Find your seat for the next Purelements' Performance of "Humanity: An Ancestral Odyssey"

Recently the Blue Butterfly landed in a seat at the Thelma Hill Performing Arts 35^th anniversary season. One stand-out performance belongs to a daring new work by Purelements: An Evolution in Dance entitled, “Humanity: an Ancestral Odyssey.”

Kevin Joseph, choreographer and co-director of Purelements, unleashes “Humanity” onto the audience of THPAC without warning, and without mercy. House lights are turned on as a town crier appears from what seems to be nowhere. The vessel of the voice (Tammy Hall) descends the steps, issuing warnings of an alien species, carrying supernatural strength, who means the human race absolutely no good. Dancers appear unobtrusively, slick with the black of their costumes for skin.  With griot grace, Hall summons the greatness and antiquity of Africa, as the dancers/aliens reveal their unworldly thirst for domination. This foreshadows the intentions they have for their future prey-the human race.

The company members appear in primordial fashion, oozing from beneath the curtains, morphing in and out of shapes across the stage. It makes perfect sense that part of the mission statement of THPAC seeks to: “…furnish rehearsal and ‘incubation’ space for choreographers and dancers;” as viewers sense the hive collective of this alien force. In syncopation, the company shudders, spins, runs and thrills the captive audience with acrobatics. Among the company members, the alien Queen- masterfully played by Dina Wright Joseph- milks every move, stretches every step, and delivers a phenomenally exciting performance.  As “Humanity” is dedicated to Octavia Butler, Wright Joseph assumes the role of a parallel “Doro” from Butler’s “Patternist” series.  Danny Soto lands in a perfect split that would rival any teenage cheerleader, while company members display floor work to rival any break dancing crew uptown.  Spectators cheer on the edge of their seats while the company performs feats of wonder. There is no doubt: this is the finale of the night.

There is an ironic twist that should only be revealed to viewers, so I strongly urge anyone who hasn’t seen a solid dance performance, rife with comprehensive storytelling, to witness Purelements through “Humanity.”