Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Mia Matsudaira Dancers perform during Motown Jukin' in the Solano Hall dance space [Click to enlarge]

The air is filled with smoke as audience members anxiously await "Motown Jukin'," the celebration of Motown's 50-year anniversary. As the performers quickly enter the stage in darkness, the show finally begins.

Motown Records was a group of record labels originally based in Michigan, founded by Berry Gordy Jr. Motown Records, the first record label owned by and featuring African Americans, played a crucial role in the racial integration of popular music.

Linda Goodrich, department chair and director of "Motown Jukin'," said a Motown performance wouldn't be the same without the four top names of Motown.

"You can't do Motown without the Jackson Five. You can't do Motown without Stevie Wonder. You can't do Motown without The Supremes and Smokey Robinson, and you certainly can't do Motown without Michael Jackson," Goodrich said.

The Theatre and Dance Department's Sacramento Black Art of Dance, featuring the department's Sons/Ancestors players and directed by Melinda Wilson, staged this modern dance performance.

The show fused acting with dancing with the first half celebrating the various popular Motown artists, while the second half focused specifically on Jackson's influential life and career.
For the first half of the show, the costumes were simple: solid black, white suits with black hats and shoes, or red tops with slacks and leggings.

For the majority of the show, performers danced barefoot to reduce the noise shoes would make.

During the Motown segment, performers shook their hips to the likes of The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and The Supremes. Different styles of dancing, including floor work, modern jive, the shuffle and a few pirouettes were incorporated throughout these pieces.

Goodrich, who already planned on doing a tribute to Jackson before his passing, said that when he died, she knew she had to make it even more special.

"I'm 60. I, along with my kids grew up with Michael Jackson and I've used a lot of his music, especially in the '80s when I was teaching. He was very much a part of my home," Goodrich said."
Guest choreographer Michelle Ned, said her involvement with the show has been an exciting one.

"Dr. Goodrich gave me a lot of freedom to do my own thing and kind of put my portion of the show together how I want," Ned said, "but I think it's a good tribute to the 50 years of Motown and I'm glad they picked this theme because it's really fun music to dance to."

Many of the "Motown Jukin'" performers said the Jackson tribute was just an added bonus for the event.

S/BAD member Rita "Coco" Clark said "Motown Jukin'" was one of the most cohesive S/BAD concerts she has been in.

"The pieces are intertwined with vignettes, theatrical performances as well, which makes it flow a little nicer," Clark said.

As the performance continued, the simple costumes suddenly disappeared as the reggae jam, "Master Blaster (Jammin')" by Stevie Wonder came through the speakers. Performers proudly donned black, red, green and yellow as they all showed off their Jamaican dance hall moves.

The real magic started the second half of the show when the sound of Jackson's "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" filled the room.

A wave of emotion rolled over the audience when the performers danced to "Man in the Mirror" as the projectionist displayed images of Jackson in the background. That particular song left some people in tears.

Senior theater and dance double major, Michael Smith, who dances as Jackson, said he started dancing because Jackson made him fall in love with dance.

Smith said performing as Jackson was an honor.

"It's hard to put it into words because it trickles down through family and over generations," Smith said. "It's amazing to look over his life and see how many generations and lives he's touched."

Amber Wertman can be reached at awertman@statehornet.com