There is a reason and a season for every performance. On May 18 at Crenshaw Yoga and Dance, everybody in the large studio, which was now also filled with chairs and bleachers, showed up to celebrate Black and LatinX choreographers from the Leimert Park dance community and beyond. They were in their seats to see BlakTinx LA Dance Festival’s “Unity Through Movement,” showcasing works exploring identity, resilience, and expression.
It was an inspiring night of dance, culture, and community, where the energy bouncing around in the crowd and zigzagging from performer to audience was electrifying. The one-hour performance of pieces by seven choreographers was fun, fiery, and fierce. It was a prime example of the talent, vibrancy, and buoyancy of the L.A. dance community.
BlakTinx Dance Festival – Executive Director of DRC Raélle Dorfan (Left) receiving Community Achievement Award – Photo by Lena Elgabalawy.
The BKTX Festival is the baby of Licia Perea, founder of Latina Dance Project. Her love shines through every aspect of the festival, from the moment she greets guests at the door to her heartfelt thank yous to the choreographers, performers, supporters, and audience members at the end.
BlakTinx Dance Festival – Boomer receiving Community Achievement Award – Photo by Lena Elgabalawy.
Perea launched the festival in 2013 at The Bootleg Theater, and soon after Bootleg founder Alicia Adams, who was standing by her side on the studio floor stage, jumped onboard as contributing co-producer. The seven featured choreographers at the 12th BKTX Festival were Shauna Davis, Victor Gonzalez, Diana Toledo, Luckie, Noel Bajandas, Taisha Clark, and Boomer, who also received a Community Achievement Award from BKTX for his work with the Boom Squad and Boom Squad Academy. BKTX’s second Community Achievement Award was given to Raélle Dorfan, Executive Director of Dance Resource Center of L.A., a nonprofit and one-stop resource for all things dance.
From Shauna Davis’ opening work, titled “The Oyster Knife,” to Boomer and Boom Squad’s “Boom Squad Together Strong,” the audience was encouraged to speak out, yell, and even scream if they liked what they saw. This was an interactive space where support, encouragement, and enthusiasm for dance took center stage.
BlakTinx Dance Festival – Andrea Bess, Liv Mai, Paris Simpson in “Oyster Knife” by Shauna Davis – Photo by Lena Elgabalawy.
A stand-out of the evening was the up-close view that every audience member had of the dancers. The front row was tops, because as Andrea Bass, Liv Mai, and Paris Simpson jumped, rolled, and turned in Davis’ “The Oyster Knife,” their flexing muscles and audible grunts made us feel even more connected to their movements. As Alejandro Volar, Mia Sosnowski, Isabella Childers, and Noel Bajandas transformed the room into a disco in Bajandas’ “Lost in Music” by Sister Sledge, we felt the intoxication of being in the club.
BlakTinx Dance Festival – Sasha Rivero, Tatiana Wilkins, David Williams in “Tethered” by Luckie – Photo by Lena Elgabalawy.
Luckie, who was also a producer, the host, and managing director of the BKTX Festival, showed why his choreography is sought after in his Old School Skinny dance class at Crenshaw Yoga and Dance. His piece, “Tethered,” featured professional artists Sasha Rivero, Tatiana Wilkins, and David Williams making Usher proud that they chose to move to his music. As the touring creative director and movement coach for Jhené Aiko, Luckie has an arsenal of all the right moves, which combined to create a fluid and hypnotic performance.
BlakTinx Dance Festival – Cast members of “Dance Floor Now: Ladies Edition” by Taisha Clark – Photo by Lena Elgabalawy.
Taisha Clark’s “Dance Floor Now: Ladies Edition” had the audience bouncing in their seats as 13 seductive artists hit the stage in heels, then casual wear, and back to heels again performing a medley of styles to a medley of hit songs. It was an explosion of feminine power that was CrazySexyCool.
BlakTinx Dance Festival – “What You Don’t See” choreographed and performed by Diana Toledo – Photo by Lena Elgabalawy.
The most serious work was Diana Toledo’s “What You Don’t See” in which she danced solo to the sounds of “ADHD Reflections.” It was an impactful piece connecting mental health and dance.
BlakTinx Dance Festival – Cast members of “BOOMSQUAD” by Boomer and Boom Squal – Photo by Lena Elgabalawy.
The finale was perhaps the most overwhelming outpouring of collective joy with Boomer and Boom Squad’s “Boom Squad Together Strong,” which was inspired by the 2005 film “Rize.” The Boom Squad consists of clown dancers, young kids who dance, flip, and krump with their signature painted faces. The kids were amped and truly talented. Luckie, when introducing Boomer and his award, commented how much this local community in which he was raised has grown to support dance. At the very end, Boomer invited a handful of audience members into their cypher and, since the crowd was filled with dancers, the invited guests dropped in and hyped the crowd with their unique styles and infectious energy.
The entire night accomplished what BKTX Festival set out to do 12 years ago. The next day, Perea conveyed it best in our email exchange: “It was quite amazing—the energy in that room being exchanged between the performers and the audience! Made me forget the state of this country and the world for a few hours.”
For more information about the BlakTinx LA Dance Festival, please click visit their website.
For more information about the Crenshaw Yoga and Dance, please visit their website.
Written by Jessica Koslow for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: BlakTinx Dance Festival – “What You Don’t See” choreographed and performed by Diana Toledo – Photo by Lena Elgabalawy.
