Dance Scene
Street-dancing a pair of classic feud stories

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Rennie Harris' "Rome + Jewels" production takes the "West Side Story" and Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" themes to the streets, with a Philadelphia setting and hip-hop and break-dancing movements. "Rome + Jewels"opens tonight at the Leeward Community College Theatre. 'Rome + Jewels' 8 p.m. today and Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Leeward Community College Theatre $20, $25 455-0385

Not even "Romeo & Juliet."

Ironic, because Harris has produced a spinoff of the classic dark romance, "Rome + Jewels," playing this weekend at the Leeward Community College Theatre.

"I'm not a Shakespeare fan at all," said Harris, founder and artistic director of the Rennie Harris PureMovement, a Philadelphia-based hip-hop company. "In fact, I've never read any of his writings."

This updated, urbanized version is a boundary-pushing synthesis of hip-hop and modern dance. Besides Shakespeare, Harris drew inspiration for his company's latest production from the film version of Jerome Robbins' "West Side Story" and Baz Luhrmann's glam film "William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet."

"West Side Story," one of Harris' favorites, was the original impetus for this project, which took three years to complete.

"'Rome + Jewels' has nothing to do with 'Romeo & Juliet,'" Harris said, adding it serves only as inspiration.

And it's obvious.

Shakespearean purists might be disappointed.

The setting, characters and, most definitely, the language have all gone urban.

Set against the cold concrete of Philly, "Rome + Jewels" tells the story of two feuding families — the Monster Q's and the Caps — who battle in different street dance styles. The Monster Q's (play on Montagues) are hip-hoppers defined more by attitude and dialogue than movement. The Caps (Capulets) are b-boys who stage dynamic movements and flips.

But that's not where the changes end.

How's this: Jewel is not in the performance.

"'Rome + Jewels' is from a male perspective and is about Rome's quest, spiritual journey, if you will," Harris said.

The entire story remains in Rome's world, as he searches for meaning and truth. While Jewel is not physically present in the performance, she is seen through the eyes of the other characters.

Critics have called the performance "vibrant," "challenging," "fresh" and "ground-breaking."

That's exactly what PureMovement wants to be known for.

Founded in 1992, the company has been committed to moving beyond the commercially exploited images of hip-hop to using the dance style to express universal themes that extend beyond the boundaries of racial, religious and economic elitism while maintaining its inner-city roots.

The company specializes in hip-hop, b-boy (or break-dancing), stepping and other styles that have emerged from urban centers. This blend of contemporary African-American dance and modern movement sets PureMovement apart from other touring dance companies.

Harris brought his company to town last year for a performance of "Cool Heat Urban Beat," an urbanized version of "Stomp!" and "Tap Dogs."

A professional dancer at age 15, Harris is well-schooled in the vernacular of the style of hip-hop that sprung out of the northern Philly neighborhood where he was raised.

The award-winning dance-choreographer is also a loud-and-proud spokesperson for street dance. He has taken the misunderstood dance styles from the streets to the stage.

"Rome + Jewels" is one of Harris' most ambitious works to date. Not only is it his first full-length project, but it's also an hour and a half of pure choreography and strategic dancing, with emcees spouting and DJs spinning on stage. The production has played in about 40 cities in 10 countries so far.

"This project is, relative to all my past works, sort of a culmination of all my works into one," Harris said. "I didn't know that going into this, but after looking back at the work, it was clear that almost every idea I had in the past developed and became clearer within this work."