Reviews

"Aqua Terra" Dances In Nature

Natasha Carlitz Dance Ensemble’s Aqua Terra welcomed audiences into a theater alive with the calming sounds of waves, wind, and chirping birds. Projected onto the stage were slow moving illustrations of various nature scenes: trees, fields of wheat, waterfalls, beaches. The sense of world building was immediate so the transition from outside ODC Theater into the performance space felt like a gentle invitation into the creativity of the performers. The sonic and visual designs piqued my interest before the dancing started.

Dance company puts masterpieces into motion

With ‘Gallery,’ Natasha Carlitz Dance Ensemble creates choreography from paintings and sculptures

You could say that Natasha Carlitz Dance Ensemble’s latest show is a bit of a museum piece — one that spans centuries and styles of art. “Gallery” is a series of vignettes that bring works of visual art to life through dance. The Palo Alto-based dance company presents the show March 29-30 at Cubberley Theatre.

Review: Dance Mission Theater Presents HARVEST Choreographers Showcase

The comingling of traditional ethnic dance forms with contemporary themes and styles is a Bay Area tradition. Perhaps the most impactful on this evening, 30 hours after Hamas’s attack and Israel’s subsequent declaration of war, is Shtetl performed by the Natasha Carlitz Dance Ensemble (NCDE). Performing to Jewish music of longing and celebration by Apollo’s Fire, nine dancers in puffy-sleeved white blouses and vests over wide-legged multicolored pants adopt extended arm postures. Elements of the Horah, the traditional cross-stepping circle-dance, infuse the proceedings. The festive nature of the second song finds them cartwheeling and performing deep squatting front kicks.

It all adds up in math-based program by Carlitz Ensemble

Full show due in San Francisco in October 2014

Natasha Carlitz Dance Ensemble recently gave us a preview of its new show, “Momentum.” If you’re intrigued by the idea of an evening dedicated to math- and science-themed dance, be sure to save the date for the fully-staged production, at Cowell Theater in San Francisco on October 17 and 18.

S.F. Top 5 Emotional Dance Moments 2011

“Sometimes we dance for our Fathers…” This thought occurred to me earlier this year, after a conversation with Natasha Carlitz as we stood in the lobby of ODC Theater, following her company’s performance. I had been touched by an opening to one of her dances and she explained to me that it was a dance she choreographed for her father as he lay dying of cancer. I was moved even more by the gift she had created for her father and for herself. So, from time to time, throughout the year, my mind has wandered back to that evening with Ms Carlitz and her work of art. I realize now she started me on a journey that has brought me to this blessay: BADw’s Top 5 Emotional Dance Moments for 2011. In honor of Ms Carlitz, her company of dancers, her father, the dancers mentioned below and the local dance scene in general, I dedicate this blessay….

The feminist in dance

Rania Khallaf has been caught up in the message and magic of dance choreographed by women

The Egyptian International Modern Dance Festival is in its second week and is getting more exciting as it gets underway. Three consecutive dance shows, all distinguished in their own way, were choreographed – and mostly danced – by women and proved that women from both East and West have managed to cross the gender limit, or let us say the red line, more effectively than ever before.

Review of Natasha Carlitz Dance Ensemble

A dance performer since childhood, Natasha Carlitz’ credits include performing for several Bay Area choreographers and with High Release Dance. Her choreography has been performed by ODC San Francisco, Dance Visions, sjDanceCo, Dancin’ Downtown in San Jose, the Retail Dance Festival, and San Francisco’s Dancing in the Park. In a natural progression, in 2005 she founded her own company, the Natasha Carlitz Dance Ensemble. However, despite her experience and accomplishments, Carlitz supports herself not as a full-time dance professional, but in a hi-tech job at Google. You wouldn’t know it by watching her choreography.

Dance preview: Need for movement

Her need to create movement, says choreographer Natasha Carlitz, is “almost like a compulsion. If I am not choreographing, I get very grumpy to be around.”

Moods in motion

Dance program mixes grief, courage and whimsy

Three dancers sit with their backs to the audience. They all cast long looks over their shoulders, then gradually turn away.

No Farewell to Arms at Carlitz Dance

The word hasn’t gotten around on the elusive Natasha Carlitz Dance Company. But it will, it will.