The immensely entertaining Gotta Dance!, a creation of American Dance Machine presented by the York Theatre, includes some 17 dance numbers from such classic musicals as A Chorus Line, Sweet Charity, Pippin, West Side Story, Singin' in the Rain, and An American in Paris. With evocative and attractive projections (designed by Brian C. Station); costumes reflecting or recreating the originals (Marlene Olson Hamm); and a seven-person band, the show is handsome and well presented.
But of course it is the dances and the dancers that matter most. They array of dances is wonderful. Gotta Dance! uses original choreography staged for this production by a variety of people, many of whom were in the original shows. For example, Donna McKenchnie stages "The Music and the Mirror and Baayork Lee stages "One," both from A Chorus Line, and Pamela Sousa stages the "Manson Trio" from Pippin. What a treat it is to see these wonderful numbers again, one after the other after the other.
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| Photo: Shawn Salley |
The dancers range from solid to excellent. What they lack in star power they make up for with enthusiasm, energy, and charm. They are Brandon Burks, Anthony Cannarella, Barton Cowperthwaite, Deanna Doyle, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Jessica Lee Goldyn, Afra Hines, Jess Leprotto, Kendall Leshanti, Drew Minard, Georgina Pazcoguin, Samantha Siegel, Taylor Stanley, and Blake Zelesnikar.
It is rare that you get to see a show that is all highlights; Gotta Dance! is one of them.
Wendy Caster
