Energy Helps Washington’s Mixed Bag

More is often less. Such was the case with Lula Washington Dance Theatre at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on Sunday. The miniseries approach--featuring eight old and new works that span decades--dissipated the evening’s impact, although the electric energy of Washington’s dancers helped compensate for programming and choreographic blunders.

On the plus side: two jubilant works bookending the bill. “Taratibu,” Arla Harvey’s previously reviewed celebration of youth based on song, chant and movement, emphasized a blast of beaming kids rhythmically stomping in bold-colored costumes. “Alaliyo (Wake Up),” a premiere staged by Washington and choreographed and danced by firebrand Jimmy Titus Fotso in full Cameroon-based face paint and garb, reveled in spirited sensuality. With the Washington company and a handful of students, this work was a primal hand-clapping, harmonious hugfest.

A first look in Los Angeles at Robert Gilliam’s 1997 “She’d Break Down Doors to Wander Naked in the Cold” offered a dark, stylized tableau of mechanical, underwater-type moves. This excerpt featured Kim Borgaro, Katisha Brooks, Shameika Hines, Nabachwa Ssensalo, Shari Washington and Tamica Washington. If Barbie were a quivering vampire doll, she might hold court in this claustrophobic scene set to Mark Fitchett’s dispassionate score.

Jamal Story performed his 1995 solo “Catharsis,” with balletic brio to spare. A breath of kinetic air, the teenager executed beautiful extensions, gymnastic flips and side moving stretches.

Lula Washington’s “01997-8,” danced by the stellar duo of Borgaro and Kristopher Jones, proved a compelling gladiatorial gender tug of war, though Bob Dale’s onstage synthesized music droned like bad disco fare. Dale also accompanied Washington’s 1995 “This Is Your Dance Life,” since revised, but still suffering from inane sounds and empty “Chorus Line” posturing. Previously reviewed works by Donald McKayle and Jho Jenkins completed the program.

Washington’s troupe has the dance goods, but brevity would pack a more potent punch.