A Frique of Nature

Austin’s Ballet Afrique presents its latest program of short new dance works. China Smith, the company’s executive director, gathered inspiration from a variety of sources, from her experiences as a mother of young children to the slave narratives of J. California Cooper. Smith’s piece “Take Five” is set to the salsa music of Tito Puente and charts the exuberance of children chasing each other on the playground. “For the first time I’m doing a show in a dance style that is truly Ballet Afrique, a… Show more blend of African and Afro-Caribbean movement,” Smith says. “I’ve spent so much time trying to be a 'traditional’ ballet company, but I’m ready to take a leap of faith to tell these stories as authentically as possible.” - Jeanne Claire van Ryzin, American-Statesman

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