Foot-tapping salute to Harlem heyday

Noluyanda Mqulwana and Amos Ketlele

The show toasts some of the celebrated African-American entertainers of the era, who were invited to perform at the famous venue despite its non-admission policy for blacks. "Many different genres, including tapping and hoofing, were platformed at The Cotton Club. The music is evergreen - it has such clarity in the rhythms and tunes, and it has melody," said choreographer Adele Blank. "I have combined pointe-work, tap, contemporary dance and the music of that period to show the pizzazz of blues, jazz and the infectious vibe of the time."

Synergies between Harlem and Sophiatown

She also drew synergies between Harlem in the US and Sophiatown in the old South Africa. "Black people were allowed to perform, but they could not be part of the audience. And many great performers emerged from both societies," she said.

The season features the song-and-dance talents of Amos Ketlele, Odidi Mfenyana and Peter Johnson, together with well-known local dancers Celeste Botha, Megan Erasmus, Kerryn Howard, Owen Manamela, Noluyanda Mqulwana and Simone Muller.

The Flipside environment, at the back of the theatre, is transformed into an intimate nightclub setting with café tables and some tiered seating around the stage. It is extended by a ramp and features four poles, which provide options for choreography. All that's missing are waiters serving drinks!

This space gives the cast a fair-sized performance area to accommodate their movements better and opportunities for entrances and exits through the audience.

Crowd pleasers

Ketlele's tap-dance opener to Crazy Rhythm, by Irving Berlin, and his hoofing number are crowd pleasers. Erasmus also comes alive in her tap solos and it's good to see this genre ably showcased again by the dancers.

Manamela and Erasmus pair up for the jazz classic Harlem Nocturne, composed by Earle Hagen and more recently recognisable as the theme tune for Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer TV series. A little Argentine tango flair in their routine had the audience voicing its appreciation.

Botha and Johnson produced a memorable performance to It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing, the song that Duke Ellington's house band made the Cotton Club the place to be in New York City.

Simone Muller shone in her en-pointe solo portrayal of someone pining for her man to return in Stormy Weather. The song has been recorded by stars like Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne, whose version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.

Shaping the melody

Howard performs a tricky solo en-pointe to Satin Doll, the jazz standard written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with input on the final lyrics by Johnny Mercer. His remarkable songwriting ability produced lyrics that were "shaped by the melody" and critically acclaimed as "clever, hip, and slangy". This number has Ketlele on vocals in one of his strongest performances.

A bluesy instrumental number by Fats Waller was reminiscent of the Charleston, a dance that developed in African-American communities in the 1920s (but is most often linked to the white flappers and the speakeasy), and the Lindy Hop, which grew out of the Charleston to suit the swing jazz music of the 30s and 40s.

Sophiatown-style

The Cotton Club Moves programme includes a lovely solo by Manamela to Noel Coward's Mad About the Boy, as well as a comic rendition of Cry Baby with Mfenyana on vocals. There is some great dancing to Cole Porter's version of Let's Face the Music and Dance, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and I Got Rhythm from the musical Crazy For You (with a modern twist), Waller's This Joint is Jumpin', and Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? by Louis Jordan. This number gave Mqulwana her best dance moments, Sophiatown-style. She has great personality to complement her strong technique, which really suits this genre.

The format leans in favour of more singing and less dancing, as the musical style generates dance that can seem repetitive. However, it's a fun (early) night out being entertained by top-quality artists performing to fantastic music in beautiful costumes. As the New Year approaches, what better way to "face the music and dance"?

Tickets are R130. To book, call Computicket at +27 (0)83 915 8000, go to www.computicket.co.za or Shoprite Checkers outlets countrywide. For discounted bookings, contact Sharon on +27 (0)21 680 3962 or Carmen on +27 (0)21 680 3993 (o/h). First published in the Cape Times.