April 7-13, 2005

artpicks

Moved by History

dance

Among the lowlights during the city's turmoil-filled '70s and '80s were the MOVE confrontations that led to a cop-killing in 1978 and, years later, a bombing that resulted in death and the destruction of an entire block of homes in West Philadelphia. These events continue to incite people, including Paolo Pilladi, who wrote a screenplay based on the incidents, as well as Jamie Merwin, artistic director of olive Dance Theatre, who created Brotherly Love, inspired by Pilladi's script.

Merwin was attracted to the MOVE context "because our work is rooted in community," she says. "The hip-hop aesthetic is always placed in the realm of activism." Excerpts from Pilladi's screenplay are presented as monologues in ODT's Brotherly Love, however, Merwin says the piece is otherwise "an abstraction of the text. A lot of it is represented in dance, so it's more about emotion and physicality." The work in progress also weaves true-life tales of social injustice as experienced by the cast of break-dancers, musicians and vocalists. Performers include Djian Tie, who tore up the stage when he appeared with Kulu Mele at this year's DanceBoom. Tie will showcase his own choreography and work with a core of breakers, laying out the vital connection between African dance and hip-hop.

Brotherly Love, olive Dance Theatre, Fri.-Sat, April 8-9, 8 p.m.; Sun., April 10, 3 p.m., Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-1911.

—Deni Kasrel