Riot and Frolic

a mostly ballroom dance, but also a bunch of other stuff, blog

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I own and rock people’s faces off teaching ballroom dancing at Dancers Studio in St. Paul, MN. My husband and I compete professionally in American style and wrangle eight children in our spare time. I’ve been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 25 years and have lots of opinions on it. I am an expert by any means, but there are quite a few dancers who are better than me and I have a solid knowledge of basic technique, so suck it.

Beyond Ballroom Dance Company- 2012… A Review.

Last night, I saw Beyond Ballroom's new show debut at the beautiful Cowles Center.  Here's what I learned…

  • I have a dance crush on Scott Anderson.  
  • Wait.  No.  I have a dance crush on EVERYONE IN THE SHOW.
  • Christine Hallberg wore the hottest dress in the world in "Night and Day".  I will be taking donations for the purchase of it for her.
  • Deanne Michael- pretty.  More on that below.
  • If Julie Jacobson-Kendall starts talking, you let her talk.  And you let yourself be entertained. 

This year's show is the best show of the company's in the last five years, in my opinion.  With the quality of dancing, amazing production extras (neato video clips! funny slideshow!), great costuming (cute, ruffled jumpsuits! feathered, pink Ginger Rogers' type thing! brightly colored crinolins!) and entertaining choreography, it ranks #2, only to my fav "Dinner For Seven" from their debut season.

The show opens with "Change of Hue" where Ken Nordine's melodic voice over cool jazz is the background for some sassy color character studies by the dancers.  "Green"?  Hilarious.  "Off-white"?  She's not perfect, but she IS.  Red gives Jay Larson and Julie a chance to show their mambo skillz and "Yellow" gives Christine, Julie, and Deanne something to fight and make-up about.  The whole rainbow has a ton of personality and personalities.

It was the second-go for "Change of Hue" (it debuted at last season's show) and with more numbers (colors?) included, everything really fell into place.  The dancers looked more comfortable (jazz "timing" would be a bit difficult to count for me) and finished this time around.  Bravo!

 

Next up was "Matchmen", choreographed by Donna Edelstein, a look at internet dating and the interesting pairings that arise.  Deanne was the featured dater, looking for love on the Interwebs.  Anytime she hits the stage, I just think "Pretty".  A) She's not bad to look at and B) everything she does seems effortless.  Whether it's keeping up with man-on-the-go Todd Paulus, enjoying the attention of ladies'-man Charlie Hardcastle (touch his arm, I dare you), or fending off the slightly-desparate Jay Larson, she's Pretty.  

I loved the opening with a few cameos (in slideshow, photo form) of local Man Dancers and thought Christine and Charlie's dance fling was hot (plus, I loved her skinny jeans).  And way to go, Donna, on choreographing funny.  

Last came "Night and Day", the company's tribute to classic partner dancers like Fred and Ginger.  Choreographed by Scott, it took the audience through many memorable songs and dances.  I will now have "Slew Foot" in my head for about a month.

 

Eric Hudson and Shannon Rohne (the talented amateur understudy for Michelle Hudson, who recently had a very cute baby) did a lovely Fred and Ginger number.  There was the fabulous Nathan Daniels lifting (I wanted to write "hoisting", but that would imply perceived effort, of which there was none) and being dreamy with Deanne for the actual song "Night and Day".  Christine grabbed Martin Pickering for a sharp and passionate Tango.  

AND Meghan Anderson, daughter of Scott, danced a beautiful piece with her father that might have brought a tear to my eye.  Oh, you Anderson family…

I feel like I'm missing a couple pieces, but you get the drift.  It rocked.  Go see it.  

Shows tonight (2/4) at 8pm and Sunday (2/5) at 7pm.  The Cowles Center.  Minneapolis.  MN.

Gene Kelly
He was there in spirit.

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