Rhythmic Blue shakes it

In their final number on Thursday night, the twenty-odd members of Rhythmic Blue wore t-shirts proclaiming, "Shake What Yo Mama Gave Ya." Appropriate--the dancers had just spent an hour and a half doing exactly that. Giving movement and life to music loud enough to shake to the walls of Ber-keley's dining hall, Rhythmic Blue presented "Bad Mamma Jamma," a steady stream of lively hip-hop with a few surprises thrown into the program.

One of these surprises was "Possession," an erotic pas de deux set to Sarah McLachlan's liquid croons. Lauri Rivera, CC '00, who also choreographed the piece, and J.P. Higgins, TC '98, moved as one for much of the number, each exhibiting evocative fluidity and grace. The same audience that continuously cheered throughout the rest of the performances fell into a respectful silence for this number, riveted by the intensity of the dance.

Not that the faster and louder pieces weren't entertaining as well; the level of noise in the room alone kept the audience on its toes. Some of the dances nearly went too far: "Female of the Species," set to music by Space, featured dancers in leopard skins and feline purrs who just barely managed to slink across the stage on all fours without looking ridiculous.

A few of the numbers ran a bit long. "Heartbeat" seemed almost endless at one point--repetition threatened to take over. "Shakedown Street," set to the Grateful Dead, also wore out its welcome. It was, however, redeemed by Jill Catalanotti, SY '00, who is worth watching for her wild and ecclectic facial expressions alone. In addition to flexibility and a strong feeling for the music, she throws her entire self--down to her eyebrows--into her movements. Her rapidly changing expressions are a fascinating relief from the typical fixed plastic smile. The dance she choreographed, "Whip It," impressed. The other eight women in the number performed with a jumpy, but not hyper, enthusiasm.

"Gunatanamera," another highlight of the evening, was choreographed by Nara Springer, BR '98, and featured the cheerful movements of nine dancers in bright, colorful costumes. Wycleff's sounds and Springer's complimentary choreography distinguished the number from the night's hip-hop sessions.

The evening ended with a full-company dance to "Big, Bad Mamma." These bad mammas, and a few pappas, apparently expect that their audience loves dancing as much as they do; pounding music filled the dining hall before the show and during intermission. Perhaps they thought audience members would be tempted to get up and shake what their own mammas gave them. That task, however, is better left to the capable feet of Rhythmic Blue.

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