Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Scenes from the Kyisha Patterson-choreographed 'Bricolage', at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, on Sunday. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
BRICOLAGE: THE Choreographic Works of Kyisha Patterson, was staged at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the West Indies, Mona, last weekend, highlighting the works of a budding choreographer who grew out of the University Dance Society's stables.
The show featured 10 full-length pieces interspersed with short solos, Symphonies 1 - 5 using dancers from disparate groups. There was a wide range in the individual skills of the dancers, but, the choreography was consistent, showing a penchant for linear and cluster montages.
PIECES THAT STOOD OUT
Some pieces, though they showed great potential, pointing to impressive artistic insight and a willingness to experiment in the different genres to arrive at individualistic expression. As such, the piece RAD stood out. The programme indicates that the acronym refers to the movement from Royal Academy of Dance to Real unAdulterated Dancehall.
The dance attempted to show how a dancer bridges the gap between the taut control of ballet and the pelvic-driven natural rhythms of dancehall. Interestingly, it suggests that the key lies in exploring where the two genres may intersect, how the plié can mean and work with the skank and vice versa.
BEAUTIFULLY EXECUTED
Symphony (Part I) also seemed to explore a similar vein. Beautifully executed by Lawson Pinder of L'Acadco, it shows a dancer's movement from learning the rigours of dance through to exploring their full potential and coming into their own expression. The piece was also the most coherent of the symphonies which were generally too abbreviated to have full impact.
The pieces Moral Panic and Pathways also stood out. Choreographed in 2003, Moral Panic explores the confrontation between the politically and economically dispossessed, who consistently and ineffectively cry out for 'justis', and those who control law and (dis)order. The dancing takes place against the background of cut-and-paste newspaper headlines projected on the cyclorama.
Pathways is an exploration of making one's way in life, whether with measured steps, leaps and bounds, alone or with companionship, and this second staging is as effective as its first.
MOST IMPRESSIVE
However, the most impressive thing about Bricolage is the potential that oozed from it. This came both in Patterson's budding choreographic skills as well as the dancers themselves. It would be interesting to see how pieces such as RAD would play out with more experienced dancers.
Some of the dancers also displayed great potential, particularly Pinder and Alicia Obasare. Peter Parkinson, who was in a single piece, is also coming along well as a dancer, gaining far more strength and presence. Some of the younger dancers also possessed sufficient grace and the grasp of technique to suggest that they would one day bloom beautifully.
Another impressive element was the wonderfully energetic drumming displayed by the St. Andrew High Drumming Ensemble which provided music for the final dance Tribal Rhythms as well as the curtain call.
