Dance Marathon: a blast
What a blast! Dance, Music and Theatre all in one fun-filled, entertaining, work-out evening.
A Harbourfront commission presented by Boca del Lupo, Bluemouth Inc. out of Toronto and New York, has created a unique and exciting event. Based on marathon dances that started up in the 1920’s and 30’s, where people struggled for days to stay on their feet to win the competition, Bluemouth has re-created a mini version for us to enjoy in one evening.
Not really knowing what to expect and dragging my husband along, who was worried he would have to keep dancing exhaustedly for hours and hours, we both ended up having a fabulous time, dancing, observing, listening and most of all being highly entertained.
The evening starts around 6:30 when you check in and receive your official dance number. There is a bar and food available so you can stock up before the marathon gets rolling. At 7:00, the crowd enters the large empty black box at the Roundhouse Community Centre. The room is decorated dance hall style, a few small round tables and chairs along the side and covering the floor are random numbered footprints. You are instructed to find your feet, according to your dance number, and from there the night begins. Yes, you dance ALL the time - you have to keep those feet moving - otherwise you will be eliminated. The referee, played by Bluemouth artist Daniel Pettrow, is vigilant as he rollerblades around the room with his little red flag looking for people who stop moving.
You feel compelled to keep dancing, after all you don’t want to be the one that gets eliminated and let me tell you once you start moving, it is very difficult to stop. If your energy was low before the evening, you are immediately pumped up from the great dance toons, lively dancers all about you, and the edge of competition. There are breaks, but most people can’t stop, their bodies are in the dance grove and now they are just having too much fun.
The entire evening is busy for the actors and the wonderful group of volunteer performers, who create a night that seems to never end, yet at the same time just fly by. The continual display of short performances throughout the evening has you engaged every minute. Even though the guests are given breaks every hour, the performers and volunteers, continue to entertain the crowd with short presentations in dance, theatre and music.
The announcer, beautiful and talented Sabrina Reeves glides the show along engaging the audience introducing crazy elimination games. Ciara Adams, her side-kick, and one of the main entertainers of the show, is the meat of the marathon as she sings numerous pieces, dances her heart out, teaches the audience dance steps and just never seems to fade the entire evening. After the first instructed dance, which everyone tries to participate in, the acceleration of the steps to uncontrollable heights leaves one competitor on the floor, Little Stevie. Another Bluemouth artist, Stephan O-Connell, the dancing king, performs numerous times throughout the show. One solo piece performed under a small spotlight brought tears to my eyes. The last Blue Mouth artist, Lucy Simic is the spice of the show as she plays the passionate, emotional, dark dance competitor from some unknown eastern European country.
After about 4 hours my feet were getting sore, but I was not about to quit now. Luckily I was eliminated at this point, as were many of the other guests. I sat back and happily watched the last 7 couples compete for their final chance to win the competition.
There is so much more that goes on in this evening, all intriguing, never tiring. Only one negative thing I can say about this performance: WHY IS IT NOT RUNNING FOR LONGER THAN FIVE NIGHTS? It hardly had a chance to disseminate and I am very confident this would have been one of the hits of the Olympics and an interactive theatre event one would never forget.
Created by bluemouth inc. A bluemouth inc. production copresented by Boca del Lupo and the Cultural Olympiad and supported by Harbourfront Centre. It was on at the Roundhouse and sadly finished on February 13.