Dance Theatre of Harlem's 'Dougla'
March 29, 2018
Zita Allen
African drummers fill the air with compelling Caribbean rhythms.
Dancers, male and female, appear dressed in floor-length skirts
festooned with red balls accenting every movement of their swiveling
hips. On the beat, dancers thrust one arm forward wagging an index
finger as if to say, “You can’t touch this!” In an instant, we are
mesmerized by the rhythmic, color-infused spectacle that is Geoffrey
Holder’s masterful “Dougla” created for Dance Theatre of Harlem back in
1974 and now scheduled to be presented during the company’s upcoming
City Center Season April 4 to April 7.
It’s been several years since DTH performed “Dougla,” and because
Holder died some years back, remounting this dynamic ballet involved a
process best described as a family affair.
“‘Dougla’ is genuinely a magnificent work,” said DTH Artistic
Director Virginia Johnson. “And, it’s an immensely popular work, so
everywhere we go on our extensive touring schedule we get requests for
it.”
Because it was created when the DTH Company was a bit larger than it
is today, Johnson said it was necessary to figure out how the company
could perform “Dougla” in its current configuration. “It’s something I
personally wanted to bring back,” she said, noting that the work truly
satisfies a sense of spectacle and magnificence and it does so in such a
simple way. “Geoffrey’s costumes are gorgeous and there’s a scenic
element, with lighting, that creates such a unique atmosphere, so
clearly ‘Dougla’ was something we could manage. Also, I certainly
enjoyed dancing it all those years.”
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