BWW Reviews: James Brown: Get On The Good Foot A Celebration in Dance

The Apollo Theater's presentation of JAmes Brown: Get on the Good Foot, a Celebration in Dance on Friday October 25, 2013 was an astounding array of funk and fine art, with a familiar bass line that riveted throughout the souls of the audience. The show included tap dancing, breakdancing, modern dance, fine lines, bright colors, afros, funky gyrations and, at moments, sacred translations.

Choreographers Otis Sallid, Souleymane Badolo, Thang Dao, Abdel R. Salaam, Ronald K. Brown, and Camille A. Brown set their work on dancers from the Philadelphia Dance Company PHILADANCO, with musical scores from classic JAmes Brown music and new contemporary compositions.

Just as JAmes Brown's music and dance style evoked the spirit of social justice, civil rights and equality for all people, the dancers celebrated and gyrated to every nuance of a musical icons history rich in power and performance.

All of the performers knew their history and craft. Just as JAmes Brown held nothing back, the dancers gave their all, displaying beautiful lines, articulate hand gestures and sharp infinite extensions all the way to a funky penchee'. Every element of space was tapped when dancer choreographer Derick K. Grant blasted on the stage tapping to the music "Superbad, Superslick," and the temperature continued to rise as dancers Janine N. Beckles, Elyse Browning, Victor Lewis, Jr. Courtney Robinson and Lauren Putty White steamed up the stage in a piece called Benon, dancing to classic JAmes Brown songs, "Please, Please, Please,""I Got You (I Feel Good)," and "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine)." Every musical beat was hit with a hip, a slide, a clinched fist and a nod of the head, while the audience tapped their feet throughout the performance. When dancer and choreographer Aakash Odedra presented an astounding, hypnotic piece called Ecstasy to the music "Get on the Good Foot (Parts 1& 2)," and "Make It Funky (Part 1)," his classic Indian dance style was like liquid as he poured his soul on the stage.

The show offered all of JAmes Brown, from soulful ballads passionately illustrated in romantic duets to
his popular song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World," accompanied by Ephrat Asherie's powerful hip hop style defining the significance of a woman in this world. The full PHILADANCO Company closed the show dancing to the song "Get up Offa That Thing," and there was no one in the building sitting down.

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