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| Living well in the 21st Century has presented great challenges for every man and woman on the planet.
We've come so far in our great society with questions of what's proper and how to proceed towards a better future.
It's a query that is surely on the minds of us all, so the prospect of viewing a dance performance as part of the 21st century equation was a welcome and intriguing one for me as an artist living right now.
Is it even possible to have and maintain one's voice or vision in our media obsessed age of technology?
I'm pleased to report that a very clear vision of modernity and the future aesthetic in concert dance was beautifully realized by the OPUS Dance Theatre Company at Harlem's Aaron Davis Hall on October 30, 2009.
OPUS was presented as part of Harlem Stage's Fall Season.
"Since 1979, Harlem Stage has supported artists and organizations around the corner and across the globe, and provides children and adults with engaging and interactive education programs."
This program included five incredibly dynamic and diverse works that left no doubt about the potential of the ODTC.
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| Orange Moon" by Michael Leon Thomas offered a look as 'seven dancers at a gathering abandon their inhibitions, transform into their true selves and discover soul mates." As the mystical sensual mating ritual unfolds accompanied by the soulful voice of Erika Badu the audience is introduced to the beautiful company of dancers.
Mr Thomas' work was graceful and rich with details. The dancers were the true stars of this piece as each movement was laced with high glamour. Of note were sultry Fernando Carillo and Jonathan M Ponder as the ritual's high "priest" guiding audience with motion and spoken word on a journey that leads to a distinctively just final joining of the couples.
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| Revisited" by Vernard Gilmore was a work which wore its newness and edginess like a treasured garment.The movement distinct vocabulary provided the cast with another showcase to display there ample talent.
The rare melding of a choreographer's own original music with his movement is a wonderful thing which transported this observer to an unfamiliar but very desirable place.
Noteworthy in this work were the radiant Sisley Loubert and Byron Roman Jr.
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Guests at premiere
Nasha Thomas Schmid and James Buster Grant
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| La Shawntiqua" by Jeffrey Page (now appearing in Bill T Jones' FELA on Broadway) guided the audience on a simple and approachable journey through motion with the help of the master of mellowness Mr. Miles Davis.
Harnessing the generous use of flowing arms and wonderful use of the whole stage, Mr. Page's movement seemed to lengthen our emotions in every phrase and once again the dancers' technical abilities impressed by conveying the ease and the unique lovely challenges of edgy choreography.
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 Christopher Huggins, Krystal Hall-Glass and Jamal Gaines
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| The evening's only solo "Proud Soul" by Krystal Hall-Glass, was a stunner as danced by Rosita Adamo who proved herself worthy of master status in each tiny motion she made.
Ms Adamo has the ability carry the anticipation of the audience in each amazing movement she made.
Her performance conveyed every meaning the words "proud" and "soul" could have.
This was a powerful work made even more so by a strong, committed, thoughtful, powerful dancer.
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 Byron Roman Jr, Michael, Keiko,
Fernando Carillo, Jonathan M Ponder
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Mothers of War," the night's final work by Christopher Huggins offered the audience cutting commentary and a reminder of the world in which we live.
This work was thoughtful and majestic from the first light cue to the final curtain. Again the marriage of dynamic choreography and superlative dancing fused to create a narrative that the drug the audience in, held the audience in awe, and left the audience on its feet. Of note were Aslynn Thomas as Mother and Byron Roman, Jr. as Son.
At the evenings close Executive Director James "Buster" Grant reiterated the mission of OPUS and its future.
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 Sisley Loubert and Yannick Lebrun
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It is the title of the evening's show, "Soulful Art for the 21st Century." Having seen this mission in action I am convinced the years ahead are very bright for OPUS. Under the leadership Mr. Grant and Artistic/Rehearsal Director Leonard Meek the company is embarking on its 21st year of sharing the poetry of motion with the world.
That sharing comes with dynamic choreography, amazingly well trained artists, and a clear vision of substance and style. I encourage everyone to support this company in whatever form you can so that their joyous mission is shared with the world. No one will be disappointed!
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