International dancer and choreographer, Randolph Ward, creates an explosive theatrical dance evening using a multi-disciplined and diverse cast of four dancers, one actress, alongside Ja’Nia Harden, Jazz Vocalist of The Harden Project and famed Palace Bar South Beach Drag Artist Tiara Love Dupree. The evening features the world premiere of Dystopia with two original works: The Big Dig and Code Switch.
Dystopia depicts an apocalyptic world where five societal members are stripped of their personal unique identifying life stories only to create one unifying idea. Their past, present, and future are erased as Lady X appears ominously laughing and declares, “Individuality is no more”. Using newly created monologues, live soulful singing, and futuristic sounds accompanied by dynamic group dances that simulate the behavioral patterns of ants.
Viewers will be asked to ponder: Am I a byproduct of societal propaganda or am I a free thinker?
The evening also showcases the celebratory quartet Code Switch. Code Switch celebrates how Black Americans have used dance and rhythm throughout history as a way of survival while creating new and exciting possibilities. Hip-hop, African, vogue dance styles, and samba dance styles, infused with nuances of capoeira and HBCU band culture (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) are cultural movements that shape and communicate dance as a vehicle of identity construction.
A dynamic dance theater solo titled The Big Dig poetically dramatizes the psychological effects of an intimate relationship with fear and one man’s revelation and triumph over a personally created marriage to anxiety. This theatrical dance adaptation of the poem B R O K E N that is written by choreographer Randolph Ward and danced by Brazilian born non binary artist Natanael Leal. The words ``I keep trying to establish a sense of retirement so I can reconstruct my mind back to the possibility of reconciliation and rejuvenation”, are lyrically recited by actress Vanya Allen.
The performance runs 2 hours and is followed by a brief Q&A with the Choreographer and Cast.
Them & Us Program Order:
The Big Dig
Code Switch
Intermission
Dystopia
Them & Us is made possible with support from the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs , Fantasy Factory Theater, Capital Arts Partnership Program, Sandrell Rivers Theater, National Endowment for the Arts, Armour Dance Theater, Ricky Danco School of Dance, and Noted by Save LLC.
Artwork by DePaul Vera.
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