Burn the Floor

[dancersdreamland]

My guess is, with all the die-hard ballroom, latin and swing dancers in this group, you already know about this fantastic show and film, but I thought I'd post it anyway...Burn the Floor.

Have you seen it live? On DVD/Video? If not, you simply MUST see it!!!! It is FANTASTIC!!!

[SDsalsaguy]

Haven't seen it in person but have seen the video. Definitely worth seeing!

[Spitfire]

:?: I'm not familiar with it. What is it?

[Vince A]

Me either . . . who is in it??? What kind of dancing???

[dancergal]

I've never heard of it either. Need more information. :D

[Phil Owl]

Try here:

www.burnthefloor.com

[Vince A]

Wow . . . thanks, Phil Owl . . .

[DanceMentor]

It just so happens someone from Burn the Floor contacted me by email today. I asked him if he could make a post.

[Vince A]

Such timing . . . so kewl!

[dancergal]

Wow, now that's super cool dancing. Hot, hot, hot!!!!

[dancersdreamland]

If you haven't seen it, you simply must! Go rent/buy the DVD/video right now!!!!

My favorite parts:

The second dance: Urban Heat. I just LOVE the dancers!!!

The finale: Hot. Just so sassy and fun!

You simply MUST see!!!!

[pygmalion]

Um. What is Burn the Floor? I thought it was a specific show, but now Busch Gardens in Tampa has a Burn the Floor-based show. Anybody know about this? Is the Burn the Floor show still on tour, or something (kind of like Lord of the Dance)? Or is Burn the Floor a dance troupe that does various shows (sort of like Cirque du Soleil? )

[JohnK]

BTF is a touring company featuring champion competitive couples. The US portion of the tour is pretty much finished with the tour continuing offshore. The Busch Gardens thing is a derivative production.

Check out www.burnthefloor.com for more info. Apparently the tour was conceived as a result of Elton John's 50th birthday party. Between this and his Broadway collaboration "Movin' Out", looks like the old boy is a patron of dance.

The DVD is a recording of one of the tour events. Unfortunately, the idiot who editted the video cut the scenes so quickly you can barely appreciate the choreography. Better to see it live, it's a great show!

So, Jenn, get some tickets and give us a full report!

[Pacion]

JohnK, I have the video from the original production that was performed here in London (Royal Albert Hall) and my recollection is that that video is a good one :?

[JohnK]

Hi Pacion, maybe we saw recordings of different evenings, but I kinda doubt it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the video, lots of energy, great music, awesome dancing and choreography. It was just cut too quick for my taste. Nice edgy look, but not enough continuity to absorb technique (or steal any moves 8) ).

[Sagitta]

You dashed my hopes JohnK!! No learning new moves.... :(

[Laura]

I saw "Burn the Floor" live when it tourned the US, and I have the DVD. The show was fun, but the DVD was a disappointment. Like John K said, there were too many quick cuts, you can't really enjoy the dancing on the DVD.

By the way, they sometimes show "Burn the Floor" on PBS.

[pygmalion]

So, Jenn, get some tickets and give us a full report!

No reason why not. It's only an hour drive away. :D

[Pacion]

Unless we run the DVD and video side by side, I guess we will never know for sure :lol:

[pygmalion]

I guess I have to make the drive to Tampa, now, so I can give an update.

[Pacion]

Is the market along the way :wink: :lol:

[pygmalion]

No. But lots of other good stuff is. :D

[Pacion]

:lol: so no extra portions of currant bread along the way then :lol:

[pygmalion]

Did I say that? :roll: :wink: I'll bring the bread along for the ride. :lol: :lol:

[dancin_feet]

Unfortunately, the idiot who editted the video cut the scenes so quickly you can barely appreciate the choreography. Better to see it live, it's a great show!

