Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre takes Center Stage

Collins:
And you’re also incredibly talented on the piano and as a musician.

Pratt:
Thank you. Even before formally studying music, it was ingrained in me from growing up in church. As a church kid, I was always surrounded by music, whether it was Bible study, praise dance rehearsal, choir rehearsal, or Sunday school. Music was everywhere. Even at home, I would hear melodies in my head and rush to my little keyboard to recreate them. When I got a bit older, my parents enrolled me in Settlement School of Music, where I learned to read music and further developed my skills. But the foundation was laid in church.

Collins:
So, Omar, many gospel choirs are mass choirs, yet you’ve chosen to keep your group small and tight-knit. What led to this decision?

Pratt:
What I adore about our group is the intimacy and power we possess. While I appreciate the grandeur of mass choirs, there’s something special about a small group of powerhouses. When we sing, it feels like a room filled with voices, despite our compact size. Working in smaller groups allows for greater flexibility, considering everyone’s busy schedules. We can easily assemble a handful of singers for events without the conflicts that often arise with larger choirs. It was nice however, during our reunion concert last June, with around 40 members present, it struck me how impactful our group has been. Seeing them all together for the first time was a testament to the community we’ve built. Although I prefer smaller groups for logistical reasons, witnessing our collective strength as one cohesive unit was truly remarkable.

Collins:
They often say when you mix a cold front and a hot front, you get a powerful weather reaction: thunder and lightning. Omar Frederick Pratt & Takreeya Hawkins. How did you two find each other? How did this powerful collaboration come to fruition?

Hawkins:
Well, we initially crossed paths in the same jazz class at Halliday Dance Studio. Then, later in high school, we met again. Freddy was a year younger than me; he was in the class of ’09, while I was in ’08. Throughout high school, we danced in various productions and musicals. After college, where I attended U Arts after Freddy, we reunited while working at Dare 2 Dance. The idea of starting a dance company in Camden had been circulating for years among dancers from the area. However, it remained just an idea until Freddy took the initiative one year and said he’d do it. With the encouragement of Nyema Gillespie, we took the plunge and started Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre at Dare 2 Dance. It was open to anyone who had danced before or aspired to pursue a dance career but lacked opportunities locally. We kicked off right before the Covid shutdown in 2020, had two rehearsals, and then had to pause for months. We resumed in 2021 and held our first production with a group of about 12 dancers. Since then, it’s been an annual endeavor to keep it going.

Pratt:
Takreeya is a force to be reckoned with. She doesn’t take as much credit as she should because of her humility, but Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre wouldn’t exist without her. While I handle much of the choreography and show planning, Takreeya’s organizational skills are unparalleled. She can take my creative chaos and turn it into a clear vision. Her communication with the dancers is exceptional, keeping them motivated and on track. She handles numerous tasks, from scheduling rehearsals to ordering costumes, effortlessly. She ensures everyone is prepared and even arranges for videographers for our shows, a detail I might overlook. This division of labor allows me to focus on artistic aspects like choreography and show design. Our complementary strengths and mutual support make the company run smoothly, and I’m incredibly grateful for our partnership.