press & reviews
“The audience went wild for “Caught,” in which strobe lights catch a soloist…the suave Michael Francis McBride…in midair.”
Siobhan Burke, New York Times
“The searching and lamentation of soloist Michael Francis McBride in the section “I Wanna Be Ready” resonated with the ideas of an unfulfilled quest.”
Elizabeth Kramer, Courier Journal
“The afternoon’s Revelations included an understated but silkily phrased rendition of the pleading solo “I Wanna Be Ready” by the golden-haired Michael Francis McBride.”
Marina Harss, Dance Tabs
“The spiritual “I Wanna Be Ready” draws a heart-wrenching performance from Michael Francis McBride.”
Gillian Ebersole, Bachtrack
“There was even more energy in “Ella,” an acrobatic, up-tempo duet choreographed to the scat singing of jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald. Michael Francis McBride and Renaldo Maurice, dressed in sequined tuxes, were light on their feet, combining for a sensational several minutes.”
Ray Wang, The Tech
‘“Ella,” the evening’s third Boston premiere, was a high-spirited duet choreographed by Robert Battle to Ella Fitzgerald’s live recording of “Airmail Special.” Clad in rhinestone-trimmed black tails, Michael Francis McBride and Renaldo Maurice evoked the Nicholas Brothers, tap dance legends, with their elegant somersaults and split-second footwork, all in sync with Fitzgerald’s soaring scat.”
Susan Saccoccia, The Bay State Banner
The diverse program included … a rollicking Birth of the Blues, with Michael-Demby Cain singing the song of the title, as Michael Francis McBride and Samuel Lee Roberts brought variety show-style vaudeville to new levels.”
Michael Musto, Logo.NewNowNext
“Night Creature (1974) shows Ailey flirting with ballet. The glamorous denizens of a nightclub world decreed by Duke Ellington’s music play cool elegance against sensual heat and jazz-based steps against virtuosic ones… the dancers also throw their legs up in arabesques and high kicks with thrown-back torsos, and, in one of the many show-off sections for small groups, Michael Francis McBride and his coterie fly around beating their feet together in brisées and entrechats six”
Deborah Jowitt, Village Voice
“The memory-makers are …Michael Francis McBride…Then there was testosterone-driven “The Hunt” (2010), which delivered blow after blow of movement that seemed to push Terry, Harder, Samuel Lee Roberts, Yannick Lebrun, McBride and Kanji Segawa beyond their limit, but unfeigned, they embraced the challenge to the very end.”
Charmaine Warren, New York Amsterdam News
“…Michael Francis McBride in the buddy duet wowed the audience. The lied back “after the dance” duet between two drunk and exhausted friends had subtle comedic touches that masked the athleticism and physicality of the section.
Walter Rutledge, Out & About NYC Magazine
“Sinner Man was danced by three extremely talented men, … and Michael Francis McBride.”
Jeff Slayton, LA Dance Chronicle
“…Samuel Lee Roberts, Sean A. Carmon, and Michael Francis McBride kept one-upping each others’ turns, leaps and extensions in the virtuosic Sinner Man.”
Anna Waller, Seattle Dances
“At Ailey, the balletic notes of the work stand out: feet are pointed, pirouettes are rigorously vertical, feet skitter in petit allegro. The clarity allows certain details to pop, as when one of the dancers, Michael Francis McBride, returns to the stage to pick an invisible flower and hold it delicately in his hand.”
Marina Harss, Dance Tabs
‘"Sinner Man" is performed by …Michael Francis McBride… was yet another technically impressive group of solo turns, all captivating and full of passion. The entire Company performs the last three sections dynamically increasing the fervor and enthusiasm through the descriptive movements and set and lighting changes that enhance the electrifying and deeply-felt choreography.”
Valerie-Jean Miller, Broadway World Los Angeles
“Among the standout moments of traditional music and brilliant dance were … Michael Francis McBride in the endlessly vigorous dashes and leaps of “Sinner Man.”’
Janice Berman, San Francisco Classical Voice
“Almost every one of them deserves mention, but there isn’t room here, so let me unfairly single out some of… dazzlers: …Michael Francis McBride.”
Robert Gottlieb, Observer