BWW Dance Review: Celebrating the Diversity of American Dance with PHILADANCO

Performing for the first time in more than a decade, the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival welcomed The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO) to the Prospect Park Bandshell on Saturday, June 25th 2016. This evening's program tailored specifically for the festival featured cutting edge choreography by some of the field's leading names such as Ronald K. Brown, Ray Mercer, and Christopher L. Huggins.

The evening opened with Guess Who's Coming to Dinner by Ray Mercer. Here, the dancers interacted with each other at a table (that's maybe 3 ½-4 feet tall) that serves as a stage on the stage. The table, although cold and unset, presents itself as a space for exchanging energies, forces, beliefs, characters, and opinions. What an intense piece with such high energy! I really enjoyed the dancers' use of the table as they jumped on and off, and slid underneath while they moved.

Next included excerpts from JAmes Brown: Get on the Good Foot, a Celebration in Dance, part of a project directed by Oits Sallid performed at the Apollo Theater back in 2013 to honor the legendary singer JAmes Brown. Bewildered by Thang Dao was bright, fun, with lots of different movements happening at the same time. There was....There is a Time by Abdel Salaam was interesting as it combined many different styles such as breaking, hip hop, swing, and ballet. The final excerpt was Think by Ronald K. Brown. It was a lively piece that is deeply rooted in the West African traditions.

The following dance was the New York Premiere of Between the Lines by Francisco Gella. It was inspired by the architectural drawings of Frank Lloyd Wright who was often inspired by Beethoven's compositions. I thought it was absolutely beautiful! The dancers moved with such grace with their soft hands, breathtaking lifts and outstanding technique. Such a great group of dancers with amazing talent!

The evening ended with Latched by Christopher L. Huggins. I thought this was an interesting concept as the dancers looked for new ways to "latch" on to each other while presenting the struggle of trying to break away. I loved it! The partner work was in-sync through their sharp and intricate moves. PHILADANCO is such a fierce company, one of a kind, and one to keep on your radar.

Being one of the leading presenters of cultural programming in New York City, the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival continues to capture the essence of rich and diverse artistry through superior free performances. Their unmatched approach to the arts truly celebrates the creative distinction that can only be found in Brooklyn, NY. Be sure check out the full 2016 summer schedule on their website: www.BRICartsmedia.org.

Photo Credit: David Andrako

To post a comment, you must register and login.