Marj O’Neill-Butler

Watch for Brazzdance when they perform again. The work of choreographer/founder Augusto Soledad is exciting, strong and so well rehearsed each dancer was in absolute sync with the others. Such discipline.

Soledad’s new work, DADA, was the best modern choreography I have seen in some time. Although abstract around the theme of the Dada movement, it was strong and vibrant work.

Soledad uses the dancers backs and torsos in creative ways. He creates interesting movement on the floor and adventurous lifts and drops. The movement is athletic and unexpected at one moment and lyrical in the next. The dancers move at lightning speed to various scores including some Afro-Caribbean sounds. There is a great connection between dancers, almost as if they were having a conversation with each other.

During the troupe’s performance Saturday night at the Aventura Arts and Cultural Center, there were group sections, duets, trios and a very interesting solo by the only male dancer, Ahmaud Culver. The other dancers were Veronica Cato, a tiny dynamo, Jeannine Maffucci with a china doll face and unexpected strength and grace, and Elena Valls, who danced with joy and a smile on her face.

Costumes by Estela Vrancovich worked perfectly with the lithe bodies. Each dancer’s costume was different but the colors of black, red, white and gold gave them a unifying look.

And, for once, the music volume was played at a comfortable level and did not overwhelm the choreography.

The second act presented KAYALA, an earlier dance created in 2010. This piece was more primal, rhythmic and tribal in feel. But again, this small company was totally in sync with the movement and the unusual sound score. The costuming of this piece was distracting since it hid parts of the dancers bodies.

Watch for this company. They are small and mighty and don’t perform regularly, but they are worth the wait. Check them out at http://brazzdance.com.