The East Village-based adaptation of 'The Nutcracker' returns tonight

The fourth annual production of the alternative, East Village-based adaptation of "The Nutcracker" begins tonight.

La MaMa Experimental Theater in association the GOH Productions presents this production of "The Shell-Shocked Nut," featuring an intergenerational cast of dancers and musicians.

Here's more info via the EVG inbox...

In this unconventional take on the seasonal staple, a wandering child and a war veteran suffering from PTSD take a magical voyage through the East Village. The pair of characters visit Tompkins Square Park, Economy Candy Store, St. Mark’s Place, and other East Village landmarks while exploring themes of loss and recovery.

"The Shell-Shocked Nut is conceived and directed by Martha Tornay and co-directed by Victoria Roberts-Wierzbowski. The pair also spearhead East Village Dance Project (EVDP), a dance development program that has offered after-school classes in ballet, modern and choreography in lower Manhattan since 1997.

The show first emerged as a studio showing in the weeks after Superstorm Sandy created as a means of brightening spirits after a challenging time for the community. “I started thinking about the cathartic process of working through a stressful situation,” Tornay said.

The sister and daughter of war veterans, Tornay was inspired to use the structure of the Nutcracker to tell a more personal story of the effects of trauma, while maintaining the accessible, family-friendly nature of the traditional ballet.

In the years following its inception, the piece has grown to a full-scale production, featuring young students from the dance program alongside an array of professional performers, artists and guest choreographers from NYC and beyond.

"The Shell-Shocked Nut" is tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20, and $15 for seniors, students and children 12 and under. You can buy tix online at lamama.org or at the box office: (212) 352-3101.

Contributor Stacie Joy, who has covered the production in the past (here and here) for EVG, shared these photos from rehearsal last night...

East Village Dance Project choreographs move to the Lower East Side

Via the EVG inbox...

East Village Dance Project (EVDP), a dance development program based in the East Village for the past 20 years, recently announced their partnership with Abrons Arts Center, the arts organization and program of Henry Street Settlement located on Grand Street in the Lower East Side.

Commencing with the start of their Winter/Spring semester on January 28, EVDP will relocate all of their youth and teen dance classes to the Abrons’ facilities and will be conducting their registration through Abrons’ system.

The move allows EVDP the ability to teach multiple classes simultaneously in neighboring studios inside Abrons, expanding their class offerings to accommodate age and level. The move to Abrons also provides the fantastic opportunity for EVDP students to perform their spring concert in the historic Playhouse Theater, a venue that has housed a host of dance luminaries since its inception in 1912, including Martha Graham and Agnes de Mille.

Since the start of EVDP, Founder and Director Martha Tornay has been dedicated to making dance available to all, regardless of financial circumstances. Abrons itself has a long-standing commitment to creating arts programs that are financially accessible to the whole community. EVDP classes at Abrons will be offered on a tiered pricing system based on household income, in line with the shared vision of providing all young artists the opportunity for quality dance education.

EVDP's home studio had been at 55 Avenue C at Fourth Street since 2011.

East Village Dance Project is in danger of losing its space on Avenue C

East Village Dance Project (EVDP), a dance-development organization that offers programming for kids and adults, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Since January 2011, their home studio has been at 55 Avenue C at Fourth Street.

Unfortunately, EVDP is in danger of losing this space.

Bonnie Stein, the executive and artistic director of GOH Productions, which serves as EVDP's nonprofit umbrella organization, said that they need "to find a partner to share the rent and to occupy the lovely ground-floor office."

The previous tenant moved out (on good terms), and the deal for someone new to take the space fell through this past summer. Meanwhile, EVDP can't go it alone paying the full rent.

"Our program is strong," said Stein, referring to EVDP's after-school classes for ages 3 to 18. "But the rent is a big burden on the dance program."

Stein said that there is 400 square feet of office space available. (There's also use of the studio when EVDP is not holding its own classes.) The rent is about $1,800 to $2,000 per month, plus some minor utilities. The space is move-in ready.

Here are some more details via Stein:

GORGEOUS DANCE STUDIO AND OFFICE AVAILABLE.
Fully accessible ground floor

Dance Studio: 24 x 47 feet
Mirrors, ballet barres, windows, private bathroom in the studio

• Available studio hours are:
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. M-F, Saturday after 3 p.m. and Sunday all day.

• NOT AVAILABLE studio time when we have a youth dance program:
M-F 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Studio time cannot be after 9 p.m.) Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• OFFICE: 17 x 14, with large windows on the street level, lots of light.
Shared bathroom in lobby.
Can also be used as a small studio, with some modifications.

Rental is variable depending on need, office only, or office/studio combination.

Please contact Bonnie via email here.

"The timeline is pretty fast," Stein said. "We have about three months to really decide if East Village Dance can stay here or move."

Previously on EV Grieve:
A sneak peek at 'The Shell-Shocked Nut'

'The Shell-Shocked Nut' returns to La MaMa

Words and photos by EVG contributor Stacie Joy

For the second year, I had a chance to get a sneak peek at the East Village Dance Project’s annual performance of "The Shell-Shocked Nut" (an alternative take on "The Nutcracker") at La MaMa.









Conceived and directed by Martha Tornay, and co-directed by Victoria Roberts-Wierzbowski, the all-ages production opens tonight and runs through Sunday, Dec. 20. The story features local spots like Tompkins Square Park, community gardens, and Economy Candy, and has bad guys like an unnamed real-estate developer. There’s even a live rock band during the CBGB’s ghost portion of the performance.









The East Village Dance Project, located at 55 Avenue C , offers classes to all, regardless of income, and has a scholarship program named after Charlotte Ruby Cantor, a young student of Martha’s who died at an early age in 1999. Her family developed the scholarship to support local young people whose families cannot afford the expense of dance classes.

Tickets — which help support the scholarship fund, and are subject to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit status — and additional information can be found here.

EV Grieve Etc.: Mourning Edition

[Photo from Tompkins Square Park by Fallopia Tuba]

Stuy Town's overlord is now officially Stuy Town's owner — for now (Curbed)

More on the end of East Village Radio (Fast Company)

Remembering a little brick building on Grand Street (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)

Lunch with Christo and the fam (Gog in NYC)

Love for Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books (Off the Grid)

A look at Flinders Lane on Avenue A (The New York Times)

Calvin Trillin visits Russ & Daughters Café (Eater)

Checking out Smart Crew's installation in Chinatown (Animal NY)

Lobster Joint ready to reopen? (BoweryBoogie)

About the big-ass yacht moored off Pier 36 (The Lo-Down)

All about the opening of the Ludlow Hotel (The New York Observer)

Opening today: "Frightening and fascinating, 'Master of the Universe' offers a penetrating glimpse behind the curtain of high finance, revealing the psychology, the mechanics, and the sobering reality of a world that deeply affects all of us but that few of us fully understand." (Anthology Film Archives)

The origin of counterculture icon Alfred E. Neuman (Dangerous Minds)

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Volunteers erected a stage in El Jardin del Paraiso (East 4th Street between C and D) this week for the year-end show by East Village Dance Project. Seventy kids will dance here tomorrow and Sunday at 5 p.m. More details here.