Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble

dance

There's no such thing as being a passive viewer of a Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble program. The troupe will have none of that. Instead you will be cajoled into joining in on the action, much of which is ritual-oriented. Not that you have to get up on stage, but you will be encouraged to vocalize in your seat as the troupe gets down with some serious chanting.

The group is dedicated to helping clue folks in on African culture and aesthetics. They are missionaries in disguise, wearing colorful costumes while dancing and playing up a musical storm. They'll impress you with powerful polyphonic rhythms and syncopated footwork. That's the hook, which leads to messages about the human condition, good and bad, as relates to the continent of Africa. Davis has visited Africa many times to soak up authentic traditions, so what you see here is the real deal, as opposed to an Americanized interpretation of a foreign culture. Members of the ensemble sometimes explain the specific significance of whatever they're performing, so along with the enjoyment of watching invigorating showmanship, there's learning to be had. Call it classic edu-tainment, dressed up as a theatrical dance concert.

Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, Fri., Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $5-$15, Goodhart Hall, Bryn Mawr College, 101 N. Merion Ave., 610-526-5210.

—Deni Kasrel

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