Deeply Rooted Dance Theater presented an evening of impeccable dance on November 3rd, 2023, at the Auditorium Theater. Their mixed bill was met by an enthusiastic audience that fed off the energy of the dancers on stage, and reciprocated with thunderous applause, vocal outcries of joy, and standing ovations for two of the five works presented.
But what Deeply Rooted offered its audience was not just energy but a spectacle of athletic and artistic fearlessness. This performance was a direct view into this community of dancers, led by Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer and Executive Director Makeda Crayton, and displayed the values they hold dear.
The company premier of “Mama Rose” and world premiere of “Madonna Anno Domini” were highlights of the evening, while company works “Juntos,” “53 Inhale,” and “Vespers” presented an assortment of the company’s repertoire. The evening opened with an exuberant performance of “Juntos” choreographed by company Co-Founder, Kevin Iega Jeff (1990) and danced by eight of the company members, showcasing two duets and one quartet. The program notes that, “Junto (translation “together”) is a jubilant dance of welcoming. May our hearts unite as we enjoy this evening of dance together.” The dancers moved in unison to both the beat of the percussive elements in the music as well as to the melodic piano. Finding moments of grace that incorporated elements of classical modern dance, the dancers embraced playful moments of partnering with one another.
Returning by popular demand after its 2022 company premiere, was Ulysses Dove’s “Vespers” (1986). Vespers was inspired by Dove’s memories of his grandmother’s place of worship and features a compelling all female cast. The piece begins with soloist Emani Drake juxtaposing the percussive electronic score with extreme feats of technical skill and the grace and poise of more lyrical movement. The simplest isolation of her shoulders grabbed your undivided attention.
Dancers in Ulysses Dove’s “Vespers” by Michelle Reid
Drake is then joined by Taylor Ramos for an exquisite duet, both dancing in precise unison, executing each pirouette with a decisive finish. A brief pause of darkness ends with the reveal of a line of chairs stage left, downstage to upstage. While the musical score stays uniform throughout the piece, the dancers create their own rhythmic ebbs and flows with the diverse movements of their bodies. Dancing on, in, and around the chairs, the dancers filled the space with percussive spinal contractions and fluid arms. With all six dancer’s bodies on stage weaving together in a kaleidoscope of styles, the piece is a true cross section of Modern dance, African dance, and Contemporary dance. Dove’s work demonstrates his strong background as a dancer for both Merce Cunningham and Alvin Ailey. Vespers incorporates elements of classical modern dance and African dance aesthetics with Dove’s own dramatic storytelling. The dancers of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater are the ideal cast to present this multiplicity.
Keith Lee’s “Mama Rose,” originally choreographed for his own dance company in 1983, was danced this evening by Emani Drake, 2023 Princess Grace Dance Performance Honoraria Awardee. If the Honoraria Award listed in the program was not enough to convince you of Drake’s monumental talent, her performance of “Mama Rose” closed the case. Lee’s choreography demonstrates Drake's wide range as a dance artist. As she moves to the melody of the clarinet and the rhythms of the spoken poem, she commands the entire Auditorium Theater. She treats each gesture tenderly and crescendos her movements with finesse. Her energy hit its apex of panic as rose petals began to cascade onto the stage from the rafters, and before Drake could even finish her performance the audience had already begun to applaud.
Emani Drake, Performs Keith Lee’s “Mama Rose” by Michelle Reid
The evening ended with the premiere of Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer’s work, “Madonna Anno Domini.” A joyful beginning of hope and togetherness demonstrated the unanimity that Deeply Rooted excels at within their dancing as a unit, but this jubilant opening gave way as a darker tide swept in, as a tale of a fictional kingdom is recited over the score and the dancers begin to embody survival and despair.
The repeating phrase, “after every victory there is always a test” fills the auditorium. Hinting that we are headed somewhere far away from the lighthearted world we began in. Movements become frantic and rooted in agitation as the ensemble's dancing sinks lower into the ground below them, allowing the stage to breathe life into each accent of their chest. Highlights of the work included a trio of women dancing to Sinead O’Connor’s live SNL performance of Bob Marley’s “War” and the melodramatic use of facial expressions by the ensemble to highlight the spectacle of the political and socioeconomic message of the work. The performance concluded with the dancers slowly marching into battle, continuing on as their fellow soldiers began to fall through the cracks of the formation, leaving the audience wondering whether those on stage will make it home to see the efforts of their revolution bear fruit.
After attending this breathtakingly powerful night of dance, I began to think more about what it means to be “deeply rooted.” As humans, we are drawn to categorizations of who and what we represent, and we strive towards identifying ourselves within a community that embodies an ideal that has a persistent influence in all that we do. Deeply Rooted Dance Theater holds strong to its mission and values, striving to expand its influence with the imminent building of the Deeply Rooted Dance Center in Washington Park, scheduled for completion at the end of 2024. With the culmination of their own dance center, the impact that DRDT will have in Chicago will continue to rise, and their roots in the community will continue to deepen in subsequent years.
