It may be that my girlfriend is into dance, it may be that I am beginning to appreciate dance more, since I’ve been working as an accompanist, but whatever the reason, I went to see Savion Glover‘s SoLo in TiME at the Joyce Theater.

As a musician, I think it is easier for me to dial into tap as opposed to other forms of dance. I can close my eyes and appreciate tap. I can listen to it like listening to a drummer.

The first time I saw Savion Glover is around the same time that most of America saw him, in Tap with Gregory Hines. He was only 15 or 16 at the time, but for many people, he stole the show. Later, I hear he was on Broadway in Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk. Thereafter, it was on the big screen again in Bamboozled.

Sunday was my first chance to see him live. The performance SoLo in TiME is a combination of tap and Flamenco. Though I am no dance expert, I can appreciate the work involved. The interplay between music and movement is something special. A performance like SoLo in TiME, though it may have intricacies I may never appreciate, was wonderful to watch. I would highly recommend it for a dance novice or armchair appreciator.

The show features Savion and two other dancers, Cartier Williams and Marshall Davis, Jr.. They danced in unison, took solos, and at least to my ears and eyes did some spontaneous improvisation. Taking the center of the stage on three platforms, the dancers (or Hooferz, as Savion likes to say) were flanked by three musicians, Arturo Martinez on guitar, Carmen Estevez on percussion, and Andy McCloud on bass. The format changes from piece to piece. Sometimes, one dancer and  multiple musicians are on the stage, other times, the dancers perform solo. Flamenco dancer and vocalist, La Conja also came out for a few numbers.

Was the performance a successful amalgamation of Flamenco and tap? I have no idea. Is this a revolutionary fusion of styles? You are asking the wrong guy. I do know that there are no dead spots in the approximately 90 minute show. It keeps moving, not to say that all the pieces are fast, but even the least sympathetic could feel the energy and emotion coming off the stage.

Tickets for this performance are reasonable, between $19 and $50. The Joyce is intimate enough that you can purchase the $19 tickets and still get a great view and hear everything clearly. Only at the space for a few weeks more, I highly recommend carving out some time to enjoy this event.

Additional Links:
NY Times Review of SoLo in TiME
Star Ledger photos of SoLo in TiME