Review: Starting 2017 with the AMERICAN DANCE PLATFORM

By: Jan. 06, 2017
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Beginning the first week of 2017, The Joyce Theater presents its second annual American Dance Platform, a showcase of eight companies over one week. This gives audiences an opportunity to enjoy a rich sampling of dance companies from across the U.S. Each year, The Joyce selects a guest curator to pick an esteemed roster of artists for the platform. This year's curator is Alicia B. Adams, VP of International Programming and Dance at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Adams' focus for this series was to reflect what is "American" dance while highlighting the various people and cultures that imprint their unique experiences and heritages.

On the evening of Wednesday, January 4, 2017, I had the privilege to attend this showcase featuring evening-length works by two different, but unique companies. The program opened with Double Exposure performed by the dynamic long-time duo, Wendy Rein and Ryan T. Smith, of RAWdance. This dance offers a snapshot of some of the current trends, perspectives, and backgrounds of choreographers from the West Coast. Breaking the rules of "traditional" dance making, this piece features a series of duets by several artists mashed into one. It is an interesting concept that oddly enough works. Each section was very different than the one before. You get to learn how current events, choreographic choices, and music inspires each individual. The one common through-line was the multimedia use of video. It gave insight to who the dancers are, who the choreographers are, and how the dance incorporates the performers' strengths of a long work history and weaknesses (Smith's bad knee and Rein's bad hip). It was unusual, but I appreciated the diversity of styles, approaches, and points of view.

The evening concluded with the world premiere of Agua Furiosa by Ana Maria Alvarez, founding Artistic Director of LA-based company, CONTRA-TIEMPO. Inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest and Oya, the Afro-Cuban deity of wind and storms, Alvarez uses her Urban-Latin approach to movement to challenge audiences to confront the harsh realities of race and water to showcase the dancers hope for a more just and compassionate future for all. The fusion of Afro-Latin, contemporary, and hip hop dance and culture to the stage, challenges you in a way that dares you to face and contemplate what is your role in this world and what it would take for us to be active and participate in the movements of the environment and racial justice. This is a powerful piece that draws in and engages you into their radical approach to address and expose different issues.

I think Adams did a great job putting together a program that reflects the diversity that makes up our country through the art of dance. Attending such a performance requires audience members to come in with an open mind of what is "American" dance and how dance makes us feel. In this time of division politically, socially, and economically, it is important to remember that our nation was built on the experiences of various groups of people and experiences. Everyone has a story that contributes to our collective voice. Some voices may be louder, some may be more powerful, but each one deserves to be heard. And that is what this platform is for, to bring the voices of many to the stage to be listened to.

Photo Credit: Isis Avalos and Samad Guerra of Contra-Tiempo in a photo by Tyrone Domingo



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