Best Contemporary Dance Performance

Maleek Washington Photo: Eric Politzer

In December, New York-based company Camille A. Brown & Dancers performed ink at OZ Arts Nashville, and it’s the kind of performance I wish everyone I know could see. In ink, Brown borrows traditions from African dance, tap, jazz, hip-hop and African American social dance, fusing ancestral stories with contemporary ones to celebrate black masculinity and brotherhood. In addition to the performances from technically stunning — and very stylish — dancers, Brown’s choreography told a palpable story that resonated with many. The after-show talkback was one of the most illuminating I’ve attended. OZ continues to bring brilliant artists to Nashville to shake and inspire us. ERICA CICCARONE