Dancers weave on and off stage like a sea of fish. It’s fluid and calculated. Clay Collective moves in and out of dance styles just as easily, activating the stage to its highest capacity. The air is heated, and the performance is brimming with energy.
Clay Collective established itself in August 2024. With just one other performance from November under its belt, the collective led by Gheremi Clay is already tightly knit and ready to prove their place in the LA dance scene. Its expansive presentation as part of Dance at the Odyssey included five routines by guest artists from the collective and 15 choreographed by Clay. While the setlist was lengthy, the group managed to create a strong throughline that connected one movement to the next, whether it was a contemporary leap or a street dance groove. You could not keep your eyes off the stage. This is the start of something new and exciting for Los Angeles.
Dance at the Odyssey – The Clay Collective – Photo by Walker Ucherek.
The show opens with guest performances choreographed by dancers in the collective. There were two standout solo artists of the pack: Zoey Seldon and Lucas DeBiasi. Seldon has strong control of his body, finding ways to throw in a syncopated popping element up his arm while he takes a single step forward. Between “Unstoppable” and “Interlude” (which is in the second half of the program), he knows how to command your attention. DeBiasi shared a contemporary work set to a BBC recording of “Private Dreams and Public Nightmares.” He bends and rolls through sequences with ease, snaking between his limbs to bring the radio show to life. He ensures not to overpower it with virtuosity and instead lets the movement highlight the story playing over the speakers. Meanwhile, Ronnie Lewis’ ensemble choreography set to “Belong to the City” and “2am” stood out as the most artistically cohesive. The piece proves that he actively interrogates movement and is in the process of exploring his artistic voice. Within the street dance steps, there is an emphasis on the arms that swing and paint the air with the help of lighting by Anneliese du Bolay. He turns the body into a visual work of art.
Dance at the Odyssey – The Clay Collective – Photo by Walker Ucherek.
The second half of the program, with Clay’s choreography, revealed how much the group values transitions and makes them part of its aesthetic. No matter what theme, costuming, lighting, or style the piece previously contained, the next one would smartly pick up from the last steps. Dancers dove in from the stage’s exits on the four corners to make each moment seamless, so much so that it felt like we were watching a movie.
In the larger ensemble pieces — including “Geeked Up,” “On & On,” and “Recognize” — Clay knows when to dig deep into the ferocious energy and when to take a moment to let some emotion and attitude come to the forefront. This is best shown between “Beez in the Trap” and “Ah Yeah.” The former is an all-women routine to Nicki Minaj’s iconic song. The choreography is quick and athletic, but the performers each find a moment to showcase some personality, even at the very end as one dancer poses with the middle finger up. “Ah Yeah,” the all-men routine, is soft and seductive. It’s the opposite of “Beez in the Trap,” but there are still moments where the performers dig deeper into a step to make it stand out and bring that same energetic attitude to something sultry. The variety keeps it interesting and powerful.
Dance at the Odyssey – The Clay Collective – Photo by Walker Ucherek.
Rarely do we see heels performance on a concert dance stage. Kayla Anais and Kyla Chaney take ownership of the opportunity and perform incredibly layered and artistically unique choreography in heels. Chaney begins with “Funeral,” a solo with attitude and vigor. Then in “Say Yes,” the duo come together. Their artistic voice is strong, each providing something different to the movement even if they perform the same step. It is steamy and strong, making you beg for more heels choreography. Anais, who is also the production assistant, is a particular stand-out talent. Whether she is there for a minute or five, she brings the emotion and hype required for you to really see and understand the movement. She does this by giving the audience a single, poignant look or biting her fingernail. She knows exactly what detail is needed to tell the story.
Dance at the Odyssey – The Clay Collective – Photo by Walker Ucherek.
Another crew highlight is the trio of Jerry Luna, Kenny Clark and Jarred Manista. Any time they stepped on stage, you knew things were about to go down. So much so that by the end, when they entered, the crowd cheered in anticipation of what they would bring. They transcended the constraints of gendered steps. They could begin with a masculine stomp and slip into a feminine back arch or hip pop. Better yet, they did it in unison, honing the same choreography and emotion. They built such a strong connection that their movement quality complemented each other no matter where and how they traversed the stage.
Dance at the Odyssey – The Clay Collective – Photo by Walker Ucherek.
The performance concluded with one final strong effort. In “Carnival” the energy got even higher. Each stomp was stronger, and each turn was precise, all with a story being portrayed by each dancer. What makes Clay Collective so special is its performance quality. They know that it is more than the steps. It is all about the story that you craft in your head about the meaning of the step. Is it sassy? Is it vengeful? Is it filled with heartache? The specificity and quality of the choreography is incredible.
After the show, Clay recalled looking at ticket sales for the group’s Odyssey performance. It was daunting. “We only got five people in the audience, but we gon’ dance,” Clay said.
However, the showcase (which definitely had more than five audience members in the end) proved that no matter what stage or environment the collective steps into, they will always bring it.
For more information about The Clay Collective, please visit their Instagram page.
Written by Steven Vargas for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Dance at the Odyssey – The Clay Collective – Photo by Walker Ucherek.
