Dancers crowd in the rehearsal space, heating the room with pure kinetic energy as they fine-tune each gesture of their routine. Around the periphery of the room are those waiting for their piece to be worked on. All of the dancers are tired, some are doing homework; and others are just trying to cope with symptoms of fatigue. Despite impending exams and sleep deprivation, humor keeps the atmosphere afloat, diffusing crankiness. These dancers, members of the dance group Dance Black, create this community, through their dedication.
Dance Black’s annual show is back, entitled, “Degrees of Separation” this Friday. All 77 members of the company will be performing in the shows diverse program. Despite its size, the company has produced a cohesive program of tight choreography. Many of the performances mix different techniques and layer elements of several dance forms, resulting in a funky creation communicating its own peculiar aura. “Degrees of Separation” encompasses an expansive range of dance styles, incorporating jazz and hip-hop, African and modern, and even some classical ballet.
The opening piece, “Juxtaposed,” sums up the overall theme and design of the show and the company. It is a multi-genre piece with elements of ballet, hip hop, African and modern dance techniques to start off the night with an upbeat number. In black, red, white and yellow costumes, the dancers represent the different genres of dance, academic classes and races, bespeaking the unifying power of dance.
The performance pieces are like vignettes, the movements and sequence of attitudes developing the storyline. One piece is a dance-off of sorts between the class of ‘05 and the class of 06. The quick, hard stomps are reminiscent of stepping while the slick gyrations look like moves from the club. While enacting the class wars, they perform both for the audience and for each other, showing off and sizing the other group up. In this process, a story of competition and solidarity is told and a community is built.
Urbane and sexy, another number is interspersed with hip and rib isolations and pops, and smooth, sensual twists that are similar to nicholasleichterdance company’s performance in March. The women perform awe-inspiring sequences and then up the wow factor by changing—mid-performance—into pointy-toed, high heeled shoes.
The finale appropriately ties the entire night together. It is a company piece performed to Talib Kweli’s remake of Nina Simone’s “Four Women” and shows a selection of individualistic women in the black community. Dance Black co-president and senior Chi Chi Eto said of the women, “They are women of wisdom, sexuality, insecurities and identity.” She points out that they are not case-specific to the African American community.
Dance Black welcomes dancers of all demographics, skill levels and technical backgrounds. Allied with the Black Student Alliance, they are funded by numerous sources including Campus Council, Duke Student Government, the Bassett Fund and the Women’s Center.
The company accepts all member participation in the creating of the program, previewing all choreography and ideas. Choreographer Tameeka Norton, a senior, said, “You don’t have to be on the exec board to choreograph. You just have to propose your idea and show a couple measures of your choreography to [the selection committee] and request the number of dancers. Dance Black is one of the most democratic groups on campus, it’s open to anyone who is willing to show up, dance and work hard.”
Every member has the opportunity to perform and, by limiting the number of pieces any single member can perform in, Dance Black fosters greater participation. The voluntary nature of the group produces a sense of passion and deep investment in the processes and sharing of dance. This passion and dedication is evidenced “Degrees of Separation.”
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