Karina Smirnoff & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Burn the Floor, the spectacular, international dance extravaganza has just caused some major tremors of epic fancy footed proportions at the Longacre Theatre on West 48th Street. It pulsates. It seduces. It has some of the most beautiful, talented, sexy dancers ever seen on Broadway dancing in various combinations to the rhythms of an onstage band with vocals supplied by Rebecca Tapia and Ricky Rojas and brilliant choreography by Jason Gilkison. It is rock solid, pure entertainment. You should stop reading now and buy your tickets immediately. It is sure to be sold out for its limited engagement through October 18th.
Especially if you would like to see Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy – from the hit television series Dancing With the Stars. Appearing on stage through August 16th, they are just one of the highlights of this dazzling production.
It is not only their presence that ignites the stage with some really outstanding ballroom dancing – it is the entire ensemble cast of eighteen incredibly gifted and well toned dancers that bring the Cha Cha, the Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba, Samba, Jive, Tango, Quick Step, Swing and Paso Doble to breathtaking heights. Whether dancing up and down the aisles of the theatre or gyrating on stage (seemingly at a non-stop pace) you will be totally enthralled.
Burn the Floor has some of the best lighting effects – Rick Belzer and dozens of fabulous costumes (and shoes) by Janet Hine – based on the original design by John Van Gastel. The dancers make everything they do look effortless. The pace and selection of dance routines flow by beautifully. Powerful one moment; serene the next. Burn the Floor has some of the best and most exciting dance routines I’ve ever seen on a Broadway stage culminating in the pull-all-the-steps-out finale.
It might be unfair to single out some of the dancers, as all of them are fantastic. But a few are just a bit more fantastic. Peta Murgatroyd is featured and she is stunning to look at and an exciting performer with her partner Damian Whitewood. The tall and elegant Damon Sugden and Rebecca Sugden (Mr. & Mrs.) are romance personified. And Henry Byalikov has a strength and preciseness and a personality that jumps out across the footlights.
The entire cast is flawless in their execution of the many astonishing numbers. They are: Trent Whiddon, Gordana Grandosek, Kevin Clifton, Giselle Peacock, Nuria Santalucia, Sasha Farber, Melanie Hooper, Patrick Helm, Sharna Burgess, Jeremy Garner, Sarah Hives, Robin Windsor and Sarah Soriano.
In the fifties, I remember watching The Arthur Murray Dance Party where Kathryn and Arthur would demonstrate various ballroom dances. How simple it was back then. They would be fascinated at how exciting, torrid and magnificent ballroom dancing has become. It has exploded. It has become a huge success with television shows like Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. As Kathryn would always say at the end of their show – “Put a little fun in your life, try dancing.” Or in this case, put a little fun in your life, see Burn the Floor!
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