RSS 2.0 FeedOctober 28, 2009, Dance
Bad Boys of Dance is bad in all the right ways
Interaction with the audience and a strong technical foundation are what made Rasta Thomas; Bad Boys of Dance a hit. There were no outrageous costumes, lighting or props and no hidden meanings or over performed full-length ballets. It was just dance – new, distinctive and interesting.
Rasta Thomas' Bad Boys of Dance is far from for bad - it's amazing. The vibes the group emitted Saturday night at the Carlsen Center were more similar to a rock concert than a dance performance. The eight dancers had the audience clapping to the beat, singing to the music and rising to their feet.
Thomas, who formed Bad Boys of Dance in 2007, serves as director and co-choreographer along with his wife Adrienne Canterna-Thomas. Part of what made the show so exciting was the fluent blend of styles - jazz, contemporary, acrobatics, musical theatre and ballet. The pop music that drove the show also helped make the experience more enjoyable and memorable for the audience, especially Michael Jackson's tracks in the second act in which the dancers' recreation of his signature steps provided nostalgia of the venerated artist.
As soon as the curtain opened and the dancers first took the stage, the energy they exuded was astounding, and easily transferred over to the audience. Each dancer revealed his or her personality and unique style, and together they made the show interactive and dynamic. The six men, including Thomas, performed the majority of the sections and danced superb as a whole and individually. Canterna-Thomas, the only girl in the show, provided a nice relief from the high level of testosterone with her graceful facility and immeasurable flexibility. By far the most amusing part of the first act was Carmen in which the men partnered with blow-up dolls in a hysterical, intimate tango. Ne me quitte pas also stood out for its honest movement amidst all the flashy, competition style dancing.
The second act, Rock You, featured quick transitions of hit favorites from Queen, Prince and Michael Jackson. This half featured more solos, duets and trios where each dancer got to show off his or her specialty steps and craziest tricks. Over and over the dancers pushed themselves to take risks and more often than not their strength and stamina paid off. Thomas performed several soliloquy sections showing off his impeccable ballet technique with double tours, a la seconde turns and a jeté en ménage. Again, the men flaunted their funny bones in Bohemian Rhapsody and rose to the occasion in Bad, the show's culmination.
The two-hour performance flew by and the ensemble would have continued dancing and the audience would have kept watching if the curtain had not closed. Bad Boys of Dance never held back producing amazing dance, although there were times when the choreography was too showy and their stage presence too pretentious, especially in the encore. Interaction with the audience and a strong technical foundation are what made the show a hit. There were no outrageous costumes, lighting or props and no hidden meanings or over performed full-length ballets. It was just dance - new, distinctive and interesting. It made those in the audience who dance wish they were dancing and those who didn't, wishing they knew how.
REVIEW:
Carlson Center
Rasta Thomas' Bad Boys of Dance
Saturday, October 25, 2009
Johnson County Community College
12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS
For tickets call 913-469-4445 or online at www.jccc.edu/TheSeries
Dance Contributor
Laura Vernaci is a Kansas City native who has always been passionate about the arts, particularly dance. She began dance lessons at the young age of five and hasn't stopped since. She trained at the Kansas City Ballet where she became a serious dancer and learned about a professional company.
She attended Butler University in Indianapolis, IN where she majored in dance. She transferred to Truman State University in Kirksville, MO in 2006 and received a degree in Journalism in May 2008. Laura spent the 2008-2009 in Duluth, MN dancing professionally for the Minnesota Ballet. She performed in productions such as, "The Nutcracker," "Cinderella" and "Coppelia" as well as world premier ballets created on the company.
She recently moved back to Kansas City and is excited to combine her experience in writing with her passion for dance. In addition to performing and writing, Laura also enjoys teaching dance and choreographing.
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