By Ally Tayag Ricarte
PearlArts Studios
Illuminated by soul and funk music during the 50s and mid 70s, Staycee and Herman Pearl premiered the production sol. at the first pearlPRESENTS Dance Festival in summer of 2019. sol. echoes the emphatic sounds of the musical phenomenon and exceeds it with powerful and elegant movement. The sumptuous vibes fill the space to the brim, abundant with dancers embodying the relentless energy of the era in overwhelming floral and retro patterns. This week we wrap up the 10th anniversary of STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos and the birthday of co-founding artistic director Staycee Pearl, reflecting on the innovative sounds and enduring memories of Black joy that soul music made and continues to move through generations in this Q&A with SPdp&SS and our sol-themed Spotify playlist expertly curated by STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos.
Cemiyon Barber performing the premiere of sol. in the 2019 pearlPRESENTS Dance Festival in New Hazlett Theater.
sol. has a deep atmospheric soundscape including a number of well-known soul tracks like "Day Dreaming" by Aretha Franklin, "Nearer to You" by Betty Harris, and "110th Street" by Bobby Womack. Could you describe what specific qualities (rhythm, storytelling, history, etc.) in the music you focused on in the creation of this soundscape? How do these nuances contribute to this celebration of soul music?
STAYCEE: Each of these songs you mention have a unique visceral and emotional pull to them. They make you pay attention. It's that thing that is "soul". That is "Soul" music. Frankly, it's the Blackness. Overcoming and triumph. It's a way to feel all the pain, passion, anguish, love, joy and elation at once.
HERMAN: For my part, I was looking for good grooves, great vocals, deep atmospheres and unique production elements. In some cases, these were songs I already knew and loved, but with something like "Nearer to You" by Betty Harris, I had never heard it before and fell quickly in love. My tastes generally run with dark tones and minor minor keys.
Left to right: Quaba Ernest, Indigo Sparks, Cemiyon Barber, Lauren Horn & Chandler Bingham perform the premiere of sol. in 2019 pearlPRESENTS Dance Festival.
SPdp&SS describes sol. as "meant to evoke the visceral reactions of joy and nostalgia for audiences world-wide." Could you elaborate in more detail about these reactions you explored in creating sol.? Furthermore, could you describe the various facets of nostalgia that you are trying to convey?
HERMAN: As far as nostalgia, I didn't want to necessarily play on a songs stereotypical associations. Furthermore, I tend to want to avoid lyrics that are specific to what a piece is about. We don't want to be out there having dancers miming the lyrics as they go by.
JESS: It was a unique experience each time we entered that world and created an environment with our characters. The love, joy, pain, and raw beauty “Of closer to you” can drop you right into a dim kitchen dancing with a lover.
We'd like to share our gratitude here again for those who contributed to the Across The Floor: Anniversary Edition Series to illustrate how meaningful these projects were before, during, and after their production. Very special thank you to Kitoko Chargois and Ally Tayag Ricarte for leading this project and bringing these snapshots of STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos back to life! We cannot wait to share more memories with our supporters, friends, and families!
Love’s In Need of Love Playlist by SPdp&SS
sol.
Premiere: June 7, 2019 / pearlPRESENTS Dance Festival (Pittsburgh, PA)
Staycee R. Pearl / Lead Artist
Herman B. Pearl / Sound Designer/Engineer
Emily Vallozzi/ Costumes
Performers:
Athena Flournoy, Cemiyon Barber, Chandler Bingham, Dava Huesca, Indigo Sparks, Jessica Marino, Joy-Marie Thompson, LaTrea Rembert, Lauren Horn, & Quaba Ernest
Left to right: Jessica Marino Mitcham, Mamiko Usuda, LaTrea Rembert perform sol. (work-in-progress) in 2018 worx. performance at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater.
STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos is celebrating its 10th anniversary and the birthday of our cofounder/choreographer Staycee Pearl all of May with a month-long retrospective to honor the company’s history of innovative dance, multimedia experiences, and meaningful collaborations. In honor of our 10th anniversary, we’ll be sharing a series of blog posts dedicated to giving you an inside look at our productions through the decade.
If you’re just tuning into our anniversary series, be sure to check out our Anniversary retrospective series here: