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Deeply Rooted Dance Theater marks its 29th year of bringing dance and other elements of culture and tradition from the Black community. It is for all to enjoy and appreciate. Their impact on promoting Chicago as a beacon of culture is a legacy that will carry them forward.
The performance on November 16 at the Auditorium Theatre did not have a title nor did it need one. The program opened with the world premiere of Sacred Spaces, choreographed by Nicole Clarke-Springer. Clarke-Springer also is the artistic director of DRDT and has choreographed for companies nationwide and in South Africa. Her choreography incorporates African, ballet, and Jazz elements to create a spiritual experience similar to a Sunday morning in a South Side church.
Sacred Spaces opens with soloist Sage Sarai spotlighted and moving as if emerging in birth or rebirth and then blossoming fully. The choice of music for the entire program is excellent. Mahalia Jackson is the first voice heard. She evokes an emotional feeling with her distinctive alto. The recording of Jackson singing "The Lord's Prayer" is filled with reverence and fervor, matched by Sarai's exquisite movements. The company joined her on stage for music from Bobby McFerrin singing the "23 Psalm". Sacred Spaces concluded with Gospel Music Workshop of America" (GMWA) Women of Worship singing a rousing "Order My Steps." The music physically moved some of the audience to wave their hands as if in church, and indeed, Deeply Rooted consecrated the stage with movement.
The second dance before a pause was Desire, by resident choreographer Gary Abbott. Desire explored three types of attraction and the passion in each. The dance featured three couples, a soloist, and the company. It was another exquisite and frank dive into the beauty of carnality of the types of attraction. These dancers employ the entire body and dive into the performance. The music of Hans Zimmer, Geoff McCormack, and Simon Goldberg is usually heard in film scores but is also wonderful for live performances. Desire was erotic and mysterious, just like attraction can be.
Another dance was from the legendary Ulysses Dove of the Alvin Ailey company. His brother Alfred Dove is credited as répétiteur for his brother's estate. Alfred Dove is also an accomplished dancer whose role is to ensure that his brother's work is performed exactly. Deeply Rooted did justice to Urban Folk Dance, performed by two couples—Emani Drake and Ahmad Hill, with Allysa McCallum and Mekeba Malik. Urban Folk Dance was a heart-pounding and feral dance. The physicality of the dancers was amazing. They seemed to fly and land like feathers. The dancers are excellent at theatrical expression. The elements of raw passion are evoked in this piece.
I found Flack, choreographed by Kevin Iega Jeff, to be the most poignant of the performances. The music was by Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, and Quincy Jones. These three musicians had many challenges and troubles, but their musical genius always shone through. This dance exhibits the strife heard in the music of the three composers and singers. The music was timely in the late '60s and prescient when Deeply Rooted brings it to life on the stage. Flack presented the angst of growing up Black in America. I found it striking how little has changed in nearly 50 years.
Donny Hathaway took his own life, Quincy Jones recently died, and Roberta Flack can no longer sing due to ALS. You must be a fan of all three to recognize some songs. Flack's "Tryin' Times" was released in 1969 as the Vietnam War escalated and the cities of America burned. The lyrics are more rapped than sung, but it is unmistakably Roberta Flack. Another song, "The Ballad of Sad Young Men," features a line that says, "All the sad young men, choking on their youth." The duet "You've Got a Friend" by Flack and Hathaway brought back sweet memories. Quincy Jones' "There's A Train Leavin'" had more funk, and the company complied beautifully.
Guest choreographer Jeffrey Page created the finale, Lifted. It was billed as a world premiere and a work in progress. Okay, but wow, what a work it is. The entire company was on stage for the finale to music remixed by Ian Scott. It was fire. Watching the Deeply Rooted dancers move was similar to watching a language being created, with some movements appearing to be letters or sentences. They are a polished company with chemistry and dedication to the craft. Lifted had the audience whooping and on its feet. The applause was deafening and so well deserved.
I highly recommend that you catch a performance of this brilliant company. They often perform in the summer as part of the DCASE summer performances. You can see them for free, but you should still buy some tickets and support this company, which was born in Chicago and continues to elevate our city while creating a canon of original dance. Four Stars.
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater performed last weekend at the Auditorium Theatre. For more information, please visit www.deeplyrooteddancedtheater.org. There are some exciting projects on the horizon.
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