OCTOBER 2003

Arts

Dancing to a Different Drummer

by Vera Uyehara

“If a person’s got the heart, the passion, the commitment”, Rafael Moreno told me, “any opportunity is open to anyone.” These words seemed to capture the essence of The Human Project, Urban Dance Theatre company of dancers. Rafael and six other young men and women between the ages of 18 and 21 move with the energy of youth and the wisdom of years in the expression of the vision of their company leader and mentor, Anton Smith.

I visited with the Urban Dance Theatre as they were preparing for a workshop and performance on Saturday, September 20 at the African Arts Festival at Centennial Hall at the University of Arizona. Anton Smith, the Director and Choreographer of The Human Project, Urban Dance Theatre created the company from his vision that all cultures and people have a unique contribution to make to the world. His exciting choreography includes the “voices” of Latino, African-American, and hip hop cultures through movement and rhythm to form a universal expression of joy and energy. Smith explained, “I want to see everyone represented - every culture and voice heard.”

Urban Dance Theatre company: (from left to right) Chelsea Don, Adrion Ruiz, Charlie Luna, Carly Coodner, Rafael Moreno, Johnny Muniz, Chezale Rodriguez, Anton Smith, Director and Choreographer.

Smith’s vision is reflected in the faces of the company members, from Latino to Asian to African-American and Caucasian - the dancers come from a variety of cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Their dances blend the influences, of a myriad of cultural forms of movement into a symbolic harmony. Smith utilizes movement styles from hip-hop, break dancing, salsa and capoeira, a form of African-Brazilian martial arts, as well as traditional ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance. It’s an exciting and energizing blend that moves audience members to do a lot of toe-tapping!

Smith is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and received his dance training in the Philadelphia / New York area. He has performed actively throughout the U.S. since 1992. He continued his dance studies in the BFA program at the University of Arizona in 1999, completing his degree in August 2003. He received the Honors College and Medici Scholars award for choreographic research in 2001. In 2002, at the finals of the National Dance Alliance in Orlando, Florida, Smith’s choreography won overall in the Best Funk category.

The dancers that Smith trains and coaches have both an excitement for communicating with their audience, as well as an understanding of the underlying mission of the company. Carly Goodner, one of three women in the troupe, expressed it this way: “I’m excited by the responses from the audience. When the audience feels comfortable enough to really respond - when they cheer, dance and laugh, - I know they’re feeling the message!” Chezale Rodriquez, a tall slim young woman of regal bearing, expanded on this theme, “I want to convey the art of the dance through the message of the choreography.” Johnny Munoz explained how important the idea of family is to the company—both the family of The Human Project dancers, as well as the family of all people of the world.

Smith is continually researching cultural movement from other countries to incorporate into his choreography. The company recently returned from Brazil where they studied the movement and rhythms of the land and people, and incorporated what they had learned into a new work, entitled “Todos Tribais”or “All Tribes”. While in Brazil, Smith intentionally studied the movement, culture, and racial mixes in the country, and blended Jamaican style samba-reggae, salsa, hip hop and traditional Brazilian samba into his new work. Todos Tribais will premier in January 2004, and will be performed to an original score composed by a well-known Brazilian band, Timbalada.

Smith works with his dancers as much as a mentor, as he does as a company director. As they began their rehearsal, he pulled them together with a firm “Line up, line up!” Then he gently led them through the performance—monitoring the twirling bodies and limbs moving in all directions. First they showed me their moves - choreographed with swirling energy and thumping rhythms. They “free-styled” to show the grace of African and Brazilian dance influences. The amazing strength and grace of these young people was astonishing - as they leaped and twisted, they kept smiling and making the connection with their audience. At times the dancers would jump as high as my waist, with parts of their bodies defining space in unique and unexpected ways.

As I left this talented and exciting group, they were in the midst of a workshop for 50 people of all shapes and sizes, colors and ages. Anton Smith was leading the show, and everyone was having a great time - enjoying themselves and each other! It seemed an appropriate way to demonstrate the excitement of “dancing together,” proving we can all move in a beautiful way!

The Human Project, Urban Dance Theatre performs at a variety of venues Downtown and around the region. The richness of their interpretation of movement brings a vitality to the Downtown that complements all the other arts in the area. They have been seen at Downtown Saturday Night events, at the Art Square Markets and at other locations. Their home studio, Dance Rhapsody, is located at 5633 E. Broadway, just east of Craycroft. Fall classes began in August, and include classes for “Disney Hip Hop”, Teen/Adult Hip Hop, and “The Human Project” Company class, which is open to the public. Call 721-4775 to sign up for classes or 408-8189 to schedule performances. For a calendar of events visit their web page at www.humanproject.org.