by Chelsea Saunders
In three and a half hours, 11 performers brought an audience to their feet through their heartrending, uplifting presentation of “Resurrection from the Rubble.”
Co-sponsored by the Department of Theater Studies and the nonprofit organization Hearts with Haiti for one showing Sept. 19, the piece was performed by an internationally renowned group of Haitian orphans and former child slaves called the Resurrection Dance Theatre at St. Joseph Home for Boys.
The show was an interactive experience. Chuck Davis, founder of the Durham-based African-American Dance Ensemble and mentor to the St. Joseph Home, invited the audience to chant with him—ago (“Are you listening?”) and ame (“You have my attention”)—ending with a round of group hugs.
As the audience then sat, feeling included and invaded all at once, the performance began as three of the 11 performers danced to “A Change in My Life.” The simplicity of the dancers’ clean lines and raw technique was juxtaposed with the native dress, twinkling backdrop and inspiring lyrics, conveying a sense of hope.
The reality of the performers’ pasts made their dancing even more meaningful. The dancers included Didi, a 10-year-old homeless shoe-shiner turned mini-Michael Jackson; Reginald, an aspiring dancer despite only having one arm; and Bill, a childhood servant who used to beat on a bucket as he waited in line for water.
These diverse young men perform as a means of uplifting themselves and their homeland.
The dancers used myriad techniques, from performing a skit about street life in order to break the fourth wall with the audience to an overwhelming 30-minute drumming improvisation accompanied by Creole chanting and ring-play dance.
Despite the lengthy performance, the standing ovation from the audience indicated that the time spent was worthwhile.
“Resurrection from the Rubble” was performed Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. in Reynolds Theater. The troupe will continue to perform in New York, Chicago and Washington.
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