In its 30 years, the New York-based Complexions Contemporary Ballet Co. has established the tradition of premiering works that feature the music of well-known jazz and rock musicians.
That tradition continues Saturday at the Mahalia Jackson Theater when Complexions premieres a four-dancer work composed by New Orleans-born trumpeter Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott).
The new work, “Blood Calls Blood,” was commissioned by the New Orleans Ballet Association. It will conclude the first act of NOBA’s 2023-24 season opener.
Three other relatively short dance pieces will precede the Adjuah work, and the entire second act will be set to a compilation of songs by Lenny Kravitz titled “Love Rocks.”
Complexions premiered the work in New York City in January 2020, and has toured widely with it since then.
Dwight Rhoden, Complexions artistic director and co-founder: 'Our message is unity'
Dwight Rhoden, Complexions artistic director and co-founder with Desmond Richardson, spoke proudly about the company’s accomplishments since its founding in 1994.
He especially touted the multiethnic makeup of its dancers and its openness to incorporating elements of contemporary culture into its primarily classical styling.
“We’re called Complexions for a reason,” said Rhoden, who is choreographing the entire program on Saturday. “We’re a multicultural cast. We have a number of African Americans, some Italians, a Latino from Colombia, Asians, and just about everything else. All types of people. All types of bodies. We have very tall women, very small women and the same with the men. It’s very diverse.
“Our message is unity, in showing how seemingly different things can work under one roof in a beautiful and harmonious way,” Rhoden said.
Complexions Contemporary Ballet Co. premieres works that feature the music of well-known musicians in rock and jazz.
Saturday’s one-night-only performance opens with the full, 16-member company dancing an eight-minute excerpt from a ballet titled “Hissy Fits” to the music of Bach.
It will be followed by a pas de deux from “End Game,” then a solo performance to the music of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” titled “Elegy,” followed by the Adjuah work which features two couples.
Adjuah and his five-piece band will perform on the stage with the dancers, and Adjuah will sing as well.
Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, the multi-instrumentalist and composer who was known as Christian Scott when he was growing up and learning to play in New Orleans.
Adjuah described the work as “rooted in the style of the Maroon and Afro-Indigenous Nations of New Orleans of which I was raised.
"So much of my music is composed with dance-ability in mind, and I’m over the moon at the opportunity to show exactly what that looks like," he said.
The Kravitz work will be performed by the full company to a prerecorded, continuous soundtrack featuring a selection of the Grammy Award-winning singer/composer’s hit songs as well as some lesser-known pieces. As noted in the title, the emphasis of the group dance is on love and peace.
Rhoden described the piece, which is danced en pointe, as “very physical. There’s a lot of partnering in it. There are a lot of big production group scenes and then it all breaks down into duos and trios and just keeps moving. It’s a very fast-paced, high-energy work.”
Complexions performed in New Orleans several times between 1998 and 2017.
“We love New Orleans, and we love the audiences we’ve had there,” Rhoden said. “It’s always a pleasure to return, and I’m happy we’re going back.”
Reflecting on Complexions’ long history of performing here, NOBA executive director Jenny R. Hamilton said, “Ever since they first performed here in 1998, Complexions has become a New Orleans favorite with sold-out performances and deep residencies in the community that have impacted the lives of hundreds of youth.
“We are honored to produce a new work with Dwight’s distinct choreographic voice and the powerful music of native New Orleanian and jazz innovator Chief Adjuah. We’re very proud that the work will premiere here and tour internationally as part of Complexions’ repertory.”
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"COMPLEXIONS"
WHO: Complexions Contemporary Ballet Co.
WHAT: Dance performance in two acts featuring a commissioned world premiere by New Orleans trumpeter Chief Adjuah
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21
WHERE: Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, Louis Armstrong Park
TICKETS: $35-$119
INFO: (504) 522-0996. nobadance.com or mahaliajacksontheater.com