By JESSICA NEU
The holiday season is undoubtedly a busy time, but also a time that brings many folks Downtown with popular events such as Christmas pop-up bars, ice skating at PPG Place, or the holiday market at Market Square. If you are Downtown or simply want to take in some incredible talent and ferocious entertainment this weekend, head to Point Park University Conservatory Dance Company’s Contemporary Choreographers.
Running December 13-17, Contemporary Choreographers features dancers Jess Hendricks, Justin Myles, Yoshiaki Nakano, Mike Tyus, and Luca Renzi in a stunning display of talent where PPU Conservatory dancers defy what the human body is capable of achieving, creating, and executing. The show opens with Nakano’s “Endless Enclosure,” described as a neo-classical ballet that captures the essence of the power of resilience and one’s journey from societal constraint to eventual freedom. Nakano has been a principal dancer with the PBT since 2014, and his classical training is apparent in this technically rich piece: non-binary casting and costuming help to bring this visually stunning piece to life.
The dancers collectively and fluidly transition between choreography on pointe to contemporary isolations with occasional Hip-Hop movement nuances. Group choreography ebbs and flows between duo and solo performances, which all come together to demonstrate the strength and talent in the parts and the whole.
After a brief pause, Myles’ “Undertones” takes the stage and brings contemporary tap dancing to life. If you asked me for recommendations for songs to choreograph a tap number, I am fairly certain that anything by John Mayer would not be on my list. However, Myles demonstrates his brilliance, vision, and creativity by setting a tap performance with fast and furious feet to the music of the infamous crooner Mayer. The unlikely music helps to situate contemporary tap dancing into contemporary times. “Undertones” is a tour-de-force that you will not want to see end, especially when the music ends and the troupe dancers create their music, tapping without any music at all. The graceful drag of their feet and the rhythm of their tap shoes synchronized on the dance floor create an undeniably infectious beat and rhythm.
After intermission, Tyus’s “Boots on the Ground” is an artistically triumphant hybrid of contemporary dance, acro, and contortionism. The piece uses intricate and thoughtful choreography to question how we allow others to control our bodies and to what extent we reconcile the fight against our mortality while simultaneously searching for love and acceptance. The dancers’ movement defies what we consider possible of the human body, turning acts of wrestling, moving, running, and fighting into controlled, rhythmic movement.
Finally, the effervescent, inspiring “Feel the Tremors,” highlights choreographer Jess Hendricks’ originality, talent, and pure grit as a visionary creator. This number stylistically combines the rawness and coolness of a 1940s New Orleans jazz club with the energetic vibe of Beyonce’s 2018 Coachella performance. Hendricks’ choreography combines a flare of famed Broadway choreographer Michael Bennet with more modern pieces, such as some of the pieces from Hamilton. Amidst all of the energy in “Tremors,” the dancers never lose their heir of an inexplicable coolness punctuated by using a cigarette prop that makes the whole number feel deliciously authentic.
Each number in Contemporary Choreographers is vastly different but equally entertaining and talent-driven. With a run time of only 90 minutes and a 15-minute intermission, this show is the perfect break from the holiday hustle.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Contemporary Choreographers at the George Rowland White Performance Studio of the Conservatory Dance Company at Point Park University, December 13 – 17, 2023 for tickets & Info visit: https://playhouse.pointpark.edu/shows-events/conservatory-dance/contemporary-choreographers
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