LIVING
Burnin* up the stage
High-energy dance show coming to Charlotte
by David Stout. Q-Notes staff
N o doubt about it: America, is captivat
ed by dancing at the moment. The
proof is all over TV — in the form of
current reality hits "Dancing With The
Stars," "So You Think You Can Dance" and
"America's Best Dance Crew" — and in
theater houses nationwide — where pro
ductions like "Riverdance," "Stomp" and
'Tap Dogs" regularly play to sold-out audi
ences. In fact, at the time this piece was
being prepared "Riverdance" had only
days ago concluded a week-long run in
Charlotte.
Now, after just two weels to catch our
collective breath, another dancing smash is
poised to open in the Queen City. This one,
called "Burn the Floor," has mort recently
been thrilling audiences at San Francisco's
Post Street Theatre with its edgy, rebellious
take on Ballroom and Latin dancing.
The movement in "Burn the Floor" is a
high-voltage mix of Rumba, Cha-Cha,
Samba, Salsa, Waltz, Tango, Quickstep,
Swing and Jive. A cast of 16 award-win
ning dancers — including Australian
Ballroom dance champions and World
Latin American champions — has been ■
assembled from around the globe to bring
the show's set pieces to pulse-pounding
life. The production is rounded out with
two percussionists and two vocalists who
perform live during various numbers.
.The idea for "Burn the Floor" grew
from a display of Ballroom and Latin dance
the show's Australian-born creator Harley
Medcalf experienced at Sir Elton John's
50th birthday gala in London in 1997. He
eventually partnered with former World
Champion Latin and Ballroom dancers
Peta Roby and Jason Gilkison to produce
the project.
Gilkison, the show's artistic director, is
also its choreographer — a position he
likewise held on "So You Think You Can
Dance" last season and on the NBC series
"Superstars of Dance," which aired earlier
this winter. He told dance legend Rita
Moreno backstage after the San Francisco
premiere of "Burn the Floor" that he had
the cast watch her work in the film "West
Side Story" to see "perfection."
The icon returned the compliment in a
gush of superlatives, Leah Garchik report
ed in the San Francisco Chronicle. "She
dropped to her knees to kowtow to them,
keeping up a stream of praise: 'You're
astonishing'; 'You're amazing'; 'Who
wants a kiss?'; 'You're going to run forev
er, if you live' (the routines are strenuous,
to put it mildly); 'How wonderful you are';
'Bravo, bravo.'"
Audiences in Charlotte can judge for
themselves when "Burn the Floor" swings
into the Blumenthal Performing Arts
Center March 24 with shows scheduled
through March 29.
For more information, see the display •
ad in this issue or visit www.bumthe
floor.com. To purchase tickets, call the
BPAC box office at 704-372-1000.1
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MARCH 21 .2009 • QNotes