Bold strong dance is performed in this video by artists from the Philodanco Dance Company in Philadelphia. The piece is called, Cottonwool and was choreographed by Christopher L. Huggins. The music is by Lamb and original score composed by Jeff Storey.
The philodanco Dance Company has an interesting history that has been very important to the development of dance for the Black community in Philadelphia and for dance in the United States. The company was founded in 1970 by Joan Myers Brown who recognized a need to create opportunities for training and performing for Black dancers who were denied entry into local dance schools and programs at that time. Since then the company has grown a reputation for it’s artistic integrity and innovation with a predominant focus on the preservation of African-American dance traditions danced by well trained dancers who give dynamic performances.
From its inception, the company was founded on three principles of opportunity, inclusion and hope. The company focuses on breaking down barriers to build bridges across diverse ethnicities and communities. The company has a strong training program that is designed to empower youth with support and nurturing leadership, skill development and to facilitate achievement and success in both dancing and life.
The piece, Cottonwool, in this video, was choreographed for the whole company. It explores how people go beyond their limits as explained by Huggins that “in life sometimes we go too far with the hopes of landing softly – like on Cottonwool.”
The excepert we see begins in dark as one by one a dancer comes to the “edge of a small rectangle of light and wobbles about holding onto to their balance in their precarious states. This motif is repeated through out in various configurations. These are certainly powerful dancers who take risks throwing themselves onto each other and dropping to the ground. The movement is bold and moves in and out of unison and diverse groupings that are infused with dynamic and fearless energy.
This is a company I admire for its uplifting and socially conscious spirit that is reflected in the dancers sincere and unbound energy and vibrant performance.
Enjoy these dynamic dancers! And SHARE them on!
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