"Looking for the perfect beat..." and finding it

Full Circle--those endearing hip-hop dancers, Kwikstep and Rokafella--are showing a new version of their popular Innaviews, directed by Gamal Chasten, at Dance Theater Workshop now through Saturday evening, and the update works. It's a two-person show now with lots more of the full-out dancing for which this married couple is rightly acclaimed. It's partly a wry look at how mainstream media and the entertainment industry get hip-hop all wrong and a tender account of the spark and flight of a love relationship (and working partnership) that's still going strong. It lovingly and deftly traces the history of a couple and a culture undergoing change.

The show engages the audience from its very first moments. Full Circle and their creative team have added new visual elements--clever sets and set-like backdrops, videos and photos--and they have more sharply focused their spoken word segments, stories and comedic vignettes. But they also let their versatile hip-hop dancing do much of the talking, and that dancing speaks with conviction.

For more information and ticketing, click on Dance Theater Workshop. And check out Full Circle's home site here.

The East is Burning!

DTW's two-night studio showing of The East is Red by The Legendary House of Ninja--heirs to the legacy of the late, extraordinary Vogue master Willi Ninja--ends this evening. Curated by Hip Hop artists Kwikstep and Rokafella of Full Circle, conceived by house father Benny Ninja, and written by Paris Greeneyes Ninja, this work-in-development liberally combines drag ball culture, elements of Asian culture and martial arts and Hip Hop, showcasing the personal style and sometimes mindblowing movement skills of each of its performers. About half of the small studio's space is taken up by a very lucky group of watchers. So the audience gets an up-close-and-personal infusion of energy and fabulousness. Such fun!

Admission is free. Seating is very limited. Reservations are required, and you'd best be on time! To try for a reservation, contact DTW's box office at 212-924-0077 or click here. While you're there, you can also get information on DTW's upcoming studio showing by Michel Kouakou/Daara Dance, curated by Bessie Award winner Nora Chipaumire.

On YouTube:

Willi Ninja on Vogue

Deep in Vogue

Father Almighty -- Willi Ninja and the House of Ninja