Pushing the envelope at the BAC show

Though the show, playing this weekend at the Frist Performance Theatre, was designed in the style of an awards show, that theme did little more than give the show its title. There were intermittent awards-show-themed video clips, but the cheesy clips tended only to distract from the extraordinary dancing.

But the dancing is really what counts, and there is no shortage of dance styles to satisfy even the most discriminating of tastes. From ballet to hip-hop, lyrical to tap, there is something for everyone in this show. That's not to say that the show is not cohesive: Each style was infused with a distinctively urban flavor.

The technical aspects of the dancing were notable, but I was especially impressed with the level of energy and emotion in every style and piece. It's not easy to make tap emotional or lyrical edgy, but the BAC dancers managed to do it nonetheless.

One problem I did have was that the skill levels varied, and occasionally obvious a dancer or two was out of sync with the rest of the group. Since I attended a dress rehearsal, there was no audience to really energize the performers, resulting in a lack of excitement from the dancers. Even so, there were a few dancers who had that fire behind their eyes that is so exciting to see, and they unquestionably stood out.

The first act was vibrant and fun, including a children's-themed number called "Sesame 'Hood" featuring a hip-hop mix of the "Elmo's World" theme song. This piece was equal parts comical and sexy. The women broke out into intense hip-hop moves from their jump-roping and proceeded to dance in their miniature backpacks and Hannah Montana T-shirts. There was also a dynamic break-dance routine in the first act featuring three of the male dancers, which showcased the guys' silly personalities. Their exuberance was contagious.

The second act was more solemn than the first, with pieces that dealt with gender roles and infidelity. Especially moving was a lyrical piece themed around the struggles of the modern workingwoman. The women started the number scrubbing the floors and serving drinks then went into a poignant and expressive piece of dance.

There was an intense number featuring an arrangement of Beyonce's "Ring the Alarm" that employed striking red lighting and a great use of props. Lauren Ivey '11 was featured in this and a few other solo pieces, including a remarkable tap routine. In "Ring the Alarm," she appropriately wielded a baseball bat as she angrily expressed the rage in Beyonce's lyrics.

My favorite number was the "nominee" for "Best Club Scene," according to the awards-show-themed program. The song "Chopped N Skrewed," by T-Pain and featuring Ludacris, was a great choice, and the choreography went superbly well with the song's lyrics about interactions between the sexes. There was a strong tension between the men and women, and the club-style dance highlighted the men in their pursuit of the ladies.

The choreography was generally tight, and I was impressed by the cohesiveness of the dancers in all group numbers. I particularly enjoyed the pieces performed by trios and quartets, as they allowed for synchronized choreography while still showcasing each dancer's personality and style.

I was so stirred by the lively dancing that I was inspired to take it up myself. I caught myself dancing in my seat, and I whispered to my friend after every piece that next year, I planned on auditioning. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I cannot dance half as well as the brilliant members of BAC, so I'll be forced to restrict my hip-hop moves to the dance floors of the Street.

Four Paws

Pros: Dazzling dance skills, funky music, great variety