Performances at Dance Times Square's guest night

Dance Times Square
156 West 44th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY
www.dancetimessquare.com

Robert Abrams
March 25, 2004

Dance Times Square holds a monthly guest night with performances by teachers and students, not to mention lots of general dancing. It takes place in a welcoming studio in the heart of Times Square. The parties there are fun and the performances are first rate. Tonight was no exception.

The most notable performance of the evening was Anya and Benito Garcia's innovative routine that combined Rumba, African Dance and Modern Dance. I have seen Salsa combined with Argentine Tango, Argentine Tango combined with Modern Dance, Argentine Tango combined with West Coast Swing, and I have occasionally danced West Coast Swing patterns to Salsa, but this was new. The hybrid choreography felt like an integrated whole. It felt like a significant breakthrough towards the unity of dance. The dancing was energetic. The room was warmer at the end of the routine than it was at the start, but that always happens when Anya dances. Anya and Benito also danced a Cha-cha by Perez Prado.

There were several other performances, including a few numbers by a couple who is training for Blackpool. They weren't actually on the program for the night. They were just at the studio to practice and got roped into performing (again and again, by popular demand). They were both very accommodating and very talented.

Anya and Benito Garcia dance a Rumba/African/Modern Dance hybrid
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams

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Anya and Benito Garcia dance a Rumba/African/Modern Dance hybrid
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams

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Tony Meredith sends stylish DJ into a state of ecstasy
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams

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Elegant and assertive circles the floor
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams

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Elegant and assertive circles the floor
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams

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Elegant and assertive circles the floor
Photo courtesy of Robert Abrams

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