2011: Impromptu for Janet w/ Carmen deLavallade, Celebrating Janet Collins at 92nd St Y, NYC
"The 5th Wheel"
"the ageless Carmen deLavallade, the Lena Horne of dance, was not only as glamorous as ever (in a clinging red outfit) but was full of beans in The 5th Wheel, a vigorous head-to-head with the terrific saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom."
- Robert Gottlieb/ The New York Observer
Jane Ira Bloom performed the world premiere of "The 5th Wheel", a new collaborative
work with legendary dancer/ choreographer Carmen deLavallade on Friday, September 28,
8:00pm at NY City Center’s Fall for Dance Series. "The 5th Wheel" was the latest piece
in a continuing collaboration between legendary dancer/choreographer Carmen deLavallade
and Bloom. It explored the spatial and sonic relationships between a dancer on wheels and
a jazz quartet with one musician on the loose. The music based on Bloom's original piece
"Ice Dancing" featured a quartet of jazz improvisers onstage including bassist Rufus Reid,
drummer Jerry Granelli, and pianist Dawn Clement and was the springboard for deLavallade's
playful and evocative choreography. Bloom & deLavallade also appeared on a panel entitled
"Dance & Music: A Dynamic Dialogue" moderated by critic John Rockwell on Thursday, Sept 27,
6:30 – 7:30pm at City Center Studios, 130 West 56th St.
