Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Rennie Harris’s energized FUNKEDIFIED is tremendous fun, nothing more, nothing less

• By drediman
• June 5, 2018
• No Comments

The company of “Rennie Harris: Funkedified” at The New Victory Theater.

This past weekend at The New Victory Theater, I was able to take in a performance of Funkedified, an adrenaline-fueled dance collage performed by Rennie Harris Puremovement and Hood Lockers set to an unstoppable stream of funk instrumentals played by an excellent onstage band. I’m happy to report that the hour-long family-friendly show is so energized and infectiously performed that I think it’s practically impossible not to have a fun time at this latest concoction from accomplished hip hop choreographer Rennie Harris.

But is there significant depth here beyond the pyrotechnics of the (undeniably and tremendously exciting) dancing? I would probably ultimately fall into the camp of the naysayers. But sometimes that’s okay; a simply visceral experience at a performance – nothing more, nothing less – is much more fulfilling than many a night I’ve spent at the ballet. Funkedified may not be high art, but it unabashedly strives for a kind of prolonged and heightened state of euphoria that less confident performers would balk at attempting.

Over the years, The New Victory Theater has basically cornered the market for children’s theater in New York. Given its thoughtful, often adventurous, and dependably varied programming, I’m not surprised. The supremely entertaining Funkedified continues the indispensable institution’s trend in outstanding performing arts programming for kids. As an introduction to dance for young ones, it’s hard not to go wrong with Funkedified, as was evidenced by the giddy squeals of delight at the deliriously high-octane conclusion of the piece.

RECOMMENDED

RENNIE HARRIS: FUNKEDIFIED
Dance
The New Victory Theater
1 hours (without an intermission)
Through June 10