“In dance that challenges the mind as well as the heart, Lydia Johnson often isolates and reworks components of classical ballet technique to create a sense of life flowing unhurriedly over mysterious human stories.” —Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times, 2005
Performance Videos
Watch videos of LJD performances.
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Lydia Johnson: Dancing to Golijov
A visit to the studio while the company prepares a new work, this review features a beautiful gallery of photos by Kokyat.
In The Studio With Lydia Johnson
The Oberon's Grove blog highlights a company rehearsal, with lots of great photos!
March City Center Showing Rave Review
“Lydia Johnson became overnight one of my favorite contemporary choreographers...her dancers took the floor and within seconds I knew I had found something I loved.” —Philip Gardner, Oberon's Grove Blog
Upcoming Performance
New York Season 2013
June 6, 7 and 8 at 7:30 pm at The Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55th Street, New York.
Two world premieres set to Osvaldo Golijov and Franz Schubert. Tickets are available at SmartTix (212 868.4444), $35 for patrons, $20 for general public and seniors. Dancers and students: $10 or 2 for $14.
Past Highlights
Open Studio Rehearsal
March 17, 2013
“An exhilarating afternoon for the many dance lovers who attended. Watching the intimate creative process between Lydia and her dancers left everyone wanting more.” —Oberon’s Grove
NPR's Julie Burstein interviews Lydia
February 23, 2013
The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, NJ
LJD performance and panel discussion moderated by Julie Burstein, creator of NPR's Studio 360, following viewing of Wim Wenders’ 2012 film PINA. In his Academy Award-nominated film, Wenders captures the sensual and visually stunning world of renowned late German choreographer Pina Baush.
LJD Repertory Workshop and Audition at Peridance
February 11-15, 17, 2013
Peridance Capezio Center, NYC
Studio Showing
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Manhattan Movement Arts Center
New York
LJD showed: Crossings, excerpts from Change of Heart, and a preview of a work in progress set to Osvaldo Golijov.
Morales Dance presents Contrasts
September 22 and 23, 2012
The Theater of The Riverside Church, New York
Guest choreographers Lydia Johnson, Yesid Lopez, Henning Rubsam. Special guests pianist Sandro Ruso and soprano Mary Ann Stewart.
New York Season 2012
Saturday, June 23 8:30 pm
Sunday, June 24 2pm and 7pm
LJD performed four works, including two premieres, at The Peridance Theater in New York! Music by: Philip Glass, J.S. Bach, Osvaldo Golijov. Guest Artists include dancers from the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company and others formerly with New York City Ballet.
Free Performance at SOPAC
Friday, June 8 at 7:30
Three repertory pieces with previews of two new works, followed by a Q and A with Artistic Director Lydia Johnson and company dancers!
LJD at Peridance
January 7 and 8, 2012
LJD and each Company on the APAP program presented an 8-minute excerpt from their repertory.
Lydia's new piece was shown in its entirety on Sunday, February 26 at 2:30 at Peridance, along with another complete work from the LJD Repertory!
The Downtown Dance Festival 2011
August 13 and 15, 2011
LJD presented excerpts from this year’s Zero Hours, set to piano blues by Pete Johnson and Albert Ammons. The piece featured LJD Company members Jessica Sand, Lisa Iannacito,Laura DiOrio, James Hernandez, Sarah Pon, Blake Hennessy-York, and guest artist Sean Patrick Mahoney, who appeared courtesy of the Paul Taylor Dance Company.
New York Season 2011
Friday June 17 - Sunday June 19
Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater
405 W. 55th Street, New York, NY
Four works including two premiers! Music by Henryk Gorecki, Philip Glass, J.S. Bach and jazz piano pieces played by Albert Ammons. The 2011 season is danced by 15 dancers including Guest Artist Sean Mahoney from the Paul Taylor Dance Company. (Click on the image to enlarge.)
There was a free public preview at SOPAC in South Orange, June 10 at 7:30. Excerpts from two works to be performed at the Ailey theater, plus a Q and A with the choreographer and dancers, and an opportunity for audience members to learn a phrase onstage!
Free Public Performance At SOPAC
June 10, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
LJD showed excerpts from two works from the New York season. The evening included a Q and A with the choreographer and dancers, and an opportunity for audience members to learn a phrase on stage! Read more...
Dance Repertory Workshop
At Peridance Capezio Center
June 27 – July 1, 2011, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Each day during this week-long Repertory Workshop, material from a different piece of the LJD repertory was presented and explored. Ms. Johnson’s vocabulary is ballet-based with modern, gestural and drop-and-release components.
Ms. Johnson and Company dancers emphasize individual interpretations of each combination and phrase with special focus on linking the movement to the music. LJD’s focus in performance is on the ability of each dancer to express the choreography with an individual, musically intelligent voice. Read more...
LJD at Peridance Capezio Center in January, 2011
Each day during the Workshop, material from a different piece of the LJD repertory was presented and explored. Ms. Johnson and Company dancers emphasized individual interpretations of each combination. LJD’s focus in performance is on the ability of each dancer to express the choreography with an individual voice. Rather than working to attain a uniform quality, LJD dancers strive to bring their own personal vision into the phrases. Ms. Johnson choreographs.
10th Anniversary Season
The Ailey Citigroup Theater, NYC June 24, 25 and 26, 2010
Performances included a world premiere set to Bach's Solo Violin Partitas and Sonatas, 2009's acclaimed Dusk set to Gorecki, a deeply moving double pas-de-deux In Conversation (2005) set to Glass, a post modern look at love and glamor filled with sweeping dancing Dream Sequence (2008) set to songs sung by Dean Martin and, back by popular demand, a revival of the wry 2005 The End of the Movie for three women on benches, set to the songs of Cake.
2009 Summer Season
LJD performed four major works to music by Henryk Gorecki, Phillip Glass and to songs sung by Dean Martin! Read more...
Lydia Johnson Dance at Jacob's Pillow
Lydia Johnson Dance was selected to appear at the historic Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Lee, Massachusetts on July 25, 2009. Performing as a part of the Inside/Out series at The Pillow, LJD showed both Collecting Rain and Lament on the stunning outdoor stage. The performance was free and was followed by a Q and A period with Lydia and Company!
More on the fascinating history of Jacob's Pillow, where major modern dance creators performed and worked.
Still photographs throughout the site by Julie Lemberger (© Julie Lemberger, 2004–2009) and Kokyat (© Kokyat, 2009), as noted.
All photos on this page by Julie Lemberger.
