A Variety of Jazz Styles and an Emphasis on Youth: A Review of the October 2023 JCE Jazz Dance Project by Kristen Hedberg

“David Cartahena Lee’s False Narratives opened with a short dialogue amongst two dancers speaking of attending a party. The dance followed the journey of one dancer, perhaps carrying the role of an outcast, as she navigated her way through a group who mostly danced in unison. The movement was extremely musical, as the group danced in precision to the music’s steady, pulsing beat. The soloist, who remained true to herself throughout the work, concluded the work by exiting with another dancer, who says, Let’s go.”

A Talkback with JCE Choreographers and Fatima Logan-Alston by Josh Harris

“an audience member commented in response to Lee’s statement of “not looking American” that he felt Lee did look American and that everyone on the stage did as well.

Lee appreciated the sentiment but said that wasn’t his experience. He explained that he grew up in an Asian-American bubble in California, but in New York he was made more aware of how his race set him apart in some ways.

This has greatly influenced his choreography, which he sees as “navigating Asian-American identity while participating in African-American diaspora art.” His approach is illustrative of the diversity in the world of jazz dance and how people of all different backgrounds have found a home in it.”