Phillip Chbeeb and Renee Kester Make Beautiful Dance Together

Some of my favorite pas de deux involve the meeting of two opposites. “So You Think You Can Dance,” which is all about creating unlikely partnerships, thrives on this kind of thing: ballerina meets b-boy, or tapper meets contemporary queen. I love, love, love watching dancers who are experts in totally different styles play off each other’s strengths. Because that old cliché about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts? It’s true, you guys.

I.aM.mE crew member and YouTube phenom Phillip Chbeeb—who, as a “SYT” alum himself, is no stranger to this kind of thing—just released a video that embodies all that’s awesome about cross-polinated duets. Choreographed by Chbeeb and co-star Renee Kester, an incredibly gorgeous technician, “SLIP” uses the languages of hip hop and contemporary to explore what happens when we’re unable to let go of painful memories. Unsurprisingly, given the concept, it’s dark and moody—and the whole thing is set on an abandoned subway platform bathed in eerie green light, which adds to the sense of hopelessness—but oh man, is it ever beautiful. Kester’s lush extensions perfectly offset Chbeeb’s hard angles.

So much angst…

…so much FEET.

Enjoy!