Black Movements Dance Theatre can easily define 2009-2010 in terms of change. For the first time, the company includes two male members. BMDT’s upcoming show, Mind, Body, and Soul, fuses together an array of dance styles from lyrical and contemporary to tap and hip-hop—a first for the company., which had previously focused only on hip-hop And in the year of hope and change, breaking with the past has certainly paid off for the BMDT.
“Mind, Body, and Spirit is a celebration of humanity. Friendship, strength, passion, and life are conveyed through dance,” Kellie Jack (COL ‘10), the show’s student director, said. While the pieces evoke intensity and the dancers communicate deep personal expression, the celebratory atmosphere of the show is by no means hidden.
In the piece “After Tonight,” three company members share the stage, dancing in their own solo sections. “I was inspired by finding that moment when you know everything is right,” Daphne Panayotatos (SFS ‘11), choreographer of the piece, said. The dance showed classical lyrical technique, most easily comparable to ballet, in its soft and flowing quality. As the stage of the Walsh Blackbox extends right up to the seating, the soloists were able to individually grab hold of the audience and as a group create an almost tangible connection. In one of the soloist’s long series of fouettes, when the leg of the dancer is whipped around the body to create a continuous spin, her eye contact with the viewers was striking.
In “Prescription for My Healing,” choreographed by Jasmine Morton (COL ‘12), the company members create curved backlit silhouettes that gradually gain momentum as leaps, turns, and kicks unify the dancers with the music. With an emphasis on rhythm, the movements of the dancers are bracketed by the continuous beat of the song. The piece utilizes more modern choreography, but graceful motions take precedence over the writhing and thrashing that come along with the term “modern dance.” The contemporary feel of the dance is epitomized by a constant state of contrast, as fluid steps play off of abrupt and emotional gestures, and balanced positioning of the members quickly transitions into asymmetrical formations. All of the elements of the piece join together to create something highly powerful and engaging.
“We want to make Mind, Body, and Spirit as relatable as possible,” Jack said. “The audience will walk away feeling inspired by what they have seen.”
