Philadanco! Dance Honors Philly Soul, But Falls Flat

Philadanco! recently presented "To Philly, Love, Rennie," a new dance by acclaimed choreographer Rennie Harris at the Joyce Theater. This work aimed to capture the essence of "Philly Soul" by sampling tracks from the O'Jays. Despite the intention, the performance was criticized for being "oddly muffled," with both the musical selections and Harris's signature choreography feeling indistinct and provisional.

While the dancers showcased moments of intricate footwork and individual flair, they appeared not fully settled into the piece's style. Another new work, Tommie-Waheed Evans's "Promise Me You Won't Call," also featured Philadelphia International Records' music but with similarly unclear vocal samples. The program's highlight was the older company staple, Christopher Huggins's "Enemy Behind the Gates," which effectively utilized Steve Reich's music for a powerful and coherent display of accelerating energy, proving to be a enduring crowd-pleaser.