Claudia La Rocco

New York, NY —

Necessity is the mother of invention and WNYC's cultural critic Claudia La Rocco taps into a few ways artists are coping with the economic downturn, and fostering new kinds of artistic communities.

More on Claudia's Performance Club

New York, NY —

Theaters all over the city offer up the chance to see tomorrow's big shows and today's rising stars as they're putting together their newest projects. From The Public Theater to the Guggenheim, low-priced performances give audiences a unique inside scoop. Performance Critic Claudia La Rocco ...

New York, NY —

For years, tap has been treated as an unwanted step-child in the dance world, but now it’s getting a little bit more love. The Tap Legacy Foundation has announced an effort to build a new center for tap here in the city. And it’s the ...

New York, NY —

This coming Tuesday Arts advocates from all over the state will gather in Albany to meet with state legislature to protest proposed cuts to the funding to the New York State Council on the Arts. Reports about struggling arts groups around the city have been ...

New York, NY —

Arts groups around New York City are struggling as a result of the recession. Cultural critic Claudia La Rocco talks with WNYC's Weekend Edition Host Brian Zumhagen about what the crisis in the arts means for the overall health of the city.

New York, NY —

The musical "Billy Elliot" is one of the few that’s still holding strong in an otherwise dismal time for a lot of Broadway shows. It’s a coming-of-age story about a young boy and his love of ballet, set against the backdrop on a 1984 miners' ...

New York, NY —

Cultural critic Claudia LaRocco brings us some high, low and frivolous items from the year in performance: from being jilted by French opera director Gerard Mortier to the best little theater in Queens.

New York, NY —

In 1958, a group of young African-American modern dancers gave birth to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in a performance at the 92nd Street Y. 50 years later, the company has become one of the most famous dance companies in world, and they’ve been ...

New York, NY —

The election is on everybody’s mind. And it has a particular resonance for artists of color, who have long been dealing with politics that Barack Obama would surely recognize. Claudia La Rocco spoke with four artists who’ve been thinking about the complex intersection of art, ...

New York, NY —

What does it mean to preserve live art? The choreographer Antony Tudor is being celebrated around the country this this year, and a range of ballet companies are performing his works. Ballet has a long and deep tradition – as a classical art form, it ...

New York, NY —

The pop star Beyonce announced her engagement to the hip hop mogul Jay-Z earlier this week. And tonight, the performance artist Neal Medlyn is offering his own tribute to the singer as he re-enacts the BEYONCE EXPERIENCE LIVE! DVD. Critic Claudia La Rocco stopped by ...

New York, NY —

Sustainability is a big question for a lot of New Yorkers, and for New York’s artists. The Center for Performance Research is a new arts space that tries to provide some answers. It’s a performance and research laboratory located in an environmentally-friendly apartment building in ...

New York, NY —

Location, location, location. It’s one of New York’s biggest obsessions. And real estate is also a central preoccupation of a new production from the Foundry Theater called, "Open House." It’s set in 24 apartments in all 5 boroughs. The cultural critic Claudia La Rocco was ...

New York, NY —

Nothing says Christmas like dozens of bedazzled, leggy women kicking their hearts out. Seriously.

The Rockettes are back and, thanks to some vibrant new choreography, better than ever. This year's revamped Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the 75th anniversary, boasts some luscious new numbers for these precision-dancing ...

New York, NY —

Three of the most promising dance events this fall aren't likely to feature much dancey-dance. Don't look for athlete-performers, wearing spandex and leaping about to pretty classical music. Expect, instead, to be challenged and surprised. And delighted.

First up, beginning October 9, is