Evidence Dance Co. @ the Joyce Theatre

Brooklyn based Evidence Dance Co. was founded in 1985 by Ronald Brown.  Brown is the Founder, Choreographer & Artistic Director for his Evidence Dance Co.  It is hard not to draw comparison between Evidence & the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre (AADT.)  Brown has created works for both Ailey II & AADT.  In 2011 Brown received the Alvin Ailey Apex Award.  Evidence Dance Co. explores the "human experience in the African Diaspora" with the art of dance and storytelling.  Program B I saw consisted of "Walking out the Dark," 2001 and "Upside Down," 1998.  There was a Program Note, Mr. Brown wrote, "One of my teachers often said, "don't give in to the pressure to create something new, make sure you always show people  where you have come from."  "Walking out of the Dark," is a very powerful & solemn piece scored with hymnal music.  There was a tribal, ritualistic sensibility conveyed through the dancers.  The dance had dim lighting & celestial beams spotlighting the 3 female & 1 male dancer.  Despite the strong, grounded dancing, I found it repititous.  Too much time was spent with the dancers prone or standing still. The dancing stops with the dancers on their backs while dust falls upon them.  I found this heavy handed. Brown incorporated an elegy after the dancing, "Strength can't be contained or stay buried in the dark.  Escape from this cycle is impossible without you."  Very poetic, but very unnecssary.  "Upside Down," was an African Folklore style dance emitting a feeling of kinship.  Both Evidence & Ailey converse an African heritage through dance.  I agree with Brown's teacher "show people where you have come from."  But, as a patron of Evidence & Ailey, I urge the creation for something new.