I’ve never been disappointed by a Rhythm in Shoes (RIS) performance so it was with great expectation that I looked forward to tonight’s show, especially since I don’t know how many more shows they’ll be doing over the next year.Tonight’s performance met all expectations as the performers connected immediately with the crowd as if we were family and friends. Experiencing the colorful costumes to the toe-tapping music and rhythms, along with beautiful vocal harmonies, the audience was immediately transported into a cultural experience that harkened to another time and place, while being a part of the heritage many in the audience can call their own. A particularly enjoyable treat at this performance was the appearance by Shoe 2, consisting of youngsters who have been taking lessons from the full-time troupe.
The special guests, Dallas Chief Eagle and his daughter Jasmine Pickner, brought their own heritage to the stage as they alternated sets with RIS and performed Hoop Dancing. The first piece they did struck me as the hoops became an extension of them and formed wing-like appendages. As they raised their arms and their “wingspan” broadened I couldn’t help but think they were leaving the ground.The neat thing about this performance was how the two cultures shared the stage, sharing similarities and differences both in movement and sound. The movements were effortless, the hoops were one with Dallas Chief Eagle and Jasmine Pickner just as tap shoes are one with RIS dancers!
Chief Dallas Eagle narrated portions of the show, explaining the hoop dancing traditions (see Jon Hartley Fox's explanation here). Poignant was the circle of life theme, and balance, and interconnectedness, particularly as each hoop he danced with seemed to be one more extension of himself and connecting to the space around him. The finale drove the point home as audience members were invited on stage. Without any words being spoken they took Chief Dallas Eagle’s lead and in a synchronized way moved across the stage and among each other both separately and sometimes clinging to each other’s rings as though they were all links in a chain. We were all connected…even if we were still sitting in our seats.
This was a show to not be missed. I hope you have a chance to see it for yourself!
[Editor's Note: You have one more chance to see this great concert, tonight at 8 PM! All the details are here. Rhythm in Shoes photo by Andy Snow.]
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1 comments:
I can assure everyone that the Friday evening show was every bit as well executed, attended, and enjoyed as the performance that Matt so eloquently described.
I had the pleasure of sharing this performance with someone who was seeing RIS in action for the first time and watching her delight in the talent, skill, and energy of the performers (especially Shoes 2!). The collaboration and connection to Dallas Chief Eagle and Jasmine was Cityfolk and RIS at their very best!
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