I attended the Friday night performance of Agbedidi at the Constans Theatre Mainstage at 7:30 PM. A group of us made sure to get front row seats so that we could get a great view of Kelsey and Regine and cheer them on.
Throughout all of the African pieces, the movements were simple. They weren’t what I would normally think of as dance “steps,” but they definitely all fit in the same movement vocabulary and showed a technique of sorts. Had I seen the simple hops, skips, jumps, hip swings and hand movements depicted frame by frame as instructions in a book, I would have balked at how “easy” they were. But seeing those men and women up there putting it all together made me realize how complex it all is. I could probably DO the movements, in theory, but not like those dancers. They brought an it factor to the steps that strung them together and gave them life. Each leap and turn became something more exciting.
And I was surprised by the sheer athleticism and stamina that it must take to perform one of those dances. When a group was on stage, there was no down time for them. They were always moving and moving a LOT. The choreographer was mindful of this, and for the most part, the pieces were broken up into two or more groups, with the groups alternating so that some could go off stage and get a rest. I definitely think that the next big work out craze should be traditional African dance. Wow.
In the African pieces, the costumes definitely added another dimension to the dancing. They were bright and colorful and eye-catching. Also, they were different than a normal dance costume, and obviously traditional. They made me feel like I was getting another glimpse into the culture. The second, and biggest contribution to the performance besides the choreography itself was the live music provided by the group of young male drummers. Having heard them talk outside, I know that all of them had accents and most likely are immigrants to America from African countries themselves. They were definitely authentic! Live music always adds another dimension to any performance, and these musicians were more than just that: they were performers in their own right. When in the background, they still moved with the beat and sang. When they got their own time on stage, they played with each other and the audience and got the ushers dancing in the back!
The part I was just so in love with being able to see Regine and Kelsey! When I have come to the shows before I haven’t known anyone dancing. This time Jen, Maureen, Kristen, Adriana and I really had a great time trying to spot our classmates and watch them do their thing. Regine was really in her element, always front and center executing the moves flawlessly and looking as authentic as anyone else up there. Kelsey definitely looked like a little white gymnast, but in a good way! She brought a grace and a quiet joy to the choreography that only she could. Everything was right on beat, it just looked so dang –RETTY! I enjoyed the whole show immensely and just felt that the stories told and feelings expressed through the movement were relatable, joyful and fun. I can’t wait to go back next year!
So sorry this is two hours late...I thought that I posted it earlier but forgot to submit...I only got to the "preview" stage. SO very technologically impaired ;)
