SHE crushes stereotypes with show of hip-hop and urban dance

The all-female dance collective SHE has had quite the run. It debuted as an opener for Brother Ali at the Rhymesayers 20th anniversary concert last December and scored a Sage Award for outstanding ensemble in October. On Thursday SHE nearly blew the roof off the Southern Theater with a full-evening work, "Abandon Outlines."

SHE stands for She Who Holds Everything, an apt name for a group on an important mission. The members inspire women and girls to join the vibrant local hip-hop and urban dance scene, which not only showed up in full force Thursday but also enthusiastically cheered on the SHE dancers from first step to last.

The performers, ranging in age from early teens to 20s, bring their very best to the stage. They performed choreography by local company Al-Taw'am (founded by identical twins Iman and Khadijah Siferllah-Griffin) as well as solo works created by SHE members, drawing inspiration from the show's title and theme.

The dancers encourage us to "abandon" the boundaries set by society or ourselves — to rise to new heights.

The program is packed with different movement styles, including krump and house, as well as messages that range from the personal to the political (and, sometimes, both at once). For example, Khadijah Siferllah-Griffin's "Bag Lady" tackles the stereotypes that black women confront daily, replacing them with messages of strength and empowerment. Bella Roberts performs a krumping solo about upending expectations (she's a tiny but fierce dynamo). Destiny Anderson's "Freedom Interlude" is a lush study in fluid motion, punctuated by aspects of African-based dance styles. Joelle Fernandez contrasts her tough and romantic sides in "Adorn."

There are too many poignant sections to list here, but "MarchMadness" (choreographed by Al-Taw'am), with haunting live vocals by Miles Jamison, is a particular standout. It's a beautiful roll call of a dance, delivered with a sense of solemnity but never diminished strength.

Other highlights include Kylie Redding's richly articulated solo "Show Me Love" and Averie Mitchell-Brown's smart exploration of identity in "Fashionably Gendered."

The artists of SHE represent innovation in hip-hop and urban dance while demonstrating just how far women have advanced in a realm where men have more visibility. When they danced to Missy Elliott songs in the finale, many in the audience recognized the significance of the moment. SHE has only just begun.

Caroline Palmer is a Twin Cities dance critic.