[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]


Showcasing an array of dancing styles present here in Utah, and ultimately in the world, the Performing Dance Company created a show filled with beats and rhythms ranging from Afro-Caribbean descent, to the tunes of American classics such as Elvis Presley.
The show began with a Japanese-inspired dance routine titled “Gambaru.” In Japanese, “gambaru” means to be resilient, or perseverant. The dancers moved swiftly as they twirled and danced from side to side.
Other memorable acts in the show included “Tension, Quiet, and What’s in Between.” In this soothing performance, dancers dressed in leotards paraded and glided across the stage to sounds inspired by nature. This performance required a lot of mental and physical control because the movement required was elaborate and complex.
The show seemed to be one of calmness until the third act of the show, titled “Regarding Last Night.” In this captivating and lively performance, the dancers paid homage to the era of Elvis Presley and Talking Heads. The dancers were dressed in casual clothes which resembled clothing from the ‘70s and later eras. They danced in peculiar, erratic ways, which included a lot of wiggling and arm jerking. This performance made the audience laugh and smile and they couldn’t resist dancing in their seats.
In the closing of the show, a futuristic representation of earth was displayed on the screen along with audio implying the arrival of extra-terrestrial creatures. Audience members sat in anticipation for the “arrival” of these intergalactic creatures, when, suddenly, dancers dressed in metallic costumes crawled and leaped unto stage. Some of these “aliens” had ring-shaped objects around their waists which bounced and moved as they danced to create a more dramatic effect. The music choices were fantastic and included “Dance or Die” by Janelle Monáe.
The dance moves of the final piece managed to maintain a futuristic flavor, while portraying Afro-Caribbean dance themes. This was the goal of the choreographer, A’Keitha Carey. As a Bahamian native, she strives to represent her cultural heritage.
“The dancers are dancing in my genre called Carib-funk,” she said. “It’s a fusion of Afro-Caribbean, classical ballet, modern and fitness.”
The combination of various aspects of dance can be seen in the range of movements executed by the dancers.
In all, this show was invigorating and inspiring. It was lively and upbeat, while including gentler pieces of artistic movement. The dance routines I witnessed were like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I was kept on the edge of my seat in anticipation of what would happen next.
This sense of utilizing dance to express oneself was seen throughout the show as dancers added their own flavor to the choreography. This made the show much more enjoyable because there were many aspects of a performance on stage at one time, each aspect being portrayed by a different dancer or group of dancers.
Yasin Fairley, one of the dancers in the show, said, “It took a lot of self-care to prepare for this piece. I looked deeply inside myself and my own identity and I found ways to bring my own true essence to what the piece was.”
In all, the Performing Dance Company did exactly what its name implies, and it did so exceptionally. I am looking forward to many more performances.
[email protected]
@ChronyArts[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]