NSU Associate Professor Augusto Soledade, founder of Brazzdance Dance Company, presented his new work “Da-Da: A Contemporary Dance” in April in the Gleason Room at the Fillmore Miami Beach.
Soledade teaches several dance classes at NSU including World Dance, Modern Dance I and II and Contemporary Dance Techniques. He is also involved in NSU dance productions such as Dance Works for which he choreographed the Afro-Brazilian dance “Divine Hunter,” performed in January. While Soledade continues to motivate NSU students to become experienced dancers, he also channels his eclectic dancing abilities in his Brazzdance Dance Company.
With an artistic inspiration stemming from his childhood in Brazil and adult life in Miami, he often uses Afro-Brazilian moves to help him choreograph monumental pieces. In his Da-Da performance, his inspirations come to fruition through eloquent movements and idealistic choreography.
“Da-Da” began with a nearly 20-minute performance titled “Diaries of an Outlaw 2004.” The piece is inspired by the life of the legendary outlaw Maria Bonita and how the lives of outlaws deal with the limits and pressures of an adverse environment. The dancers in this piece did an amazing job of relaying the idea of an outlaw through their emotional movements, earth-tone ensembles and demanding movements.
The second piece titled “Da-Da 2014” was hands down my favorite piece of the night. In this piece the audience was able to see the different personalities of the dancers and even get a chance to engage with them. As the piece began, the dancers came out in a jovial mood and proceeded to greet each other with unique handshakes. As they finished greeting each other, they moved toward the audience and began to speak and create cool handshakes with them. Luckily I was one of these individuals and was absolutely enamored with how friendly and pleasant the dancers were. Engaging the audience brought a special element to the performance and made the dancers seem much more welcoming.
Though all the dancers were mesmerizing to watch, the dancer who caught my attention the most was Roderick Calloway. Throughout the show, Calloway danced with nothing but passion, completely engulfed in his movements and his hard work and exceptional dance ability definitely showed through his physical appearance. While Calloway was dancing, he sweat profusely, with every leap and turn Calloway’s sweat would sprinkle off of his face. Though most people may find this peculiarity a bit squeamish, I found it absolutely intriguing. I didn’t see just sweat when Calloway was dancing; I saw passion, and adoration for what he did. He was working his body so hard to deliver an outstanding performance to the point where his sweat was literally leaving a trail behind him.
Soledade’s Brazzdance Company is an exceptionally outstanding company equipped with dancers of limitless talent, and a choreographer with vividly creative ideas. It was refreshing to see so many of the movements that students learn in a typical class with Soledade at NSU performed by a professional dance company. Brazzdance has definitely left an impression on me and Soledade has exciting performances planned for us in May.
Upcoming Brazzdance Dance Company performances
May 9 8 p.m. – Brazilian Press Awards, Amaturo Theater – Broward Performing Theater
May 22 6 p.m. – Capturing Brazzdance Photo Exhibit Amadlozi Gallery at African Heritage Cultural Arts Center
May 22 and 23 8 p.m. – “Oduns” at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center
Photo Credit: www.Brazzdance.Com
