RONALD K. BROWN/EVIDENCE DANCE COMPANY AT THE WALLIS

Shockingly, I was not aware of this revered dance company prior to noticing that they would be at my favorite theatre, The Wallis in Beverly Hills, which always brings its audiences the best in dance. So of course I couldn’t wait to see Ronald K. Brown/Evidence there, and I was treated to an incredible show. And, for once, I have not even one slightly negative thing to say about a performance!

But I do have a major question about Ronald K. Brown/Evidence. And that is: How did I not know about this fabulous forty-year-old company before??? Especially because they’re from my beloved Brooklyn!!! And my favorite class when I was a dance major at UCLA was Afro-Jazz! So all signs pointed to that I should have, at the very least, been familiar with them. Leave it to The Wallis to fill in that dance education for me. I wholeheartedly thank them for this introduction.

Ronald K. Brown is the Artistic Director and main choreographer of his company, Evidence, which is a mesmerizing combination of contemporary dance and Afro-jazz. All the choreography I saw that night at The Wallis was stunning!

The quartet of spectacular pieces they graced us with, all choreographed by Ronald K. Brown, are Tender Warriors, (which was co-choreographed by Associate Artistic Director, Arcell Cabaug,) Clear as Tear Water, Upside Down, and Come Ye. They all featured fluid and dynamic movements and reminded me why dance deserves to be the most respected art.

I was so riveted to the performance that I could not take many notes. (And those I did take got mushed together because I did not want to look down for even one second.) So for once, I cannot review each number individually, which is not a bad thing. It means that I loved every second of this presentation, and don’t feel the need to analyze any of it! I just took it as the gorgeousness that it was and was enthralled by it all. I did not want the third number, Upside Down, (right before intermission,) to end. (But when it did, and the lights came up, I quickly jotted-down, “I love this show!!!”)

The entire program featured so much varied choreography, even though it’s all within the same genre. The dancers never stopped moving through it all. I just enjoyed seeing all this pure dance, without trying to decipher the meanings of each number. However, after doing extensive research on this company for the week since I saw them, I’ve learned that each dance does, in fact, portray something important. But I appreciate that they didn’t hit us over the head with those meanings. (You can always read up on all that on their site below. I’m just telling you of the excellence that I saw that night.)

I had remarked to someone that the number where the dancers are dressed all in white reminded me a bit of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, and later I found-out that Mr. Brown had worked with that company several times in the past! What a great pairing that must have been!

All eleven of the dancers I saw are superior, but I did take special note of a few of them. Gumby-esque Xhosa Scott caught my eye right away, and my attention was drawn to him for the rest of the night, as well. I was also impressed by the biggest guy, Gregory Marquis, for being incredibly light on his feet. And the lone dancer in the second number, (who I believe was Guest Artist Khalia Campbell,) was exquisite. I’m so jealous of her arms. And her everything, actually. (And extra credit goes to the music for that one, Heaven, which was the perfect accompaniment.)

All of the music throughout the evening was spot-on. I usually have some issue with that aspect of dance shows, but every single one of their choices was wonderful. Most even made me want to get up and dance with them! (But luckily for all concerned, I was able to hold myself back.) I kept thinking that these are artists I definitely want to party with. For a few moments, I actually wished that I still ran my nights at hip-hop clubs here so I could invite them all.

One word about the curtain call. At the very end of it, Ronald K. Brown and Arcell Cabaug came out on one side, bowed, and then boogied to the beat a bit with the cast. I really enjoyed that; it made the whole night even a tad more upbeat.

To find-out more about the Ronald K. Brown/Evidence company, just click here: www.evidencedance.com

And please make sure to always check-out The Wallis’ schedule—there’s perpetually something wonderful on tap there. Here’s their site: thewallis.org.