7/30/2019 Review of Black and Silver

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Philip da Costa

Adv. Beginner Ballet

Shawn Short

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Paper for:Black to Silver: A Black Age Continuum (Side B)

Critique that utilizes 4 movements/theatrical element examples from the performance.

As art blends with technology, the entertainment industry expectations become moresteep. How does cultural diversity education and dance cross training enhance or

diminish an artist?

Work like Black to Silver demonstrates the newest purpose of Dance within our

contemporary culture. Blackto Silvers message is that of social change and acceptance,

and dance has become a medium for this type of theatre for social change. The work of

the Dissonance Dance Company really brings to light the nature of the African American

LGBT community, especially in the D.C. area. Shorts choreography and concept come

through in a mix of his dancers emotions and the story telling within his pieces. The

dancers of Dissonance Dance Company portrayed interesting characters that

interconnected with their lyrical and contemporary style of movement.

The dancers of My Intimate Friend, Zero, and The First Time all portray an

interesting blend of classical ballet training with an ease in story telling which reflects a

more lyrical training. Each piece has a powerful story that develops intriguing characters

that represent different aspects of LGBT life while telling a story about people and their

relationships that abstracted from the situation still prove to be relevant.

For example, in Zero, the conflict between the + and - which displays such an

intense violence, while still demonstrating a sort of love, is a powerful story. Between the

two male dancers it becomes a piece about two men ands AIDs disclosure, but it is

possible to see how this could be conceptualized and envisioned by different dancers to

7/30/2019 Review of Black and Silver

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be a story that wasnt simply about HIV. The relationship they develop is still Human,

which is what I believe is a huge part of Shorts Choreography and Concept.

Similarly the Dancers in The First Time who I have the privilege to know from

classes weve taken together were able to portray very serious messages through Shorts

choreography. The dancers emotions seemed almost as choreographed as their limbs as

they told an intricate story. The intimacy the dancers are ale to create without crossing the

line in to vulgarity and sexuality is carefully constructed and very efficient.

In addition, pieces not choreographed by Short also develop interesting stories;

Vulnerable and Lock Down represent two of my favorite pieces. The combination of

a more modern style in Kamali Hills Choreography really brought out another element

of Dissonances strength. And the incorporation of the spoken word was very powerful

and brought a very conceptual work into a very real light for me. The diversity of the

works within the pieces truly shows an excellent collaboration between short and the

other choreographers.

The work in cross training dance styles truly shows Dissonances diversity and

strength. It is only more impressive to see the blend of Modern, Ballet, Contemporary,

and even the spoken word. As artists, this only enhances the dancers of dissonance, cross

training that allows for a diverse message to reach its audience. The dancers truly show

their capability not only as dancers, but also as storytellers and actors and performers for

social change. Hopefully the message was well received by its audience and Black to

Silver is able to make a ripple in the community of friendship heights.