52 | BOROMAG.COM | MARCH 2015 NIGHTLIFE & ENTERTAINMENT Patricia Kenny Dan ce Colle cti on { Presented by Queens Theatre and Patricia Kenny Dance Collection, “Spring Collection 2015” will include a series of virtuosic, innovative, riveting and whimsical dances by Patricia Kenny, Charlotte Griffin, and Katarzyna Skarpetowska. PKDC will be joined by renowned guest dancer and choreographer Miguel Quinones, formally of the Parsons Dance Company. Patricia Kenny took a moment to discuss the upcoming show with BORO. { BORO: It is wonderful that Patricia Kenny Dance Collection focuses on featuring new and emerging choreographers. How did you become connected with Charlotte Griffin and Katarzyna Skarpetowska? Patricia Kenny: Upon the company’s original inception, in 2001, an important part of our mission was to support and encourage emerging choreographers. I choreographed two thirds of the repertory and the rest was to be created by my peers in the field whom I invited to work with the dancers. After the guest artist’s dance was created, I would then continue to direct and rehearse their dance until it was performed. They have all graciously allowed us to keep their work in our current repertory and they will periodically come to work with new dancers that join the group and are new to their work. Along with the aforementioned female choreographers, this season, we are incredibly lucky to have Miguel Quinones, previously of The Parsons Dance Company, perform a solo of his own choreography and be my partner in Kismet. He is possibly the most naturally kinetic male dancer I have ever encountered—a true artist. BORO: I understand that a few of your dancers are from right here in Western Queens. How many of your dancers live in Astoria and Long Island City? PK: Yes, that is true. At the moment, two of the PKDC dancers live in Astoria, however, I lived there for ten years myself while I danced with David Parsons, Kevin O’Day and Christopher D’Amboise and then began my own group. As a matter of fact, many dancers who have been through my company have lived in Long Island city at some point. In a way, the area has been a haven for artists since the 90’s when NYC rental prices began to skyrocket and freelance performing artists could no longer afford the rents. We all began moving out to Queens or Brooklyn in hopes of finding a safe, convenient, and affordable living situation while working and rehearsing in New York City. BORO: Your past shows feature such beautiful, emotional dancing that seems to tell such a poignant story. How would you describe the story of the upcoming piece, Kismet? PK: The Turkish word, Kismet, means fate or destiny. This new dance depicts and explores pairings, relationships, and the intense “pull” that can exist between two individuals. There is a developing story line in the dance between two specific people that begins together wrapped within the innocence of young love. As the bond develops and consequently evolves to a darker and more conflicted place, they must separate. The “pull” becomes a pushing away from each other, which necessitates their own individual surrender and subsequent growth in order to learn and recognize their own failings and weaknesses. After some time, they are ready to meet again and rekindle their connection. In the end their beautiful magnetism prevails and they do find their story of “Kismet” and the blessing of love and joy together.
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