Philly Plain Dealer

Dame La Receta! served as more than a thought-provoking dance performance. From the costumes to the coffee that was brewed on stage, it was a completely immersive experience that intrigued all of the senses. Thematically, this piece showcases the joys of traditions and the challenges of acculturation in the lives of immigrants in America (specifically Afro-Cuban immigrants).

This piece was a commentary on the “American Dream”, a promise easily made but not so easily kept. The storytelling elements of this performance were strong and effective. We started the show with a pledge of allegiance that started as devotion but ended with cynicism. Dancers’ hands slowly fell from their hearts and their voices rose out of frustration, exhaustion, and disappointment.  

What initially evoked thought when I saw this piece was the costumes. Every dancer wore some variation of red, white, and blue cloth, the pieces of fabrics haphazardly cut and sewed in different outfit variations. It made me think about American nationalism, and how despite the attempt to create or conform to a singular culture, we are all  going to wear our pride differently.

The set was simple, a retro-looking table with a chair per dancer. The atmosphere in the room and amongst the cast proved that the set design was successful, as it felt like we were all seated in a tiny kitchen. They utilized projections of family videos and interviews on the back wall to further explain the story. These projections were typically in Spanish, with English subtitles. My only complaint about this element is sometimes, the dancing happened simultaneously with the projections and the videos were distracting from the choreography.

The choreography styles had two parts. The first half exhibited the pain that comes from forced acculturation, giving us movement that resembled modern and contemporary dance styles. There was such intimacy in each performer’s movement, where I could hear every breath they took even over the live music. They represented generational pain and trauma in a way that was easy to pin-point in the choreography–like a moment where they embraced one another and moved in a line as one. There was a line that stuck out to me from some of the dialogue: “This is our American dream.”

On the topic of intimacy, the dancers were very comfortable interacting with the audience on various occasions, even offering us a sip of coffee in between acts. They encouraged us to cheer and hype the dancers up, which we did. The crowd was the loudest during the second half of the performance, where they shed their red, white, and blue. Their newer costumes were more vibrant and self-expressive, rather than the attempt at conformity we see in the beginning of the show.

The second-half of the choreography was a mixture of lively jazz with hints of Afro-Cuban flair. This was my personal favorite, as seeing the genuine joy on the dancers’ faces was very entertaining and refreshing. This portion of the show translated into a childlike happiness despite the tribulations of expected cultural assimilation. Rather, this portion of the show depicted culture as an accentuation of joy and promoting togetherness.

Overall, I think the performance was very well-done! The choreography was executed beautifully and the dancers had the perfect mixture of unity and individuality. This show exceeded my expectations and I found so much meaning in the stories they were portraying. I would definitely recommend seeing future performances by Carne Viva Dance Theatre.