鈥淭his is not your typical Valentine鈥檚 Day weekend show,鈥� said Katie Swenson, a dancer with Grass Roots Project. 鈥淭here鈥檚 definitely a grittiness and a rawness in 鈥楤eautiful Human Lies,鈥� and our dance style is probably like nothing you鈥檝e ever seen on stage.鈥�
The story of 鈥淏eautiful Human Lies鈥� unfolds in scenes set to hip-hop, electronica and house music by Beyonc茅, Immortal Technique, Bonobo, Nas, Groove Armada and more. The dancers of Grass Roots Project, trained across the disciplines of modern, ballet and street dance, combine forces to present fresh takes on popping and locking, breaking and b-boying.听
For Swenson, who has a background in ballet, modern dance and West African dance, trading her pointe shoes for sneakers in Harris鈥� company has been a revelation.
鈥淚t鈥檚 changed the way I view dance,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 such a formula to concert dance. There鈥檚 that division between performer and audience that makes it very presentational. But street style dance is inherently social, so it allows you to connect not only with other dancers but also with the audience.鈥�
The evening-length 鈥淏eautiful Human Lies鈥� was inspired partly by Harris鈥� upbringing in an African American community in North Philadelphia. But the stories he tells are also inspired by current events, including violence and protests in Ferguson, Missouri, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
鈥淩ennie is really showing that even as time goes by, these issues keep resurfacing, no matter how much we want to change them,鈥� said Swenson. 鈥淲e always want stories to have a happy ending, but Rennie is more interested in reality.鈥�
Showtimes for 鈥淏eautiful Human Lies鈥�
- Friday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m.
