Dance: Cria Suave at BAM

Even the most out-there, edgy companies at the Joyce can’t compete with Cria Suave, the Afro-Brazilian force of nature we were fortunate enough to catch at BAM Fisher tonight.

It’s as if someone cherry-picked the most feral, athletic, sexy group of Cis and trans dancers they could find in Brazil—and cobbled together a program of the most aerobic, energetic, sensual, fast-stepping Afro-Brazilian dancing you’ve seen this side of a capoeira.

This “someone” is none other than choreographer Alicia Ripoll, a Carioca who gave up her day job as a psychiatrist, something for which we should be grateful. She takes her inspiration from the passinho (short step), a new style of urban dance that derived from Rio de Janiero’s street funk. The program is also inspired by the Dancinha (little dance), a derivation of the passinho, which the program says is “a mixture of affection and sensuality through the interweaving of funk with contemporary dance.” Let’s dispense with the verbiage here, people; it’s just plain hot.

Besides the wickedly paced dancing (ensembles and solos); the people of all colors, shapes, and sizes; and the sensual pas de deux of two bare-chested men whose athletics put Cirque du Soleil to shame, you don’t know where to look first. I’d suggest checking out the BAM box office online; if that doesn’t work, get on the standby line as early as you can. They’re only here till Saturday. A NYT Critics Pick.

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