The New York Grand Opera Company "Aida" Press Reviews 2008

Published August 27, 2008 in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.    Photo below by Joe Bly for The New York Grand Opera Company

"The choreography of Catherine Nicodemo and Joanne Rogers was always eye catching, fluid and stylish. Kudos to the sound control engineers, the amplification was near perfect.

The dancers who dazzled us in the triumphant scene with their belly gyrations and exotic footwork were Sirica Farrah, Amira Iriz, Richard Kilfoil, Catherine Nicodemo, Katherine Rumpler, Linda Sloboda, Lin Lang Wang and Denise M. Whelan. The female dancers [Amira Iriz and Linda Sloboda] had flowing appendages like butterfly wings that elicited gasps of admiration from the audience. The male dancers gave us a captivating “shimmy” or two as well as some excellent acrobatics."  

**************************************************************************************************************************************************

"An Aida Extravaganza" By FRED KIRSHNIT  | Published August 15, 2008 in The New York Sun   

  ***Photo below by Joe Bly for The New York Grand Opera

"If ever there were a perfect opportunity to mount a production of "Aida" featuring elephants, it was Wednesday night in Central Park. The vast, wide-open spaces could hold any and all elements of a true spectacular.  Alas, the New York Grand Opera does not have a budget for a pachyderm parade, but it did mount a pretty fabulous extravaganza ....There were spear-carriers, sword fighters [Amira Iriz and Linda Sloboda] , hootchy-kootchy dancers, sedan chairs, and even two impressive sets of tusks carried by bearers....is almost a concert-band sonority to his Verdi, typically only experienced in Italy itself. It wasn't that long ago that this type of music, played with this type of style, would greet arrivals at the more luxurious railway stations on a glorious Italian journey."

***Photo below by Joe Bly for The New York Grand Opera Company 2008

Review of Ancient Rhythms Show, Amira's sword performance is described as "breathtaking" and "having beautiful hand gestures complimentary to her every move...."   

The New York Grand Opera Company "Aida" Press Reviews 2001

Review of "Aida" performed by The New York Grand Opera Company Summer Stage in Central Park conducted by Vincent La Selva...."All the dancers worked hard in what must be a very difficult venue to choreograph and play; three highly professional belly dancers (Amira Iriz, Nafissa and Ayshe Sloboba) provided welcome novelty in the Triumphal Scene. In the end, the grateful crowd cheered the company and Verdi's genius...."    

Gay City News formerly LGNY 

Review of "Aida" performed by The New York Grand Opera Company Summer Stage in Central Park conducted by Vincent La Selva...."Camp is an important part of opera. So it's an accolade to say that it was gloriously present in the New York Grand Opera's "Aida" at Central Park's Summer Stage....There was the triumphant grand march, with waving palm fronds, bare-chested men and three belly dancers shimmying amid clouds of lame..."