Ko-Thi returns

Dance company remains proud, passionate and expressive

Ko-Thi is back, and in fine form.

In fairness, Milwaukee’s African drumming and dance ensemble was never actually gone — just focusing attention on school performances and workshops. But the company has been missing from local stages since 2009.

The Ko-Thi that performed Thursday evening at the Marcus Center is a young, energized version of the company that has been celebrating African dance and culture for nearly 50 years.

Thursday’s show blended the adult company with members of the Ton Ko-Thi Children’s Performing Ensemble, all of whom gave polished, exuberant performances.

Barefoot, clad in brightly colored costumes that changed from number to number, the dancers gave wonderfully animated, tightly synchronized performances, dancing in like-age small ensembles and in blended large groups.

This was more than a collection of properly executed, traditional steps and gestures; it was proud, passionate, expressive dance.

Musical director Kumasi Allen, Christian Bratcher and Kameron Sykes accompanied the dancers and delivered a few drums-only numbers, playing exceptionally complex rhythms and patterns on traditional drums, with precision, vigor and style. Costumed and standing behind the dancers throughout the performance, the drummers were as much a part of the show’s visual impact as the dancers themselves.

Performing with the grownup musicians were four young drummers, the youngest of whom was a heartbreakingly adorable 5year-old who could barely carry the drum he was playing. But he was playing, as were all the young drummers — playing well, no less.

Thursday’s performance opened with a haunting solo danced by DeMar Walker, who shares the title of co-artistic director with Sonya Thompson. A fusion of contemporary and traditional styles, Walker’s piece was a poetic blend of movement and sound.

The evening’s program was built of interpretations of traditional dances from various peoples of Guinea, West Africa.

In place of an intermission, Ko-Thi founder and artistic director Ferne Yangyeitie Caulker gave the performers a well-deserved break by vamping with the audience in the role of brash, elderly woman. Very funny in spots, the segment ran a bit long.