I agree with you 100% here JohnK. I have seen the show live and bought the video and was a little disappointed at the way it was cut. It was cut for a "show". Completely understandable to sell to the masses, but for the dancing enthusiasts, it doesn't show much of the footwork, etc to be able to pick up on various moves and really appreciate what they were trying to do.

Still love the show and the video, just a little disappointed at the way it was cut.

[Purr]

I was fortunate enough to see Burn the Floor when it was touring - it's a must-see show. The video just doesn't do it justice. :wink:

[DanceAm]

I was only able to see the DVD. It was a non-dancer that lended to my wife, and we thought we had every Ballroom movie there was. We bought the soundtrack but found many of the songs were too fast or not to my taste. When I saw it again I really appriciated how well they danced to such difficult music. But the one cha-cha, "Dance with Me", that was excellent.

[ShyDancer]

I love the DVD!

I havent seen the live show to compare it to though.
That will change as its touring here in September and Ill be the first person getting tickets!

[cocodrilo]

That sounds like a hot show! I'll have to see if it's playing when I'm next in the states or Europe. Because no one speaks English over here, they always have the shows re-done in Japanese.

Just saw "Chicago" when in London and boy WAS THAT HOT! MUCH, MUCH better than the movie, and had quite a lot of humor in it! Extremely sexy, too!

[Jmatthew]

I thought it looked interesting until I noticed they Lindy to "Jump, Jive and Wail" Can't we just shoot that song already?

[bjp22tango]

I thought it looked interesting until I noticed they Lindy to "Jump, Jive and Wail" Can't we just shoot that song already?


No such luck, I'm afraid. The Gap ad guaranteed that this song will be equated with swing by every wanted to be/wanna be swing dancer in America. I hope you realize that this song will be in the Neo Lindy crowds minds when they are 60 and older just like Benny Goodman and others were to the original dance crowd. It could have been worse.... Zoot Suit Riot, anyone?

I agree that the editing on Burn the Floor really makes the production disappointing to any serious dancer who really wants to see what they are doing. I read somewhere (the website, maybe?) that this is a compilation of three nights of shows from one of the stops in England.

As far as costuming, I really liked the lights in the skirts for the Carousel Waltz and the elegant Black & White womens outfits for the Foxtrot section. I also liked the last segment where everyone got to kick back and show off their stuff.

The DVD gives extras like a "making of" section where they are building the show that the tape doesn't have.

[pygmalion]

Funny. Now I want to see the DVD, just to see why almost everybody thinks it's bad, from a foot watchers' perspective.

[dancin_feet]

I love the DVD!

I havent seen the live show to compare it to though.
That will change as its touring here in September and Ill be the first person getting tickets!

But it's not coming to Brisbane!!!! :cry: :cry: :cry: We have a cultural interest up here, honestly! Why is it that the southern states should be having all the fun!

[pygmalion]

What can I say? I live in Orlando. Cats just got here, how many years after it shut down in New York (a real town LOL).


The fact that burn the floor is a mere 1.5 hour drive away is a miracle. :lol:

[dancin_feet]

What can I say? I live in Orlando. Cats just got here, how many years after it shut down in New York (a real town LOL).


The fact that burn the floor is a mere 1.5 hour drive away is a miracle. :lol:

I know what you mean. Living in a capital city that is not seen as the centre of the universe culturally is a pain in the rear! Sydney is the closest, but still over 10 hours drive away! I might see if some friends are interested in doing a road trip!

I would loooooove to see it again live. :D

[Mawmaw]

Has any one seen the play, "Burn The Floor"? If so what did you think? We have tickets for the one in Melbourne. Just don't know what to expect.

[waltzguy]

I borrowed it on DVD, and loved it. I've been planning to buy my own copy, but alas, procrastination.

[DennisBeach]

Has any one seen the play, "Burn The Floor"? If so what did you think? We have tickets for the one in Melbourne. Just don't know what to expect.

