Review Roundup: Burn the Floor
by Robert Diamond - August 03, 2009
Burn the Floor, the electrifying Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular that has thrilled audiences in over 30 countries, will make its Broadway debut in a limited 12-week engagement in one of Broadway's most intimate venues, bringing audience members thisclose to the action and passion of the dancers. From Harlem's hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, Burn the Floor takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble - audiences will experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep, and Swing. It's Ballroom dance with a sexy 21st century edge.
Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press: "Still, the cast of "Burn the Floor" seems to be having a good time, even to the point of carrying the action into the aisles of the Longacre. But then ballroom dancing may be more fun to perform than to watch. Lessons anyone?"
Lisa Jo Sagolla, Backstage: "There's an electrifying finale to "Proud Mary" that will surely inspire you to cash in the coupon for a free ballroom dance lesson that a local dance studio is distributing outside the theater."
David Rooney, Variety: "Let's call it "So You Think You Can Step It Up and Dance Your Ass Off With the Stars of America's Best Dance Crew." While ballroom blitz "Burn the Floor" has been touring internationally for 10 years, its arrival on Broadway clearly aims to cash in on the resurgent popularity of dance on television reality shows. But if you're going to invade the turf of Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins and Michael Bennett, you need to bring something beyond adrenaline and aggressive sizzle. Something like grace, style or wit. While there's only about 15 ounces of collective body fat onstage, there's also about 15 ounces of imagination."'
Charles Isherwood, The New York Times: "The good news about "Burn the Floor," a ballroom dancing extravaganza that opened Sunday at the Longacre Theater, is that it is every bit as flashy and tacky as you would expect. Do I need to add that this is also the bad news?"
Elisabeth Vincentelli, NY Post: ""Burn the Floor" consists of a breathless, plotless succession of ballroom routines. That's it, and it's either a lot or not very much, depending on your love for this type of dancing."
Robert Feldberg, Bergen Record: ""Burn the Floor" is an experience that alternates between exhilarating and contrived. As a bonus, just thinking of what those dancers put themselves through should give you a great night's sleep."
Joe Dziemianowicz, NY Daily News: "As much as I love "SYTYCD" (and I do, right down to the hot tamale train), the need to often explain what routines are about gets tiresome. So do all the mist effects in "Burn the Floor," but the dance speaks eloquently for itself."
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