‘Feet Speak’ Has Spring in Its Step

The many wonderful pairs of feet that enlivened the stage Friday at Occidental College as part of the new series “Feet Speak” not only spoke, but, in some cases, created symphonies with their soles.

And souls.

Billed as “Percussion Jam,” the evening melded music, syncopation, guts and gusto in a slate in which tap butted up against butoh, fiery flamenco cooled its heels beside the wailings of a wacky saxophone, and high-flying ebullience ruled.

In an inspired programming stroke, the barefoot, full-tilt butoh master Oguri, body riffing in a suit to the improvised thumpings of ace percussionist Adam Rudolph, created controlled mayhem in “Wildflowers.” Leaning, swaying, hands fluttering like silk, Oguri moved organically from full crouches to open-mouthed, wide-eyed stances. The duo fused movement and sound into a profoundly authentic emotion.

Also incapable of arbitrary gesture, flamenco dancer Laila del Monte, exquisitely accompanied by Adam del Monte on guitar, with Antonio de Jerez doing vocals, performed her “A Mis Espiritus (Solea)” with a quivering sensuality. From razor-sharp turns to zinging footwork, Del Monte unleashes a burning power that drenches the stage with drama reminiscent of Maria Callas.

Another dance guru, tapper Mark Mendonca, brings finesse and fleetness to his sparkling choreography. Where each sound emanating from intricate heel and toe work could come from percussive heaven, and endless rhythmic cascades electrify, Mendonca’s Steps Ahead Tap Trio also proved a showcase for tappers Jimmy Fisher and Hiroshi Hamanishi. Modern dancers Michele Bachar and Brian Frette added flair with cartwheels and muscular lifts.

Solo saxophonist Dan Froot proved his name rhymes with “toot.” Coughing, braying, sighing and--yes--ululating in “Knee Deep in a Kiss,” the surrealist squawkings he coaxed from his rod proved a humorous gambit into body and sax language.

“Brazilian Axesulte,” performed by the spirited dance troupe Cheremoya Escola de Samba, was robustly refreshing. Backed by a percussion octet led by Luiz Badaro, Linda Yudin’s choreography saw six young girls in bright Brazilian garb rock the house with shimmies and spunk. Rounding out the program, and looking as if they’d wandered onto the wrong stage, were the Country Knight Cloggers, a country-western dance team who mixed whooping and hollering simplicity with broad smiles and out-of-synch stepping.

* “Feet Speak” continues Friday and Saturday with “Mixed Directions.” Keck Theater, Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock. $5-$10. (213) 259-2922.