Fly by Night Dance Soars in New York
Charming and Funny Extension of Dance Movement
By: Susan Hall - Jun 08, 2025
Fly By Night Dance presented its annual New York Aerial Dance Festival at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center. Founded by Julie Lutwick, the group is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of modern dance. This program demonstrated how storytelling can be enhanced through trapeze work, live music, and the recitation of poignant historic poems.
The opening ceremony was led by South African performance artist Akim Funk Buddha. His drum descended from the stratosphere on a rope, just as the dancers would for the rest of the evening. This humorous touch was characteristic of Funk Buddha, who engaged the audience and reminded us that grace and fluidity are not the only movements available to dancers. He jerked and jogged around, making us laugh from moment to moment. Later in the program, he presented "Navigate," a collaborative piece with other cast members that was equally engaging.
Bobby Heglin-Taylor, an acrobat and comedian, showcased "The Dream Within." Choreographers Karen Potter and Julie Ludwick illustrated how dancing in the air enhances both the visual spectacle and the narrative being told.
In the second part of the program, Wendy Chua and Kris Olness featured live music from the Interwoven Ensemble, positioned stage right. They included an Erhu, a Chinese violin, honoring Wendy Chua’s Taiwanese heritage. Music is based on themes from the soundtrack of The Mysterious Lotus Casebook by Ivyan Yan and Jie Nan, as well as Senbonzakura by Kurousa P., in an original arrangement by Grammy Award winner Keiko Tokunaga, artistic director and violinist of the Interwoven ensemble. The music both underpinned the movement and engaged in a dialogue with it—a special treat.
Chriselle Tidrick performed to a live reading of Federico García Lorca's poem "Cuidad sin sueño." Both the movement artist and the actor reading the poem captured the restlessness and disillusionment of New York after the 1929 stock market crash—and perhaps even today.