By snoadmin
The internationally known Brigham Young University Ballroom Dance Company presented its picture-perfect show “Capture The Magic” with harrowing lifts and fast spins Saturday at Cal State Long Beach.
People may shrug at ballroom dancing, but they would definitely be in awe if you attended a show by the BYU troop. The dancers managed to keep their smiles during the entire dynamic show, enlivening the performance with a 1950’s dance from the film “Hairspray.”
During the “Hairspray” performance, female dancers humorously lifted the man spraying his hair. The foxtrot, West Coast swing, salsa, tango, rumba, waltz, samba and cha-cha were some of the dances performed in this energetic show. The dancers moved the showcase smoothly between elegant formation routines, basic ballroom steps and fast-paced, rhythmic pieces, including Latin-style dance routines.
The female dancers appeared more colorful than the males with their flowing, long dresses — some with fringes that would spin as they twirled on stage.
Not only could they dance, they were able to tell a story with varying degrees of emotion. For instance, with the rumba the dancers told the story in the lyrics of the Luther Vandross song, “Dance With My Father.” They employed a slideshow of infants, families and children in the background, which was touching and sentimental enough to make people think about their own childhood and family.
During “Office Jealousy,” everyone was dressed in black business suits except for one woman dressed in a skimpy red dress. She was seductive as the men competed for her attention. They even trampled each other when she dropped her purse on purpose. All the dancers were synchronized smoothly and danced as flawlessly as those in a Disneyland parade.
The show’s climax was “MicGalaxy,” where the dancers wore glow-in-the-dark costumes, masks and gloves that appeared neon bright under the stage’s black light. Techno music suited the piece perfectly.
Another memorable part was a piece resembling a scene out of “The Nutcracker,” with sugar plum fairies. Female dancers wearing light purple costumes danced around a queen in all white wearing a tiara.
It is not surprising to learn that BYU has won the U.S. Formation Dance Championships for 27 consecutive years, as well as dancing its way to championships in other countries.
