Jamaica Performing Arts Center opened its Fall 2011 season with the second installment of its Dance Festival “Making Moves.” The festival showcased four dance companies performing works from the political and social to an outpouring of affection to the Queen of Soul.
Yoo & Dancers were up first performing a political dance piece entitled “160 miles.” Its choreographer, Hee Ra, explained in a telephone interview that the current dictatorship in Korea was the inspiration for the piece. “One dictator changes millions of lives,” Hee said, and, “as an artist passing the message is important.” Her dance troupe were entwined and entangled in a solemn and haunting representation of domination that was modern and provocative. Dancers ripped and tore tape as part of the performance and the sounds were an emotional backdrop that lingered beyond the fall of the curtain.
The Neville Dance Theater were next up with a multimedia dance interpretation of earth’s developmental cycle titled “Terra Nova.” The interplay of the dancers and their costuming transported the audience into the story as they represented phases from destruction to new birth while a video backdrop complimented the movements with terra firma itself.
The love, pain and joy of womanhood were danced out eloquently by the Balance Dance Theater. Beautiful Black woman displayed strong dance moves to complimentary lyrical renditions of the female condition. The troop aptly ended their homage to women with the song beautiful.
The featured dance troupe Vissi Dance Theater brought it all home with “The Queen,” a dance homage set to the recordings of Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. Of course, nothing is bad when Aretha is the backdrop, but living up to a Queen can be monumental. However this troupe elevated all royal notions with a high energy, high stepping, eclectic montage that took the audience lovingly over the rainbow and rocked them steady before going to church to be sanctified and saved. Sitting still was not an option during this performance as the audience clapped along and frequently interjected their pleasure. The piece was choreographed by Courtney Ffrench who is The Center’s new managing director. And if “The Queen” is an indication of what Ffrench will bring to the Center, it is bound to be a kick a**, foot stomping and exquisitely lovely season.
An outdoor afternoon matinee preceded the Festival with two performances on the Center’s front steps from KaNu Dance Theater and OnPoint Choreography. This public offering stopped pedestrian traffic and wowed onlookers as dancers showcased emotions from heartache and devastation to goofing around with crazy clowns.
The Center will host another dance festival in the Spring and Salsa night, a kick-off-your-shoes-get-your-Latin-groove-on dance party, is scheduled for October 15th. Other offerings are available and admission prices are very reasonable. Tickets for the Dance Festival were in range with the cost of a movie while provided entertainment a bit more substantial. Its location on Jamaica Avenue has meant a diverse population of culture seekers landing on its steps and evening performances mean little worries for drivers and no meter fees.
This once abandoned church redesigned and reimaged into this space has a quiet and seemingly unassuming façade but a powderkeg of talent, thought and creativity bursting in its core. Look out, Lincoln Center, it may be a while before we visit again.
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