Review: Troika Bermuda’s In Living Colour
[Written by Dale Butler]
The Earl Cameron Theatre at City Hall was the venue for the “creative showcase highlighting the choreographic talents and passion for dance by Bermuda’s young people,” April 13-15 and the audience showed great appreciation for all sixteen numbers presented by organizers Troika Bermuda.
Directors Seldon Woolridge and Shoa Wolfe fulfilled their mission to “educate, enlighten and entertain” with Creative Directors Sacha Dill and Shanna Henry working with nine young choreographers. The audience was given motivational and inspirational clips prior to each piece and the young choreographers introduced themselves or told us about their interest in dance. With so much talent on stage I would encourage you to read their bios on their IG page @troikabda, where you will learn about their “Programme Pillars” and their Work in Progress #8 – The Musical Sarafina.
The evening was filled with great lighting and a variety of music from Beyonce [End of Time]; Andra Day [What the world needs now] to Bodyline by Olatungi and Jasmine Sullivan [Pick up your feelings].
There were many highlights but I will just put a few in the headlights:
- The opening number “I’m the one” choreographed by Taye-Zino Trott was energetic and crisp with one young man doing exceptional twirls and a great ending.
- “More to love” choreographed and performed by Keimya Smith and Skyla Furbert [assisted by Shanna Henry] with the dancers in black was captivating giving you a feeling of being blue, peace, safety and serenity to the music of Andra Day which the dancers interpreted extremely well.
- “Shake” choreographed by Denzel Amos was vibrant to the music of the 1940s. The dancers had a variety of steps and flips from that vaudeville era which they gave without fault or fear as though it was a daily part of their social life. The audience loved the whole thing and went wild with its ending when the men did a dramatic split. They clearly nailed it.
- “V.I.B.E.Z.” choreographed by Sacha Dill was performed by Quince’e Jones and Shakori Trott who ensnared the audience by just walking on stage then they were nonstop and precise and well synchronized with lots of movement that made the audience go wild during the entire dance only to suddenly snap it. Yeah. It was hot and they had great stage presence and moves. Music sounded like Bola Rebola by Mitta J Balvin, Trop Lillaz a/a release.
- “Living Testimony” choreographed by Shanna Henry to the music of Soul Anthem by Tori Kelly from her 2019 album Hiding Place. Dancers in all white the audience was dead quiet. Soft beautiful lighting helped accent the mood. This could easily become a signature production if Troika was a dance school. As the announcer stated at the start of the piece, “Dance speaks a language that all may understand.” It was passionate, touching and painful. I stopped writing as it was so intense but not too emotional or overpowering.
- “The Ring out: The Battle Out” choreographed by Honor Minors to the music of Green Miles by SZA was beautifully portrayed.
Distinguished patron, Dr. the Hon. Ewart Brown, former Premier of Bermuda and Mrs. Wanda Brown have a passion for supporting the creative and dynamic activities of our youth. They would have been proud to know that this was an outstanding night of dance with numerous highlights from a group of young people who put their hearts and soul into their performance. Congratulations. While we do bring in a variety of professional dance companies during the year, Bermuda has a number of dance schools who consistently showcase our own talent at an equally high level with sold out shows AND a number of dancers then leaving our shores to join these professional companies well trained with Assemblé ,Grande Jeté ,Plié , Pirouette etc highlighting that we are no backwater and have no shortage of great teachers and talent.
Troika, you demonstrated what hard work can produce. Thank you for a memorable night of great dance from such a talented group of young people. And my musical background was broadened with songs I had never heard before.
Photos courtesy of Reyna Samms
- Dale Butler is the Professor of Bermuda music and loves to attend dance here in Bermuda and abroad. His last review of Troika was “Resurgence- Return to the Stage, April 2022. For those keen to learn more about Bermuda dance he strongly recommends “Dance Bermuda” by Conchita Ming [2017]. He can be reached at daledbutler@gmail.com or 595-9841.
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