Arts festival’s focus on diversity in dance seems to be working

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In the early years of the Three Rivers Arts Festival, the most memorable and compelling dance focused on experimental artists like composer/mover Meredith Monk, spinning queen Laura Dean and Garth Fagan, the “The Lion King” choreographer.

Now the festival is all about education, community and sharing art that is a part of everyday lives. The 2018 Pittsburgh version began Friday with more than 20 tiny tots from Minadeo Elementary School sharing their recent lessons on Caribbean dance. Led by an adult percussion ensemble, they marched from the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Hotel to the Dollar Bank Stage, festooned with handmade headdresses and waving tropical fabric squares.

The group was followed by Attack Theatre, not only master movers, but master teachers, who presented one of their interactive educational pieces. Called “Leap into Action,” it was led by co-artistic director Peter Kope, who cajoled audience members to select a suitcase. One by one, the five suitcases revealed props like a ring and Slinky, which inspired a circus dance and a giant character with tubular arms and legs.

Most artists focused on widening the arts audience base and demonstrating how they, too, can make art and performance a part of their lives. A case in point was Neville A. Brooks’ “Chains to Gains,” a serious yet uplifting look atthe history of Black America.

It began with a cover of Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration,” with a