For 40 years, Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY) has been part of New York City’s arts and sports landscape. In addition to performing at ice rinks around the city, company members have done on-ice clinics at Riverbank State Park helping young people from the community enjoy skating. “We do events that are free and welcome the community,” said Moira North, founder and artistic director of ITNY.
On Aug. 5, ITNY will be part of the West Harlem Arts Alliance’s (WHAA) launch of the Innovation Triangle at the Taystee Lab Building on 126th Street. The event will include a meet and greet with five Harlem artists-in-residence, as well as Eric Washington’s photographic exhibit “Manhattanville: Hidden in plain sight,” the West Harlem Wall of Fame: Art, Culture and Commerce, and a performance by ITNY. Harlem Late Night Jazz will present the Morgan Faw-Tet, which will perform as well as accompany several ITNY skaters for a bit of improvisation.
“We’re taking the opportunity of the [ITNY] performance to launch the whole activation of the Innovation Triangle,” said Michael Palma Mir, board member and executive director of WHAA. “It’s part of WHAA’s program to activate underutilized commercial corridors in different parts of West Harlem. This is our second year doing it … We’re taking a bigger bite in West Harlem by utilizing the old factory district.”
The Manhattanville exhibit comes from the City University of New York archives. “During the run of our activation, we’re going to have a panel discussion between two West Harlem historians, John Reddick interviewing the curator of this exhibition, Eric Washington,” said Palma Mir. “We’re trying to activate the space with activities.”
As this is not a refrigerated ice rink, ITNY will perform on a unique PolyGlide acrylic polymer surface. ITNY began rehearsing in the performance space on July 29. After the WHAA opening, the 40 pieces that comprise the surface will then be transported to Becket, Massachusetts and installed at Jacob’s Pillow, the oldest dance festival in the U.S., where the company will perform on August 7.
“[The Innovation Triangle] is a beautiful space and it allows us the opportunity to do a residency,” said North, adding that singer and skating enthusiast Alicia Hall Moran will serve as emcee. “To have the added opportunity to do a free showcase for the community in collaboration with the jazz group and …WHAA is fantastic.”