City Dance Company Momentum

Photos by Claudia Casbarian

New Space /Renewed Mission

City Dance builds Momentum

City Dance Company members pace through the sultry moves of director Sherese Campbell’s Rejuvenate: The D’Angelo Suite, one of the pieces headlining “Momentum”, their upcoming show that also features works by  Stephanie Sermas, emerging choreography award winner Jaimee Vilela, and guest choreographer, Elijah Gibson, on Saturday, December 15th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday December 16th at 3:00 p.m. at Houston Community College’s Heinen Theater.

Set to the lyrical sounds of D’Angelo, Campbell’s work moves from quiet to celebratory, as she examines what it means to be a woman, passionately immersed in her life, as she grows and changes, fitting the occasion of launching her new River Oaks Shopping area school and soon to be theater.

I was able to tour the school’s new studios and to visit with City Dance Company members Stephanie Sermas, Candace Thomas, Kim Turner, and Jaimee Vilela. The company showed off the fifth company member, Selina Hall, on video. The dancers turn up the funk in Gibson’s Territorial, set to “Automatic B” by Benny Benassi. Gibson’s choreography has a confrontational quality, which the dancers totally own.

Serious subjects surface as well. Hall will dance Serma’s Daddy, about the long-term effects of child abuse and finding the strength to walk away from a bad situation.

City Dance houses three companies, the professional troupe of five women, City Dance’s 5.Seven, a company of professional women ages 30-60 who embody City Dance’s belief that dance is for everyone, and the Ensemble, the pre-professional group. Each will be performing as part of “Momentum.”

The professional women’s group 5.Seven will be performing Sermas’ trilogy, exploring the evolution of a woman through how she handles relationships in her life – from abandonment to finding her own voice. “We called the company that because they say they are out of the office by five and in the studio by seven,” quips Sermas.

The young dancers get a chance to shine as well. The City Dance Ensemble will perform a spiritual choreographed by Campbell, as well as three works by Vilela, Discovery, Epiphany, and We Walk.

Known for their ability to fuse jazz, modern and contemporary ballet to create dances based in spiritual, emotional, and social issues, City Dance is a company and organization on the upswing. Campbell, now in her 16th year in business, is clear on her mission. “We are not just about taking classes but getting to know each of our students. We are developing strong young women,” she says. “We work together; it’s like a village.”

Last July, City Dance was featured at Discovery Green as part of Julydoscope in conjunction with the Houston Cinema Arts Festival. Clad in white tutus on the lawn, they led off the festivities at the Menil’s 25th anniversary celebration. The company has also launched a new young audience program, Let Me Tell You a Story, to address bullying in the school setting.

Campbell is proud of her new digs, and she should be. With a River Oaks location, three studios, a flexible performing space, teacher and student lounges and a large parking lot, there’s a lot to show off.  There are two spacious studios that can be combined to make one large space or separated via a red velvet curtain. The large space is also going to be transformed into a performing space in the next few weeks. Campbell has plans for a light grid and flexible seating. An open, airy lobby gives the audience a place to mingle as well. Every month, the students perform in this space for their Mixed Bag shows. With a soft purple studio walls, there’s a sense of calm and purpose in the studio. Campbell is still working on the details, and may make some changes as the enrollment grows. “I love decorating,” she adds, showing off some elegant architectural accents on the walls.

Although they have just moved in this past July, one can easily see they are building a dance home and hub here. “There’s a new energy here, that’s why we called the concert Momentum,” says Campbell. “This place is brighter and better. We are really raising the barre.”

Campbell is excited by all the energy surrounding the company and new studio. The company continues their international travel when, later this year, they travel to Scotland to perform. “The work is good, but, of course, I’m biased. We are busier than ever, and we are more visible. We are moving forward; there’s no going back.”

CITY DANCE COMPANY PRESENTS: Momentum, new works by Sherese Campbell, Stephanie Sermas, emerging choreography award winner Jaimee Vilela, and guest choreographer, Elijah Gibson.  Saturday, December 15th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday December 16th at 3:00 p.m. at HCC’s Heinen Theater. Tickets (Adults $20/Students $15 with student ID) can be purchased by calling City Dance at 713-529-6100 or at the performance at The Heinen Theater, 3517 Austin, Houston, Texas 77004. For more information visit their website at www.houstoncitydance.com.