FrenetiCore Dance, in collaboration with acclaimed hip-hop crew Inertia Dance Company, presents its first full-length dance concert since last winter’s The Snow Queen. Inspired by the resurgence of 90s popular culture in fashion, music, and iconography, Youth of a Nation offers a nostalgic retrospective of the decade through ten dances by acclaimed Houston choreographers, including Sarah Brotherton, Cori Miller Capetillo, Laura Harrell, Bryan Paul (Inertia), Ty’Esha Lewis (Inertia), Jennifer Hart Salter, Tory Pierce, and Heather VonReichbauer.
Dates: November 17, 18, 19 and 20
Time: 8:00 p.m. (November 17 – 19); and 2:00 pm (November 20)
Location: The Pilot on Navigation, 5102 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX 77011
Tickets: $15 presale/$20 at-the-door
For tickets and more information please visit www.freneticore.net
Framed by a literary dialogue by spoken word artist Amyna Dosani and film work by Amatol Productions’ Melelani Peterson, the dances of both companies explore the cultural zeitgeist of the decade as well as pivotal moments in its history. In recreating the youth-oriented culture of the 90s, the choreographers realized startling parallels between the fabric of American society of today and that of twenty years ago. The last decade prior to the global media domination of the Internet and the paradigm shift of 9/11, the 90s are often characterized as the last true age of innocence. “But what we found revealed a completely different understanding of that time,” says Executive Director Adam Castaneda. “The news headlines we’ve been reading the past few years about terrorism, police brutality, racism, and hate crimes against the LGBT community are really extensions of what was happening two decades ago.”
With a backdrop of compelling pop music, FrenetiCore Dance and Inertia Dance Company will present work contemplating and commemorating the Matthew Shepherd story, the 1992 race riots, the legacy of artist Keith Haring, the loss of motherhood in the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing, the rise and impact of the Seattle grunge culture, and more. “What was originally meant to be a light-hearted, pop culture-infused show has developed into a more mature and insightful look at this fascinating decade,” explains Castaneda. “It’s nostalgic, more than serious, and very touching. We hope the audience leaves thinking about their most cherished memories, as well as the ones that have shaped our country and its people.”
Cast:
Ashley Boykin, Adam Castaneda, Elaine Fields, Calvin Franke, Lysette Marmolejo, Tory Pierce, Kristina Pratts, Emily Roy-Sayre, Brendan Winkfield
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FrenetiCore Dance is a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization with the mission to empower and transform communities through innovative dance, theater, and visual art. The organization is based out of the Pilot on Navigation, a black box theater located in Houston’s East End. FrenetiCore’s resident performance troupe, FrenetiCore Dance, is directed by Adam Castaneda and performs choreography by Houston-based dance artists.
