Dance Review: Danco is it! Philadanco at The Joyce

 Danco is it!

Danco is it!  I am totally honored to be at The Joyce Theater to see Philadanco perform which is one of the best dance companies out there…. and I mean The BEST.  I’m impressed at their ability to be so in sync as a company, be extraordinarily technical, in addition to being great performers with excellent stage presence and the entertaining ability to “get down” on stage.  The true definition of fierce!  At a time where technique seems to outweigh emotion and passion, Danco is an inspiration and hotter than hot! 

Philadanco, "Enemy Behind the Gates"

The show is a perfect length.  Right out of the gate, the evening starts with a piece choreographed by Camille Brown called Those Who See the Light. This is an all female piece that comments on being “called by the light to become it.”  The costumes are variations of half shirts an pants in grey, black, white, and striped of the same colors.  The choreography emphasizes sharp and intricate arm movements and intense use of the floor. The lighting design is great for this piece as dancers moved in and out of various light patterns and combinations of spotlights.

The next piece, choreographed by Philly's own hip hop legend, Rennie Harris, is an explosive commentary on the political, social and economic change in Philadelphia.  Entitled Philadelphia Experiment, the piece is filled with hip hop history as Rennie touches on every style from house, to break dancing, whacking, and old school club dances.  These dancers are surprising for every body attacked the movement with such fierceness!!!  The piece uses complex rhythmic patterns and foot work that mimics the “rhythms, posture, physicality, and speed of the city of Philadelphia.  Dancers wear pants and tops of earthy brown colors and brown Puma sneakers to match as they show that not only can the toes point, but the booty can shake!  Tommie Waheed Evans gives his soul to the audience as a remarkable lead.  Yaaaas!

Intermission is followed by Hope Boykin’s piece Be Ye Not which is based on the bible verse Romans 12:2 which says “We often feel that conformity leads to acceptance, but ...be ye not conformed to this world, but be transformed."  The dance shows the story of a young woman,
struggling with the idea to be like everyone else. The movement is a range of lyrical movement that could suddenly transform to sharp hip hop movements and funky arm patterns.  Dancers run on the stage in patterns similar to birds flying in a flock symbolizing their conformity. 

The show ends with Enemy Behind the Gates, an explosive piece by Christopher Huggins.  Explosive!  His choreography is where it's at!   It is “ turn, turn, turn, fall, leap, head roll, split, lift, repeat, fall, leap!  Yaaas!  The costumes are a uniform set of fierce skirts for the girls, pants for the boys, and long-sleeved buttoned military shirts for everybody. The movement is a combination of tight military style formations and crazy split’s , leaps and lifts, not to mention ridiculous combinations of petit allegro fuse with athletic modern movements and serious attitude.  Danco eats this piece!

I write these words with ease because of the joy spilling out of me from Danco “representin” at the Joyce.   Joan Myers Brown knows how to pick ’em and these dancers deserve a standing ovation for their skill, professionalism, grace, and last but not least….their fierceness!

Photography by Lois Greenfield

iDANZ Critix Corner
Official Dance Review by JoiLynn
Performance: Philadelphia Dance Company, Philadanco
Choreography:  Christopher Huggins, Hope Boykin, Camille Brown, Renne Harris
Venue: The Joyce Theater, New York City
Date: Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
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