Dance is such a powerful sport and art. Through dancing, people can have an entire conversation with the audience without actually speaking any real words. Below are some of my favorite examples of that, featuring dancers that have blown up recently in the dance industry!
GREED / Jade & Josh
This routine is performed and choreographed by Jade Chynoweth and Josh Killacky. Chynoweth posted this video to her YouTube channel in late 2016, and since then, the video has reached over four million views. In the description box underneath the video, Chynoweth says that this is a dance meant to tell story about the danger of temptation and how love can be toxic when there is too much being sacrificed.
Video via Jade Chynoweth
Medicine / Zack Benitez
"Medicine" is danced by Zack Benitez and Tamara Marthe, who tell a powerful story that is open to interpretation. There are two things I really like about Benitez not explaining what the story is about in his video's description. First, not explaining the work leaves it open to interpretation for the viewers, which allows viewers to make their own decisions about what they think the story is about. Second, sometimes stories are powerful enough and told well enough that they don't need further explanation, and I think that was executed beautifully in this routine.
Video via Zack Benitez
HIM / Kyle Hanagami
Kyla Hanagami dedicated this video to "everyone who is brave enough to love in the light and to those who still love in the dark." Hanagami never disappoints with his choreography, and this routine was certainly no exception. In this video, the focus of the story is on two male dancers, as compared to the stereotypical female/male duo. Any dancer can attest that dance is a safe space, and in this dance we see two men dancing so strong and beautiful together, which isn't something we get to see often...but Hanagami's routine might be the thing that changes that.
Video via KYLE HANAGAMI
Station / Tessandra Chavez
Viewers might recognize Sean Lew and Kaycee Rice this past season of World of Dance on NBC. Tessandra Chavez let this piece speak for itself with its choreography. Lew and Rice have a strong connection when they perform any routine, and this was a prime example of that. Through Chavez's choreography, and Lew and Rice's execution, the routine told a beautiful story that has received over 1.5 million views in only a couple months.
Video via Tim Milgram