Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s unveiled its first series; Directors Choice under the creative vision of Artistic Director April Berry at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre this past weekend. If this performance is any indication of what we should expect to see from the company, we are all in for an extraordinary season.
The night began with Etudes & Elegy, a 1990 piece choreographed to Chopin on piano by the late Gene Hill Sagan. Then Absolute Rule, a sensual and enthralling duet that mirrored the passionate exchange of power between men in women relationships choreographed by Elise and David A. Brown. Jasmine Black and Richard A. Freeman moving in and out of control forced me to stillness.
The program featured a premiere simply titled Memoirs from a Dallas Black Dance Theatre alum, Garfield Lemonius, made possible by the philanthropic support of NorthPark Center and the Jean Baptiste (Tad) Adoue III Fund of The Dallas Foundation. Lemonius’ unpretentious and technically elegant presentation highlighted the Company’s musicality.
Also included in the program was the moving full length ballet Escapades, choreographed by the incomparable Alvin Ailey. Sunday’s matinee performance of Ailey’s 1983 masterpiece featured Katrice Eaglin and Richard A. Freeman, Jr. as the central couple dancing to the uninhibited score by jazz marvel Max Roach. Freeman moves like the breath of God through weeping-willow trees; he is a religious experience. Eaglin is enchanting and Omoniyi Obioha is superlative.
It is notable that the Ailey Company and the Dallas Black Dance Theatre are the only professional companies with the rights to perform this amazing full length ballet. I consider it a blessing to have seen the work of true genius.
