Performance keeps students on the ’Groove’

Immediately upon entering the intimate Joyce Theater for the 8 p.m. showing of “Groovaloo,” a hip hop theater performance, Thursday night, it was obvious that no ordinary show was about to commence.

The Black Eyed Peas’ hit “Let’s Get it Started” was playing, setting the mood for the exuberant performance to come. The set was adorned with the words “soul,” “love,” “hope,” and “fear” in colorful graffiti style, and the audience was diverse in age and ethnicity.

“Groovaloo,” which takes its name from the dance crew that makes up its cast, calls itself “the hip hop sensation,” and rightfully so. The storyline was born when the Groovaloos made bonus footage for instructional dance DVDs they were creating. As each dancer told his or her story, the group noticed it had something more—it had a script. That script details each member’s journey to becoming a dancer in the multifaceted group of Groovaloo.

The stories told discuss the difficulties the members experienced both at home and as dancers, and demonstrate how dance is both a challenge and an outlet for them. There were poignant moments in the story that could bring viewers close to tears. In one particularly dramatic scene, the highly skilled breaker Daniel Campos, or “Poe One,” battles his fear of an abusive father.

The show’s choreography is particularly notable for its contemporary flair. The Groovaloos pay attention to the minor details of their nonstop popping and locking, spinning, jumping, and flipping and use unique props like record players. The costumes vary with each scene, but most wore vibrant sweatshirts, hoodies, and tanktops. The show was narrated by a smooth-talking, comedic spoken word poet Charlie Schmidt, or “Vzion.” While the following scene lacked the level of energy that was expected from the opener, it was not long before the Groovaloos showed off what won them a title on NBC’s “Superstars of Dance.”

Each cast member shines the most during his or her monologues from the original project of the Groovaloo documentary. The climax was a dance set to Michael Jackson songs with some MJ-inspired moves. A battle with the “man in the mirror” was fought by two dancers creating perfect images of each other on either side of a hollow frame. The crowd was in an uproar when the scene ended, and the applause was well-deserved.

The show’s stories are heartwarming and full of surprises that manage to make audiences laugh along the way. To quote the show: “Life isn’t always choreographed—sometimes you have to freestyle.”

The creator and choreographic director of the show, Bradley Rapier or “Shooz,” said, “It’s a true story, so the show is authentic and our goal is to inspire.”

“Groovaloo” is being performed at the Joyce Theater through Sept. 27. Tickets start at $10.