Portland observer., April 09, 2003, Page 8, Image 8

Page A8
______(Ebe jlortlanh ©bseruer
‘ Facing Mekka’
Rennie H arris' (right) “Facing
M ekka' will be perform ed this
weekend a t Portland State
University's Lincoln Perfor­
mance Hall. The world-re­
nowned hip-hop choreographer
will perform his new solo
dance "Lorenzo's OH"each
night.
Harris hopes to
turn hip-hop on its
head - literally
Internationally renowned hip-
hop choreographer Rennie Har­
ris comes to Portland to show­
case the work o f his dance troupe,
Rennie H ams Puremovement, for
three performances o f “Facing
M ekka" this Thursday, Friday
and Saturday.
Hot o ff the trail from the
worldwide success o f “ Rome
and Jewels,” his startling version
o f Shakespeare’s “Romeo and
Juliette,” Harris has created a
major work that returns to the
pure dance roots o f hip-hop.
Partly inspired by Harris’ first
tripto West Africa in 1997, “Fac­
ing Mekka” aims to show the
human commonalities found in
the marriage o f movement and
music from different cultures.
Turning away from the violence
o f “Rome and Jewels,” Harris
intends to demonstrate the posi­
tive energy o f dance as a creative
and spiritual force.
“Facing Mekka” will be a land­
scape o f m ovem ent, rhythm,
sound and image that offers dance
as a vehicle for uniting people
and cultures.
The show features a cast of 13
dancers who are accompanied
by live percussionists and a re­
corded sound score. Original projected on the floor and back­
vocal and musical compositions drop o f the stage to create a
will be performed by Grisha multi-layered landscape.
Coleman, Phillip Hamilton, Kenny
The highlight of the show will
Mohammed, Lenny Seidman and be a new solo, entitled "Lorenzo’s
Gabby Lang. Two collage artists Oil,” performed by Harris him­
have created images that will be self. The solo depicts a journey in
April 09. 2003
which Harris, traveling slowly
on a long diagonal, calmly and
serenely executes hip-hop move­
ments. With his dance, Harris
hopes to literally turn hip-hop on
its head in order to draw the
attention away from the spec­
k
I
tacle o f hip-hop culture to look at
what it really is - or what it could
and should be.
“Facing Mekka” will be per­
formed at the Portland State Uni­
versity Lincoln Performance Hall
at 8 p.m. Thursday, A p ril-10
through Saturday, April 12. Tick­
ets are $24 for general admission
and $12 for college students and
seniors. Tickets can be purchased
at the PSU Box Office, 1825 SW
Broadway, or by calling 503-
224-4400.