“Hum ha yeah”
There is no music, but choreographer Hope Boykin creates her own sound language.
“Wah huh sah”
Boykin’s sounds communicate both beat and movement.
“Then zoom”
The 12 members of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre company move to her beat and follow her dance moves.
This is all part of the creative process that Boykin, a 16-year veteran of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, uses to refresh in.ter.pret, the dance she created 9 years ago for the Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
Boykin watches the dancers closely as they move. “I love to refresh my works and make them original for the members of a specific company,” explained Hope Boykin. “I watch the way a dancer moves even while stretching and may see a motion I can incorporate while refreshing the dance.
During the interview Hope is standing, but in constant motion herself. She is swaying, stretching, moving to her own beat, while answering questions. “The fact that Ms. Williams likes this piece so much that she has given me the opportunity to come back and restage it for her Director’s Choice program is a huge honor,” said Boykin. “I loved the way the company performed it the first time, but now the current dancers can make this piece their own.”
Then Hope Boykin turns on the music. It is a classic Tchaikovsky score. The dancers move keeping her sound language in their mind while they dance the in.ter.pret moves that now flow to Tchaikovsky.
Hope describes her piece as lighthearted, quick, fun, and whimsical with expansive full-movement. “I use classical music all the time to create new contemporary dance works,” explained Boykin. “I love to see my work come alive!”
in.ter.pret is part of the Director’s Choice series that opens the 39th season for the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Director’s Choice will be held November 6-8, 2015 in the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre located at 2400 Flora Street, Dallas, Texas 75201. The Friday and Saturday performances start at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday matinee starts at 2:30 p.m.
Director’s Choice also includes:
- The Dallas premiere of Joffrey Ballet Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Margo Sappington’s Step Out of Love, a hard-hitting piece for five women set to a commissioned rock music score by Stephen Forsyth.
- International choreographer Christopher L. Huggins’ Night Run, a quick-paced ballet that captures the feel of what happens when time is running out at night.
- Master choreographer, the late Talley Beatty’s fun and competitive old school throw back – A Rag, A Bone, and A Hank of Hair, set to the music of Prince and Earth, Wind and Fire.
- DBDT ALL ACCESS – After the curtain closes there will be premium post-performance activities – on Friday a Talkback with Choreographers and on Saturday an On-stage Dance Celebration.
For more details and ticket information visit www.dbtd.com.
