presents
NUTTIN’ BUT A WORD
Rennie Harris
Joshua Culbreath, Phillip Cuttino Jr.,
Emily Pietruzska, Fyness Mason, Angel
Anderson, Rachel Snider, Maggie Waller
Bob Steineck
Friday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre
Shenandoah Conservatory
by Rennie Harris
This suite of works challenges the structural integrity of Campbell locking, house, hip-hop and B-boying. Now that we are a global hip-hop nation, we seem to have become hip-hop/street dance zealots. This purist attitude has stagnated the natural progression of street dance. Simply put, we have become elitist about hip-hop culture. This elitism is due to this generation's obsession with "keeping it real." The truth of the matter is this generation will never relive my generation's era of original dance. My generation defined the three laws of hip-hop culture: innovation, individuality and creativity. At best, they can appreciate it, pay homage to it and acknowledge it as the foundational era of hip-hop/street dance it was; in doing that, they will tap into their individuality, creativity and innovation, which in turn ensures progress. The work's title, Nuttin' But A Word, was taken from a cultural phrase used amongst Blacks in the United States. The complete phrase is, "You ain't said nothing but a word;" loosely translated, it means, "Your words mean nothing — pay close attention because what I do next will trump anything you have to say." Hip-hop/street dance is progressive by design. There is nothing about the three laws of hip-hop that suggests stagnation. Nothing about these laws indicates that we as practitioners of hip-hop should only adhere to its foundation; it is quite the opposite. Nuttin' But A Word challenges the hip-hop puritans at every turn and reminds us that we will not evolve as a form without individuality, creativity and innovation.
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Music by DJ Lee (mix)
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Written by Osunlade
Music: Trinity Ov Me
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Written by Raphael Xavier
Music: Ambient
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Written by Al Jarreau
Music by Round & Round
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Written by Cinematic Orchestra
Music: Man with a Movie Camera
Restage re-imagined/choreographed by Rennie Harris
Written by Dhafar Youssef
Music: Sacré the Wine Ode Suite
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Written by Smokey Norful
Music: I Need You Now
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Written by Mandrill
Music: Can You Get It
Wednesday, March 1 | 4PM to 5:30PM
Company members of Rennie Harris Puremovement conduct an advanced level street dance masterclass for Shenandoah Conservatory dance students. Closed to the general public.
Thursday, March 2
Company members of Rennie Harris Puremovement conduct a hip-hop and street dance presentation and demonstration for local middle school students. Closed to the general public.
Friday, March 3 at 8:30PM | Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre Lobby
Following the 7:30PM performance by Rennie Harris Puremovement, audiences are invited to meet the artists and speak with them about their creative work.
This engagement of Rennie Harris Puremovement is made possible in part through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Special thanks to Daniel Morgan Middle School, Maurice Fraga and the Shenandoah Conservatory Dance Division for their partnership and support of this engagement.
This guest artist residency was created as part of a consortium with Shenandoah Conservatory, The Joyce and Penn Live Arts – University of Pennsylvania.
Visit www.RHPM.org for more information about Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater.
www.facebook.com/RennieHarrisPuremovement
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