Of the St. Louis American
When hip-hop took a turn down gangsta road, Brandon Albright said his vision of dance almost took the turn with the wayward lyrics, but his former dance troupe Rennie Harris Puremovement found its way through the perceived dark stretch.
Rather than just going instrumental to dodge the lyrics, the more conscious Harris created “P-Funk,” a hip-hop dance number about getting caught up in the sometimes filthy funk of hip-hop. The Philly native also created “Endangered Species,” which explored the almost near extinction of clean, conscious hip-hop music.
Albright has since created his own company, Illystyle and Peace Productions, along with Forrest Webb, formerly of the hip-hop dance crew Illstyle Rockers of Akron, Ohio.
Their current touring hip-hop dance production is Same Spirit, Different Movement, which makes hip-hop one with its many sides and one with other forms.
Same Spirit, Different Movement glides through the Lou Friday, Nov. 14 through Sunday, Nov. 16 at COCA, 524 Trinity Ave.
Allbright said the production is a celebration of hip-hop and its oneness, unity and change.
The performance bridges hip-hop with modern dance, ballet, tap, jazz and even gospel.
“We all are one, so we have to make all of these genres one,” said the Philly-born and based Albright.
The show is meant to unify the spirit of unity through movement, Albright said. But it also is a celebration that Albright has been ready to have for long time, a celebration of that old-school hip-hop.
“I come from graffiti, dance circles, beat box and DJs in the park, so we’re also celebrating that talent and bringing different elements of together,” Albright said.
Thus, the Philly-based, multicultural dance company brings traditional forms of movement into the present with raw urban flavor that fuses acrobatcs in the movement with the spirit of old-school hip-hop. That’s locking, popping, tap, house dance, beat box and DJing along with traditional and modern forms.
One.
Showtimes are Nov. 14 (7-8 p.m.), Nov. 15 (11 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.), Nov. 16 (1:30 p.m.-2:30 and 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.).
For more information or to purchase tickets, call (314) 725-6555. or visit cocastl.org.
