In the front corner of a third floor rehearsal studio, Staycee Pearl perches at the edge of her chair, iPod in hand, cozy scarf wrapped around her neck, and tennis shoes placed on her modern dancer feet. The atmosphere is calm and surprisingly relaxed for the week of opening night, but there is no doubt Pearl is in complete control of the nine dancers moving through the space.
With quiet certainty, she gives the cast independence to solve problems, stepping in for questions or to mark the movement when something is unclear. The music reverberates through the room in a smooth R & B vibe. Andre 3000, of Outkast, sings in a sensual falsetto the lyrics to “Prototype.” “I hope that you’re the one. If not, you are the prototype.”
Pearl’s dancers circle their hips seductively, shimmy their shoulders, and pose on display for the audience. The effect is hardly similar to the women of music videos, whose scantily clad and voluptuous figures dance (or simulate sex, really) for the benefit of the lead man with the microphone and his audience. Rather, Pearl’s choreography is meant to comment on the excesses of modern day pop culture and what commands attention in the media.
Back in May, Pearl showcased an excerpt of this work at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater’s newMoves dance festival. As the theater’s artist in residence, Pearl’s company has performed several times since then and will culminate the residency this Friday and Saturday with “circle POP.” However, it won’t technically be the last we see of Pearl’s work. The KST has talked about extending her stay indefinitely, as resident company at the theater.
“I’m honored to have the appointment of company in residence,” Pearl says. “The theater has been amazing and accommodating, and has gone above and beyond.”
At rehearsal, it is clear that her time at the theater has helped her develop the aesthetic of the company much faster than she would have without the time and resources the Kelly-Strayhorn has offered her.
The company operates as a clear unit now, understanding the style of their choreographer and blending their individual talents like a true ensemble. In addition to her spring cast, Pearl adds special guests to the piece: former Dance Alloy dancers Gwen Ritchie and Lisa Belcher, as well as members of the Alumni Theater Company - a group of talented city youth ranging in ages from six to seventeen.
Pearl’s inspiration for adding the kids stemmed from a Bill Cosby video she watched early in her choreographic process. Cosby asked kids what they wanted to be when they grew up and got several answers including actor, singer and basketball player. Above all, they wanted to be famous. When he asked one young woman how much she believed a famous person was paid annually, she answered, “Four thousand dollars?”
Pearl described the video as “heartbreaking,” but was thrilled to learn that the ATC kids had a different understanding. “Growing up in the theater, these kids have major confidence. They are driven. They have performance quality, and they are realistic about what they want to do with their lives.”
In the piece, the kids watch voyeuristically as the older dancers go through a sexual process. Using modern dance vocabulary, the movement is metaphoric, not explicit, and meant to represent what we see in everyday culture - the sexualization of women and girls, for one.
The sound, mixed by Herman “Soy Sos” Pearl, marries popular and not-so-popular music and extends it in different ways. Among the more recognizable artists will be Jay Z, Kanye West, Beyonce and Jimi Hendrix.
Pearl’s work brings to light relevant and meaningful subject matter in a sharp and sophisticated manner. “circle POP” gathers artists of all ages and genres in a multimedia event certain to provoke insightful discussion. And lucky for us that we will have Pearl at the Kelly-Strayhorn as a permanent artistic fixture.
“circle POP” runs Friday and Saturday, November 19th and 20th, 2010 at 8:00 p.m., Kelly-Strayhorn Theater.
Tickets: $25 Door | $20 Advance | $15 Residents of 15206 | $10 Student w/ID/Artist. Click HERE.
To purchase artSEEDS school matinee tickets for Friday, November 19 at 10 a.m., click HERE or call 412-363-3000. Tickets are $2.50 per student, teachers and chaperones are free.
To purchase 10 or more tickets at a special discounted rate, please call 412-363-3000.
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