The Elements of Style

Rennie Harris Puremovement: 100NakedLocks

by Deni Kasrel

APOCALYPSE NOW: In 100NakedLocks, zombie-like figures engage in angular dance phrases and acts of violence, yet come off as sluggish.

Rennie Harris has gained acclaim for his progressive approach to hip-hop. Inspired by steps seen on urban streets and in clubs plus plenty of his own moves, Harris taps into social, cultural and spiritual issues, including inner-city violence, explorations into the African diaspora and the desire for personal redemption. And while he has continued to evolve as a choreographer, both for his own Puremovement and a host of other companies, Harris has developed a distinct style.

Yet the element of surprise is ever-present. Featuring male and female dancers in various stages of romance, Something to Do with Love, Volume 1 carries a buoyant tone, propelled by soul and R&B tunes. Along with hip-hop-familiar pop-and-lock, there's soft-shoe and other moves that could have been inspired by Fred Astaire (maybe they were — Harris has cited the hoofer as an early influence). The dueting is more conventional and the mood more lightweight than Harris fans are used to.

So, has the guy gone soft? Not a chance. The follow-up, 100NakedLocks, is a dark sci-fi vision with an industrial score, where the cast represents the last people left on a post-apocalyptic Earth. We learn, via recorded text, that these survivors have been stripped "naked of human emotion," a point made obvious by the way they trudge around the stage, zombie-like, with occasional breaks to perform angular, hieroglyphic dance phrases and engage in acts of violence. Dressed in black or in white hazmat suits, the characters include a Dark Overlord, Soul Assassins, Warrior Messengers and a Prince. Their roles, explained briefly, somewhat confusingly and perhaps unnecessarily, were represented through overt, repetitive action without a whole lot else happening onstage. This could be a deliberate means to represent the idea of a bleak, barren planet, but it also makes for sluggish theater. An energetic finale picks up the pace with a closing motif of joy and invigoration. But the slow-going parts detract enough that 100NakedLocks, though ambitious and provocative in concept, feels like a work-in-progress.

(deni.kasrel@citypaper.net)

Rennie Harris Puremovement | Feb. 21 | Kimmel Center