The Salvatore LaRussa Dance Theatre, a stand-alone neighborhood dance studio in Middle Village, has delighted guests once again with a series of performances from distinguished artists at its annual Queens Outdoor Dance Festival this year.
Salvatore LaRussa, the artistic director and choreographer of the Middle Village theater, located at 66-85 73rd Pl., has continued to bring performance arts to the neighborhood since opening the theater space in 2009.
The Sunday evening art exhibition featured a diverse range of experimental and classical dance performances. Included in the program were nearly a dozen key performing artists from all parts of the city who brought together a choreographed show in the form of solo acts and company pieces.
Yang Sun, as one of many internationally recognized performers for the night, performed her solo “Poet” as part of the festival. Sun comes with an extensive background in dance performance art, appearing in several works from premier dance studios.
Poet was selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association Northeast Regional Gala last year and selected as a finalist to be considered for the New York Live Arts Fresh Tracks.
Joining the international artists was Anabella Lenzu, a dancer and educator with over 30 years of experience performing throughout the U.S., Argentina, Chile and Italy. Lenzu has been the director of her own company, in operation since 2006, and has created hundreds of choreographed works.
The duet “Fogata de amor” (Fire of Love), choreographed by Lenzu, was inspired by the Argentinean folk dances La Samba y La chacarera, and encapsulated a mother-daughter relationship.
LaRussa continues to bring the arts to Middle Village with the support from Council Member Robert Holden, Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., the Queens Council on the Arts, the NYS Council on the Arts, the NYS Foundation for the Arts and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development.
The studio is expected to host another outdoor festival in the Fall.
