballet Argentino’s program) the sizzling "Piazzolla Tango Vivo," a group work to recorded tangos by Astor Piazzolla. Ms. Stekelman's tango-inspired choreography evoked emotional storms in shadowy nocturnal streets. When dancers entered, one could not always predict if they were about to make love or fight duels. Women and men wrapped themselves tightly around each other in duets. So did male couples in duets that were choreographic reminders that, historically, it was considered thoroughly permissible for men to dance tangos together. Ms. Stekelman made tangos look dangerously erotic.”
- The New York Times
“What do you get when you cross tango with modern dance? When Tangokinesis does the mixing, the result is a swirl of dancing that's sophisticated, sassy and fun. Stekelman shows herself to be an excellent choreographer, both of duets and group patterns. Her dances have elements of both fantasy (you don't know exactly what will happen next) and inevitability (what does happen is unexpected, but seems absolutely right) that make them both fascinating and satisfying. The dancers were superb.”
- The Washington Post
“Stekelman has taken her nation’s most popular participatory export and elevated it to an enchanting spectacle. The company took final bows to a crowd that whooped, cheered, and then imitated the performance in Duke University parking lots. Stunning!”
- Herald Sun, Durham, NC
“The dancing, a blend of tango and modern dance, is gorgeous, the kind of gorgeous that high-level ballet is. Technically dazzling and athletic, the dancers and Stekelman are immensely talented and the American Dance Festival performance is well worth seeing.”
- News & Observer, Durham, NC
"It's the perfect antidote to a hot summer night. Sizzling tango from Buenos Aires is both modern dance and the fancy steps of that cabaret social dance in the hands of choreographer Ana Maria Stekelman. Her dance company, Tangokinesis, is both hot and cool - and worth a trip from anywhere. The dancers are simply elegant - smooth and silky. It's a kind of delicious summer confection.”
- Boulder News
“It's dangerous to predict a best-of-summer show when summer isn't over yet, but the American debut of Tangokinesis from Buenos Aires, Argentina, is one of the strongest contenders. Their appearance as part of the Colorado Dance Festival proved an unalloyed delight. A splendidly rich mix of dance ideas.”
- Denver Post
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