Young artists amaze audience

"SENSE PASS KING," CHILDREN'S DANCE THEATER, Capitol Theatre, additional performance at 2 p.m. Saturday (355-2787 or 1-800-451- 2787).

Children are the most versatile creatures on earth.

During the Children's Dance Theatre's "Sense Pass King," the young dancers become monkeys, giraffes, snakes, moles and even human villagers. And they dance the roles with vigor, energy and a passion for movement.

Based on the children's book by Katrin Tchana, "Sense Pass King" follows the life of a young girl named Ma'antah, who by the time she is 2 years old can speak the various languages of the Five Villages in Africa.

The tyrannical King finds Ma'antah a threat to his reign and tries to dispose of the child by leaving her in the jungle, throwing her into a pit and casting her into the sea.

But young Ma'antah, named "Sense Pass King" by the Five Village Elders, because she has more sense than the King, tames the snakes to lead her home; recruits the moles to dig her out of the pit and uses the gift of courage to enchant and destroy the sea monster who lives in the turbulent waters.

Friday night, the young dancers amazed the audience by taking traditional African dance and bringing it to life on stage. The children's frantic, synchronized leaps, dips and high steps were tight and precise. The moves seemed like second nature to these young artists.

The contagious energy wafting from the stage left the audience spellbound and had its members cheering for more.

Throughout the performances, a live band -- led by composer Tristan Moore -- pounded out rhythms and mood-setting arrangements.

In a move that highlights the performance's aesthetic beauty, the band is not confined to the depths of the orchestra pit. Instead, it plays on stage and serves as a backdrop for the dancers.

Leading the story along is griot (African storyteller) James Morris, who interacts enthusiastically with the audience and even some of the dancing animals, whose intricate costumes were designed by Cynthia Turner and Nancy Jo Cook.

Two additional works -- "Life Flight" choreographed by Misha Bergman and "Searching. . ." by Chara Huckins -- are performed before "Sense Pass King."

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