It's not the shooting of a Lenny Kravitz music video, though it could pass for one. This is a rehearsal for Love Rocks, a new work by the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company set to Kravitz's music.
It's led by co-founders and co-artistic directors Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden.
“I worked with Lenny in the 2000s, in the early 2000s. I was working with Prince, and Lenny opened the show, and when they got to the sound stage they asked me to choreograph one of his songs, “American woman,” so that’s how I met him and became enthralled,” said Dwight Rhoden, co-founder of Complexions Contemporary Ballet.
Enthralled enough that years later Rhoden wanted to build a ballet around Kravitz's music.
"Dwight was saying, ‘I have this idea, I have this idea, I feel where we are at in the world today, and I feel there is something about love that I need to speak on,’ and I said, ‘Great, go for it, what’s the music?’ and he was like, ‘Well, I’d just love to use the music of Lenny Kravtiz,’ said co-founder Desmond Richardson.
Kravitz loved the idea of seeing his music interpreted through contemporary ballet. Rhoden says Kravitz gives them a lot to work with.
“The strength and richness of his music, the funk, the retro style, the swagger that’s apparent, and also the messaging that’s in his music. He’s all about love and finding that unity,” said Rhoden.
And so is Complexions, known as America's original multi-cultural dance company.
The piece lasts about 40 minutes and it's nonstop fireworks -- partly because that's what the music calls for and partly because Complexions always goes for broke.
Keeping with the themes of love and inclusivity, the creative team said it worked hard to make sure audience members feel like they’re part of the show.
“We will really be inside. Like, when you go to his concert, you’re involved right away and that’s what we want to bring that to the fold with Love Rocks,” said Richardson.
Complexions will perform Love Rocks at the Joyce Theatre on Eighth Avenue and 19th Street through Sunday.