Black Jam marked the first of a three-evening program forming the 30th Anniversary of Parallels - a program, he reminds us, that offers a look a look into black dance, postmodern and experimental movement.

Thursday featured dancers Hunter Carter, Samantha Speis and Marýa Wethers in an improvisational, hour-long adventure, presented under the direction and personal narration of Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Zollar, welcomed into the space, comments, “everything will be transparent…I grew up in a household where this type of movement was a part of the culture, seeing people spontaneously connecting with others.”

A video of Jones in a contact improvisation duo projects from a laptop against the back wall of the sanctuary performance space at St. Marks Church. The three dancers walk in from the sides to begin their own contact improvisation, rolling off one another, sometimes organically, sometimes awkwardly, always with determined intention. One among them instigates noise by letting out a yelp.

Speis takes the space for a solo, her movement naturally swift, flowing, colored with her off- kilter movements, testing her own balance. Carter begins to casually sing from the sidelines, and soon an improv comedy routine occurs surrounding the audience-selected idea of hellish red boots, pinning principal and student-like pair playfully against one another. Zollar then challenges the dancers to get from point A to B without contact in decreasing time intervals, and wrapping up the performance a trio performs house dance after speaking about its underground evolvement.

The collaborative nature of the improvisational sphere of dance is reflected through the informal stop-and-go of the performance (even a stop-watch!), the intermingled discussion, and inclusion of audience members.

Prior to the entire audience being invited out to dance, Zollar brings out Jones, Bebe Miller, Gesel Mason and Cynthia Oliver to improvise together.
EYE ON THE ARTS, NY – Jennifer Thompson