Orientarhythm takes Manhattan!

Ladies and gentlemen, the Fringe is on! For rabid fans of this dog-days-of-theater festival, that means it’s once again time to dash around downtown, from venue to venue and for better or for worse.

My first Fringe foray this month came down on the better side with the New York debut of the fierce yet personable Japanese duo known as Orientarhythm--Katsumi Sakakura and Eiko--and their versatile ensemble of women dancers. According to the troupe’s Web site, the unbelievably slick Sakakura’s superpowers include locking, street nunchaku (the pair of weaponry batons linked by a cord or chain), karate and boxing; silky-butchy Eiko (not to be confused with the famous avantgarde dancer of the same single name) claims panking, jazz, hip hop, street nunchaku and body boarding.

Their Fringe show is wonderful fun, combining Japanese youth culture and martial arts with hip hop culture in a confident and often humorous way. I wanted to see them slip in a little juicy capoeira for good measure, but I'm content with their electrifying staccato style. The show could be improved by snipping out the contemporary dance--Sakura--which two young women perform competently. This number displays no discernible choreographic flare, especially compared to the wit and dramatic fireworks of the duet that follows it--Sakakura and Eiko’s ninja fight dance, Shadow master.

When Orientarhythm returns to New York, I hope they’ll have a far better venue than the musty assembly hall of Our Lady of Pompei Church (West Village). If you go, take your earplugs, or don’t sit in the music’s line of fire; this troupe likes to crank up the volume.

Remaining shows: tonight (Sunday) at 7:15PM; Monday, August 13 at 9:30PM, Tuesday, August 14 at 6:45PM, and Wednesday, August 15 at 7:45PM. Click here or here for ticketing or call 212-279-4488 or 1-888-FringeNYC. Advance ticketing (more than 24 hour hours before show time) is recommended. Otherwise, purchase tickets at the door, cash only, 15 minutes before show time.

© 2007 Eva Yaa Asantewaa