Dance company brings ‘genius’ to Harbison Theatre

Ever wonder what it would be like to be named, officially, as a genius? Dancer and choreographer Kyle Abraham doesn’t have to wonder: In 2013, he was a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation’s Genius Award, which celebrates the creative potential of people who are among the best in their field.

On Saturday, March 28, you’ll have the opportunity to see this genius in action when Midlands Technical College’s Harbison Theatre presents the South Carolina premiere of “Pavement,” Abraham’s groundbreaking dance work.

The one-hour show, which fuses dance and theater, follows the decline of several neighborhoods in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where Abraham grew up. Set in 1991, the deeply personal work was inspired by John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood and was choreographed to music that ranges from Bach and Vivaldi to Donny Hathaway and Sam Cook. The performers are all members of Abraham’s dance company, Abraham.In.Motion.

The program begins with an arresting – and technically thrilling – hip-hop solo by Abraham, the addition of other dancers on the stage quickly moves the focus to the tensions so prevalent in today’s society. Although the show is visually stunning, its symbolism – dancing in circles, moving into another dancer’s space, beginning duets that never materialize – is particularly relevant in today’s world.

If the last show you saw at Harbison Theatre was a bit more middle-of-the-road (past presentations have included Broadway retrospectives, the Texas Tenors and the movie “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”), don’t be surprised that the venue is expanding its horizons. “The diverse programming at Harbison Theatre reflects our belief that we can learn all sorts of things from varied performances,” Executive Director Katie Fox said.

Pavement begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28. For more information, visit harbisontheatre.org.

Katie McElveen, Special to The State