CENTERblog

Soul Street
by Terra Laughton - West High School

A fusion of hip-hop, pantomime, and theatrical comedy, Soul Street was practically asking audience members to stand up and dance in the aisles of the Atwood Concert Hall on Friday.

The four-man Soul Street Dance Company performed February 20th, 2009 at 7:30 as Alaska Junior Theatre’s third presentation of the year. Anchorage’s very own Underground Dance Company provided the opening act, a sharp and eye-pleasing routine. Soul Street soon burst onstage in a frenzy of tumbling. From the beginning, it was clear these four men not only trust each other completely, but enjoy each other’s talents every minute they perform.

The performance involved very minimal costume changes: t shirts to suit jackets to colorful silk tops. And yet, the four men were consistently able to portray a variety of feelings and situations in a very clear way. It helped that, being an Alaska Junior Theatre Production, the audience consisted largely of children. No type of humor was rejected, no matter how physical or how repetitive.

Versatility was something in abundance on Friday, as we watched co-founders Javier Garcia and Rock Williams spin, flip, toprock, downrock and perform power move after power move. (Not familiar with the hip-hop lingo? I wasn’t either before reading the program!) Undoubtedly, Williams stole the show. Like his fellow dancers, he maintained a high energy level even after an hour and a half of intense dancing and tumbling. Williams, however, had something else to offer, a flair onstage that was completely captivating. His priceless expressions and uncanny contortions were entertaining from start to finish.

The show’s weakest point came right after the first number. Although Soul Street’s second dance involved skateboards, it felt long and failed to capture interest for its entirety. However, the acts soon picked up and culminated in several fast-paced group dances both before and after intermission.

Music included techno, “Spice of Life”, symphonic strings, and lounge-style jazz, to which the dancers flawlessly hopped and popped. At times the music followed the moves so perfectly, it was hard to believe it had been pre-recorded.

The extremely talented men of Soul Street Dance Company, simply put, are fun to watch. Their sheer physicality gave as much energy to the audience as we gave back to them. I’ll think of Garcia, Williams, Garcia and Cortez as I electric slide my way around the grocery store this week.

Soul Street
Alaska Junior Theatre
February 20, 2009 at 7:30 P.M.
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Atwood Concert Hall