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Terrace in the Sky Restaurant
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Dance Duets - Performances of Swing, Latin and Modern Dance followed by social dancing at Terrace in the Sky

by Robert Abrams
June 19, 2006
Terrace in the Sky Restaurant
400 West 119th Street
(Btw. Morningside Dr. & Amsterdam Ave.)
New York, NY 10027
212-666-9490
For six years ExploreDance.com has been based on the proposition that it is possible to bring the worlds of dance together. On June 19, 2006 we put that assertion to the test. Rather than just reporting on dance performances, we put on one of our own. We brought together Robert and Nicola Royston (champion Swing dancers based at Dance Manhattan), Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma (champion Latin dancers based at Stepping Out Studios), and Katherine Fisher & Tracy Ray Kofford with Rosie Lani Fiedelman & Gabriel Contreras (talented dancers from Jennifer Muller | The Works, a modern dance company that has been creating dances and touring the world for over 30 years). The Roystons presented a choreographed West Coast Swing and an improvised Nightclub Two-Step. Simone and Ernesto presented a choreographed Salsa and an improvised Cha-cha. Jennifer Muller | The Works presented excerpts from Flowers and Island. The audience was a mix of people who tend to go to social dance events and people who go to modern dance performances. All of the performances held their attention. Robert Royston described Jennifer Muller's dancers and choreography as "exquisite." That is quite a compliment coming from someone with no lack of talent himself. Jennifer Muller was quite appreciative of the partner dance performances too. A collaboration may yet come out of the evening.

The dance floor was packed for Simone and Ernesto's lesson. People danced with enthusiasm to DJs Wes Carrajat and John Lindo. If people needed encouragement, Tammy and Dragan, from You Should Be Dancing dance center, were there as dance hosts. During the open bar, Terrace in the Sky's staff served artistic finger food passed on silver trays and poured a variety of excellent wine as well as unique cocktails. It was my birthday a couple of days before the event, so I had Terrace in the Sky make a birthday cake. It was one of the best chocolate fixes I have had in a while.

Have you ever had performances by eight world class dancers and a dance party in your living room? That is what the event felt like. The people who were in attendance got great value. The people who missed it will have to wait until next time.

I don't know when the next such event will be yet, but I know there has to be a next time. Jennifer Muller had to leave before the party was over, so while Jennifer Muller's choreography definitely makes me want to dance, I still haven't actually gotten a chance to dance with her.
Jennifer Muller's dancers warm up

Jennifer Muller's dancers warm up

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Jennifer Muller's dancers warm up

Jennifer Muller's dancers warm up

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Jennifer Muller's dancers warm up

Jennifer Muller's dancers warm up

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Jennifer Muller's dancers warm up

Jennifer Muller's dancers warm up

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Flowers for the performers from <a href='http://www.florists.ftd.com/matles/'>Matles Florist</a>

Flowers for the performers from Matles Florist

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Katherine Fisher & Tracy Ray Kofford of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from <I>Flowers</I>

Katherine Fisher & Tracy Ray Kofford of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from Flowers

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Katherine Fisher & Tracy Ray Kofford of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from <I>Flowers</I>

Katherine Fisher & Tracy Ray Kofford of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from Flowers

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Katherine Fisher & Tracy Ray Kofford of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from <I>Flowers</I>

Katherine Fisher & Tracy Ray Kofford of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from Flowers

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Katherine Fisher & Tracy Ray Kofford of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from <I>Flowers</I>

Katherine Fisher & Tracy Ray Kofford of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from Flowers

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma of Stepping Out Studios perform a Salsa

Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma of Stepping Out Studios perform a Salsa

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma of Stepping Out Studios perform a Salsa

Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma of Stepping Out Studios perform a Salsa

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma of Stepping Out Studios perform a Salsa

Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma of Stepping Out Studios perform a Salsa

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


General dancing during intermission

General dancing during intermission

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Rosie Lani Fiedelman & Gabriel Contreras of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from <I>Island</I>

Rosie Lani Fiedelman & Gabriel Contreras of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from Island

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Rosie Lani Fiedelman & Gabriel Contreras of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from <I>Island</I>

Rosie Lani Fiedelman & Gabriel Contreras of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from Island

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Rosie Lani Fiedelman & Gabriel Contreras of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from <I>Island</I>

Rosie Lani Fiedelman & Gabriel Contreras of Jennifer Muller | The Works perform a duet from Island

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Nicola and Robert Royston perform a Nightclub Two-step

Nicola and Robert Royston perform a Nightclub Two-step

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Nicola and Robert Royston perform a Nightclub Two-step

Nicola and Robert Royston perform a Nightclub Two-step

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma of Stepping Out Studios perform a Cha-cha

Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma of Stepping Out Studios perform a Cha-cha

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


The performers take a bow

The performers take a bow

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma teach a lesson

Simone Assboeck and Ernesto Alonso Palma teach a lesson

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


The guests partake of the food (passed around on silver trays no less) and the premium open bar

The guests partake of the food (passed around on silver trays no less) and the premium open bar

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Terrace in the Sky has excellent wine

Terrace in the Sky has excellent wine

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


John Lindo, DJ, takes a request

John Lindo, DJ, takes a request

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Robert Abrams dances with Tammy from You Should Be Dancing dance center

Robert Abrams dances with Tammy from You Should Be Dancing dance center

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen


Katherine Fisher of Jennifer Muller | The Works dances with Dragan of You Should Be Dancing dance center

Katherine Fisher of Jennifer Muller | The Works dances with Dragan of You Should Be Dancing dance center

Photo © & courtesy of Mark Millen

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