A world of dance

After reading 30 children's books, Mary Ann Lee finally found the one she wanted to bring to the stage with the Children's Dance Theatre. "It's a traditional African folk tale called 'Sense Pass King,' " Lee said. "It's about a resilient little girl who lives in Africa."

The story, Lee said, a traditional African folk tale retold by Katrin Tchana and illustrated by her mother, Trina Schart Hyman, centers around Ma'antah. By the age of 1, Ma'antah could walk and talk. And by 2, she could speak the 279 languages of the villages -- and communicate with animals. Villagers call Ma'antah "Sense Pass King" because she has more sense than the king.

"It's a wonderful book that shows how important love and compassion is in the world," said Lee, who is artistic director for the University of Utah's Children's Dance Theatre. "It also shows that children can also be teachers."

To get an authentic African feel, Lee called on choreographer Charles R. "Chuck" Davis, artistic director and founder of the African American Dance Ensemble, based in Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

Davis has worked in Salt Lake City many times over the past year, with the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration, a year-round arts/ education festival that brings artists and performances into schools and communities.

"We wanted to work with his whole dance company but weren't able to fund it," Lee said. "We partnered with the Imagination Celebration, and they are funding his visit to CDT."

Davis taught CDT dancers African dances for the "Sense Pass King" production. "I was amazed at our dancers," Lee said. "The dancing is very difficult, but Chuck worked with them and really helped them get the steps.

"Chuck is larger than life. He is such a creative man and, at first glance, can be intimidating and imposing. But when he starts to talk, he is so gentle. He really made a connection with our dancers."

CDT dancers were exposed to new movements and new rhythms, said Lee. "It's good to expose them to different styles of dance."

The dancers caught on quickly to the different dance techniques, and they didn't have any trouble catching hold of Davis' philosophy - - respect. "That's what we try to instill in the dancers every day," said Lee. "It's nice for them to hear that from someone outside of CDT. It validates what we've been teaching them. Chuck's ideas center around respect for yourself and respect for your elders."

That's also what "Sense Pass King" teaches," said Lee. "Ma'antah respects her elders and cherishes the gifts they give her. Those gifts -- love, bolinga; courage, ubukukhalipha; knowledge, amamihe; creativity, kuumba; and joy, kontaanoo -- help her find her way out of situations that the jealous king puts her in. And she also has respect for herself, which helps her teach others how to live life to the fullest and bring unity to her land."

Highlighting the dancing will be the African-influenced score, composed by Utahn Tristan Moore. "Tristan has captured the energy, tradition and feel of authentic African music," Lee said. "It's all original music, but he has incorporated the actual rhythms and transitions found in the music."

Tying the production together is narrator James Morris, who takes on the role of a Griot, an African storyteller. "James sang with Pete Seeger during our 'Repete' production during the Olympics last year," said Lee. He's wonderful and adds yet another kind of energy to the production."

What: "Sense Pass King," Children's Dance Theatre

Where: Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South

When: 7 p.m., April 4; 2 p.m., April 5

How much: $10-$20

Phone: 355-2787 or 1-888-451-2787

Web: www.arttix.org

E-mail: scott@desnews.com

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