Burn the Floor combusts

A dance sensation like Burn The Floor deserves this recognition 10 times over, truly knocking you out of your seat with its brazen and bashful vigour, unrelenting energy and awesome spectacle.

Filled from start to finish with spellbinding numbers in ballroom dance styles ranging from the waltz, cha-cha, samba, salsa, rumba, foxtrot, quickstep, mambo, tango, swing, jive, lindy hop, Viennese waltz, and paso doble, the "international" style ballroom in Burn The Floor has been danced in competition since 1920 and consists of 10 dances, split into five dynamic Latin American dances and five eloquent ballroom dances; the show is an ideal platform for the exceptionally talented dance troupe to demonstrate their love and passion for their art.

A heavenly ensemble of stunning performers

Experiencing this ingenious concept in action is truly magnificent, featuring a heavenly ensemble of stunning performers that turns the art of dance and the expression of movement into a soulful experience.

This is what dance is all about, telling a story through movement, music and song.

The programme is cleverly devised into four sections that will leave you breathless: the Inspiration introduction kicks off with a powerful cha-cha and ends with a dignified waltz; followed by Things that Swing, which includes lively swing, quickstep and jive; and, after intermission, The Latin Quarter segment features the powerful paso doble, rumba and jive; with Coda - The Last Part bringing the evening to a rousing climax.

Puts the "s" into sexy

Masterfully blending different styles of dancing with tons of attitude, loads of personality that shines through every meticulous move, Burn The Floor explodes with Scott Rogers' unbelievable lighting design, Derek Wilson's sound design and puts the "s" into sexy with Janet Hine's sensational costumes and Bret Hooper's design and creative costume image.

Json Gilkison's astounding visual flair as director and choreographer knows no limits, perfectly using scenic designer Ray Klausen's set, which features Giorgio Rojas and Pat Madden at the back of the stage.

Besides the dancing and music, vocalists Jessica Lingotti and Peter Saul deliver outstanding performances that contribute to the emotional journey and perfectly underscore the motion.

Sexy, sizzling and sensational, every pulsating moment is electrifying and guarantees an overwhelming "Wow" that shoots through the audience like a bolt of lightning.

It would be unfair to single out any of the dancers individually, as Burn The Floor is an ensemble work in which every member of the troupe works in perfect harmony to deliver first-rate entertainment.

Exceptional and unique

What makes Burn The Floor exceptional and unique is that it is an honest and passionate homage to an art form and to the memory of the genius of the Bob Fosses, the Gene Kellys and Fred Astaires and how dance has the prevailing capacity to transform its audience and join them through the unison of motion.

For those who have seen Burn The Floor last year, don't think that this South African tour is simply a reheated comeback, it is a totally fresh and invigorating experience.

The fast pace and impact of Burn The Floor is so mind-blowing that you definitely need to see it more than once as each couple and dancer brings their own unique flavour and charisma into play.

You'll be exhausted

Be warned: although you are sitting comfortably in your seat, you are guaranteed to go through the motions and will be exhausted after the show.

If there is one definite way to warm up the winter blues, it's to Burn The Floor!

The Cape Town Season runs until 29 July at the Artscape Opera. A special "two for the price of one" is available for Talk Back Tuesdays on 17 and 24 July, 2012, when the dancers stay on stage after the show for a question-and-answer session. These tickets are only available at Computicket outlets or through Artscape Dial-A-Seat on +27 (0)21 421 7695.

The show will be on at The Mandela at Joburg Theatre from 1 to 19 August, before ending the season in The Opera House at The Playhouse in Durban from 22 August to 2 September, 2012. Tickets for the Joburg season are on sale now exclusively at www.joburgtheatre.com and tickets for the Durban season are on sale through Computicket or by calling 0861 915 8000.

www.burnthefloor.com

Rating 5/5

Behind the scenes

The energetic production was originally designed as a special performance in 1997 at Sir Elton John's 50th birthday celebration. At the height of the festivities, a group of 16 young dancers brought the house down with a 10-minute dance cabaret. After seeing this performance, legendary Australian theatre producer Harley Medcalf had the spark of an idea to build a full stage show around what he had just seen.

From that first moment of inspiration, what would become the international sensation Burn The Floor quickly evolved.

Since then, the show has toured in 30 countries and over 160 cities worldwide. The current company boasts performers from 10 countries with more than 100 championship dance titles between them. These include winners and finalists from So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars, and Superstars Of Dance.

While the production has no spoken dialogue, it does tell a story, and it brings a whole new meaning to ballroom dancing. "This ain't your grandma's ballroom," said Harley Medcalf, the show's creator. Ballroom dancing has been around for years, but Burn The Floor, the theatrical ballroom dance show, is anything but old school. Burn The Floor labels itself as "Ballroom reinvented".

Read more at www.writingstudio.co.za/page2238.html