Get Out: Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Celebrates Jacob Lawrence

If you missed Reggie Wilson's group at On the Boards a few weeks ago, you have the chance to not only make up for it, but to add three other stellar choreographers and one of Seattlest's favorite dance companies to the bill. Opening this evening at Meany Hall as a part of UW's World Series, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company performs the Seattle premiere of colôr-ógrăphy, n. the dances of Jacob Lawrence. There have been many works of dance inspired by works of art (and obviously, vice versa), but this strikes us as one of the most inspired and poignant pairings we've heard of. We've long been a fan of Lawrence's ability to craft narrative and emotion with simple graphic representations peppered with explosions of color and implied motion (his "Ironers" hangs in our dining room, still by far our favorite).

Of the six Lawrence works selected by choreographers Donald Byrd, Rennie Harris, Reggie Wilson, and DCDC Artistic Director Kevin Ward, we're most drawn to "Wounded Man" pictured at the right. The stark, graphic nature of this painting that speaks volumes about the faceless and cowardly treatment of black men (and women) in this country will lend itself beautifully to a male soloist, though we're curious if other dancers will be incorporated or if it will be left true to its inspiration. No doubt comparisons to Alvin Ailey's Revelations will be inevitable (especially with Harris being a former choreographer for the company), but we're certain the world has plenty of room left for a contemporary "I Want to Be Ready" that could possess as much staying power as Ailey's seminal solo continues to have.

Thurs-Sat, 8pm // Meany Hall (UW) // $39