South Philly Review

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Samantha Barczak, left, plays Sally in the newest premiere from Rebecca Davis Dance Co. while Okewa Garrett, above, performs as a part of the ensemble. (Photos provided by Rebecca Davis Dance Co.)

Most people are familiar with classical ballet storylines involving lovely, lighter-than-air maidens, chivalrous suitors, characters with evil or mischievous intentions and perhaps a magic spell or two.

Rebecca Davis’ ballets tell stories too, but hers are rooted more in reality than in fantasy.

The newest ballet from the Rebecca Davis Dance Co., 1802 S. Broad St., titled “Braving the New World,” is based on literary works such as Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World,” George Orwell’s “1984” and Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451.” In the ballet’s world, social and political forces impose conformity, but one man refuses to give up his emotional and individual freedoms. The production, which the company will perform 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., is its last Philadelphia world premiere for this and next seasons as Davis plans to focus on touring with her company .

These totalitarianism-themed books have been around for decades, so what prompted Davis, the company’s artistic director, to create a ballet with similar themes?

“There are so many contemporary parallels,” Davis said. “Especially in America, from the Patriot Act to surveillance to Google maps.”

“Braving the New World” is South Philadelphia native Okewa Garrett’s first production with the company. The 21st-and-Fitzwater resident has been teaching jazz and hip-hop at the company’s studio, but became a member of the corps, or ensemble, for the ballet in March — months after the other dancers.

“I just kind of hopped in,” he said. “There was a lot of catching up and remembering.”

Davis’ style is different from what he is accustomed to, which is mostly modern and jazz, Garrett said. Still, picking up the movement did not take long, and the unique style helped him expand his capabilities as a dancer.

“I enjoyed the challenge,” he said. “It allowed me to be more versatile.”

Because the need for his presence came on such short notice, Garrett, a member of the Philadelphia-based Eleone Dance Theater that was touring in Glen Allen, Va. last Thursday and Friday, spent more time at first focusing on learning the choreography than on contemplating the story behind it.

“Now I feel more comfortable. I’m not just dancing from the neck down anymore,” he said over the background chatter of his tour mates.

Adapting to Davis’ movement style and becoming comfortable with it was challenging, added Samantha Barczak, who moved to the area from upstate New York when she was 16 to attend The Rock School, 1101 S. Broad St.

“It’s quite different than the Nutcracker,” she said, adding that it is also “very aerobic.”

In her first full year with the company, Barczak, of Broad Street and Washington Avenue, plays the role of the main female’s best friend, Sally.

“Rebecca was a huge help in describing in depth what kind of personality she was looking for,” Barczak said on what helped her get into the mindset of the character.

Barczak had read the book in high school, but reread it for this production.

“Rebecca strongly suggested it,” she said.

Experiencing social and political issues through dance exposes people to different facets the news does not often cover — ones more focused on individuals than the story as a whole, Garrett said. Witnessing movement within the context of relevant issues enables audience members to find an emotional connection with the characters, and in turn, the people those characters portray.

“Seeing it on TV or in the paper, that’s one thing. But seeing it live onstage — it’s unbelievable,” he said.