Legendary choreographer Rennie Harris is on a mission to prove one thing to the world: street dance isn’t stagnant — and you can’t put it in a box.
“It’s an art form like anything else,” said Rodney Hill, executive director of Rennie Harris Puremovement, the Philadelphia-based company Harris created in 1992. “And what Rennie Harris has done for the hip-hop movement, as a choreographer, has broken down barriers in the performing arts world. He creates from his heart.”
In two evening performances on Jan. 17 and 18 at downtown Asheville’s Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, Rennie Harris Puremovement pushes street dance forward to a new, progressive era in “Nuttin’ But A Word,” a suite of works that challenges popular perceptions of hip-hop. Much like its title phrase suggests: Leave what you think you know about hip-hop at the door. These artists’ actions speak louder than words.
“What I really like about Rennie Harris is that he laid out the blueprint for showing hip-hop as a language that can be used to tell all kinds of stories — not just the story of hip-hop itself,” said Otto Vazquez, an Asheville-based street dancer, choreographer, filmmaker and educator. Vazquez, currently an artist-in-residence at the Wortham Center, worked with Harris in the late 2000s as an instructor in the company’s touring dance workshops. “He was really one of the first people to say, through his work, that this is a medium just like modern or ballet or jazz. It’s a viable language that can backdrop any era, even if it has nothing to do with the ‘80s. And that is, and was, a really important statement.
“Now, you look at things like ‘Hamilton,’ and you see a guy doing a flare, which is a breaking move — in knickers,” Vazquez continued, laughing. “And you have proof that it can be translated. They got the message that (Harris) started saying back in the day.”
In addition to teaching a Jan. 14 pop-up hip-hop workshop at the Wortham, a precursor to his eight-week adult hip-hop dance class later this spring, Vazquez will also co-lead pre-show discussions alongside Harris prior to the company’s two Asheville performances. Dancers from Rennie Harris Puremovement are also set to teach a separate street dance master class on Jan. 18.
One of the most respected hip-hop choreographers in the country, Harris grew up entrenched in hip-hop culture and was immersed in all its forms — music, dance and language. Throughout his career, he has embraced the culture and sought to honor its legacy, recognizing its heritage as one of the purest forms of movement from African and African American-Latino cultures. Harris’ latest program features eight of the company’s works that each tell a unique story through street dance styles like Campbell locking, house, hip-hop and B-boying.
“‘Nuttin’ But A Word’ shows how street dancers adapt to the stage” while also crafting complex narratives “about the challenges we face,” Hill explained. “There’s one part of the show, called ‘A Day in the Life,’ that is about police brutality: Two friends are hanging out, and one gets murdered by a police officer. And you see this story being told through the bodies of the two dancers. It’s one of my favorite pieces, because it’s created from a real space. It’s not phony or made up. When you create, like Rennie does, from a real space like that, people identify with what you’re saying — and whether you agree or disagree, it starts a conversation that we all need to have.”
While some pieces of the program confront pressing social issues, others offer moments of joy and celebration, showcasing the versatility and dynamism of street dance as an art form. For audience members, Hill said, the most important thing is to come ready to engage.
“This is the time to take your mind off your personal life and the things happening in the world,” he continued. “When you come to this show, leave everything outside the door. Just have fun. Create your own story as you watch the show. And it’s OK to clap. It’s OK to yell. Because that’s what we do in our community, too.”
IF YOU GO
What: Rennie Harris Puremovement
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17 and Saturday, Jan. 18
Where: Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave., Asheville
ARTS RISING!: $15 ARTS RISING! tickets for Rennie Harris Puremovement are available. Customers should choose the “ARTSRISING” price type to access the deal.
