August 7, 2009
by Michall Jeffers
If you love “Dancing With The Stars” as much as I do, you’ll be clicking your heels in the air, metaphorically speaking, for “Burn The Floor.”. I can’t remember the last time I saw a Broadway show that was so much flat-out great entertainment. Oh wait, I can. It was “Movin’ Out,” which closed over two years ago.
This ain’t your Mama’s ballroom dancing. Yes, there are all the competition favorites: waltz, rumba, cha cha, samba. But these dancers live in a world of belly button rings, spangled bras and hair in shades of magenta, aubergine, shamrock. And the girls are pretty flashy, too.
The dance numbers blend seamlessly into one another, changing tempo, mood and diaphanous costumes at a breathless pace. All the performers are superb, not only in their astonishing leaps, splits and lifts, but also as actors. When you sit up close you quickly realize that facial expressions are as important as the graceful line of the arms and the precision of the footwork.
It’s tough to single anyone out in this accomplished troupe, but I found myself watching the statuesque Candice Bergen beauty, Peta Murgatroyd, the gutsy, busty brunette, Giselle Peacock, and the blond guy with the high voltage smile,Trent Whiddon.
Rare opportunity to see “Dancing With The Stars” duo live on Broadway
Of course, the big draw for most of us is the opportunity to see “liiiiiiive” the popular “Dancing With The Stars” duo, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff. They are the Brangelina of Ballroom, impossibly gorgeous, brilliant and steamy. While Karina charmingly gives her all even in the group numbers, Maks only brings it on when he’s center stage. Otherwise, he remains a bit aloof, above it all, doing the steps perfectly, but letting you know with his attitude that he’s no chorus kid. We wouldn’t want the Bad Boy of Ballroom any other way. The engaged couple are booked only through August 16, so forget Grandma’s operation, and shell out the $111.50 for orchestra seats right now.
If you want to save a buck, eat a couple of doors down at Saigon 48. You can get the heaping Pad Thai Lunch Special for $7.95. For an extra $3, try the Vietnamese coffee, which is strong enough to give you chest hair, one thing you will not see on the dance floor.
As self-appointed Queen of the Bridge and Tunnel Crowd, I advise you to go to the Centralparking.com site and print out a $25 (plus tax) coupon for the Central garage on 47 Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.
Even if you think paso doble is something you eat with tomato sauce, forget the recession, lousy weather and every other mundane problem. Just let your mind roll on, and enter this universe of perfect bodies, towering high heels, sparkling sequins and the sheer joy of performing. Spend a couple of blissful hours watching dancers with almost super-human talent Burn The Floor.
Burn The Floor, Longacre Theater, West 48th St., between B’way and 8th Ave
212-239-6222
burnthefloor.com
Running through October 18, 2009.
May not be appropriate for very young children.
Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes (includes 15 minute intermission)
Seat comfort: good.
Ladies’ room: clean, fair amount of stalls.
Wheelchair accessible, orchestra only. Elevator available only to downstairs bathroom.
Caveat: Earplug LOUD music
Michall Jeffers is a cultural journalist whose eponymous cable TV show is seen throughout the tri-state area. She’s best known for her reviews, commentary and celebrity interviews, both on television and in print. Jeffers is an active member of Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Dance Critics Association, American Theatre Critics Association and International Association of Theatre Critics.
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