'Black Like Me' examines one word through many lenses

 

ALBANY - When dancers and choreographers do a Q&A with the audience—often called a “talkback”—it usually comes after the show, with a little break in between so those who don’t want to stick around can discreetly exit. But in her evening-length work “Black Like Me: An Exploration of the Word N—,” which was onstage Sunday evening at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center, Jade Solomon Curtis places the talkback smack in the middle of the piece. She’s making it clear that the most important part of “Black Like Me” isn’t the artistry, it’s the conversation.

That discussion (which continued post-show) is only the most literal way in which the work pushes viewers to question accepted norms, revisit their own experiences and sit in their discomfort, regardless of their skin color. Read More