Geetanjali Sabu

5/2/2023

Professor Julie Bata

Concert Critique

A dance piece choreographed by Shate L Edwards was presented at Dance Houston in 2013. As a native of Houston, Texas, Ms. Edwards makes an engaging, persuasive, and knowledgeable presentation. A dance routine called “Ndani “demonstrates Shate’s varied background in hip-hop, tap, Jazz, contemporary, and choreography. She has appeared across the United States and in China since earning a degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. As a highly respected educator who has trained numerous international and domestic learners, Ms. Edwards is renowned for her exceptional skills. Upon completing her master’s degree in fine arts in dance at Sam Houston State University, she successfully gained employment in the dance industry. A lecturer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, she now shares her expertise with students.

The “Ndani” dance company, which consisted of one man and seven female dancers, performed eight times. The only piece of clothing worn by the only male performer was a black vest. White collared shirts with the tops pushed up at the wrist were worn by the dancers. Under their pants, the bottoms of their thighs were also visible. There was no external music playing during the performance; instead, the performers leaped and played body music. The stage was pitch black when the show began. The audience watches the artists as they move while being lit by a spotlight during the performance. A rhythmic beat is created by dances, cheers, and chest-beating, while the performers hiss enticingly to pull in the audience. A specific phrase is spoken during the show. The statement is usually incomplete, however. The show quickly captures your attention, causing both to increase immediately.

Various forms of dance were performed in Ndani, including contemporary dance, step, tap, and ballet. Step and tap moves combined with ballet moves for an audience that enjoyed flexible, imaginative moves. Shate L. Edwards decided to let the audience interpret the dance’s moderate movement as the intended meaning for this show. The dancers mostly performed together during the performance, although they occasionally split up into teams of two or three. A hissing noise was made by the performers as they carved out designs on the platform. The two out of eight performers who were given a chance to shine were particularly well done, while the rest of them remained on stage but sometimes faded into the darkness.

My favorite part of an event is typically observing the music choices, but I found the Ndani to be intriguing and unique. My attention was immediately drawn to the performer’s ability to use her entire body in her dance steps. Viewers were attracted to the composer’s dance because darkness and light were used throughout the performance area. During their performance, the dancers demonstrated their proficiency by synchronizing their applauding and motions. It was very noticeable that the dancers moved around the entire stage rather than just remaining stationary. Their expressions demonstrated that they were simply having fun, even though they seemed emotionless.

In the Ndani per performance, both the choreographer and dancer demonstrate outstanding talent. My recommendation for the show is how straightforward and unpolished the choreography appears. I was inspired to study the art of stepping and perhaps even enroll in a private class to learn the technique by myself. This was because of watching the dance. Shate L. Edwards’ choreographed acts will continue to attract my attention in the years ahead. Ndani’s performance captivated me more than once, and each time left me feeling just as enthusiastic as the first. Through your interaction with me, I have gained a deeper understanding of dance.