We purchased the DVD on EBay. Other than the beginning, we thought it was excellent. They use a lot of excellent music. They do a combination of couple dancing and broadway style dancing using ballroom technique. If they come to Milwaukee, we would go see the show.

[bjp22tango]

http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=13909&highlight=burn+floor


Here's what was said about a version in Atlantic City recently.

[RIdancer82]

We purchased the DVD on EBay. Other than the beginning, we thought it was excellent. They use a lot of excellent music. They do a combination of couple dancing and broadway style dancing using ballroom technique. If they come to Milwaukee, we would go see the show.


That's the original show. I believe Mawmaw was talking about the currently touring show, "Floorplay".

I have tickets to see it in May in RI. I'm also curious to know if anyone else has seen it since the only review was posted on the other thread...

[Mawmaw]

RIdancer82 is correct. I was referring to "Floorplay". Sorry if I was unclear. Our tickets are not until June, so please let us know how you liked the RI show.

[Medira]

I have tickets to see it on May 12... I'm looking forward to it, after seeing the original (touring cast of) Burn the Floor years ago.

[meow]

The new show is getting rave reviews. They are currently in Japan - I know as my son is in the cast. There are some videos on 'youtube' and 'myspace' of the new show - just do some searching. Hope this helps. Anyway, rest assured, you will all love the show.

[MsSamba~cha]

I saw 'Floorplay' last summer in Atlantic City. While I enjoyed the show, it didn't have the top dancers that were in the original 'Burn the Floor'. I found that I was watching some good dancing by a more inexperienced cast...and it was a bit noticable that they didn't have the kind of stamina and chops that the original cast had.
I think you'll enjoy the show as I'm sure they worked out the bugs this time. I know that if it does come this way, I would love to see it again.

[meow]

:p
There are new reviews on the official website. The address is www.burnthefloor.com/floorplay (http://www.burnthefloor.com/floorplay)
The new DVD was filmed in February 2007 in Canberra, Aust. There is a video of the "making of Floorplay" on YouTube. This address is www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-apu3E9TGw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-apu3E9TGw)

[meow]

There are some recent reviews on the official website. The address is www.burnthefloor.com/floorplay (http://www.burnthefloor.com/floorplay) Just check the links.
The new DVD was filmed in February 2007 in Canberra, Australia. At this stage, I think it is only available at the shows. You can see video's of the making of the DVD - the address is -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-apu3E9TGw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-apu3E9TGw)

[meow]

Some cast members have been in BTF since the beginning. Others come and go as they wish to retain their competitive career. Some have been in the Oz version of Dancing With The Stars - Kym Johnson went to the US version.
This is not a job one can just apply for - you are asked to join. I am sure there is lots of criteria, more than just being a top dancer.
The rehearsal period for BTF is gruelling, with 12 hour days of fitness training and dance. No slouchers allowed.
This cast is great - some originals, some new. Just ask the Japanese.

[NielsenE]

I saw the orginal twice and will be going to Floorplay in May. The first time I saw the orginal I thought it was much better than the second. The second show added several nearly purely vocal numbers with no dancing. The singer wasn't bad, but it seemed a shame to have all those world class dancers doing high school sway for about 3 numbers.

I've bought the DVD and I probably watch clips about once a month, if not more often.

[meow]

I saw the orginal twice and will be going to Floorplay in May. The first time I saw the orginal I thought it was much better than the second. The second show added several nearly purely vocal numbers with no dancing. The singer wasn't bad, but it seemed a shame to have all those world class dancers doing high school sway for about 3 numbers.

I've bought the DVD and I probably watch clips about once a month, if not more often.

The new DVD was filmed in February 2007 in Canberra, Australia. It is currently only available at the shows. This Floorplay has new dance numbers and new choreography. The Japanese are loving it. So did the Canberra audiences, which is saying something as Canberra is full of politicians, civil servants and boring. They usually only get excited by extra gov. revenue.

[meow]

Has anybody gone to see Burn the Floor Floorplay since it has been in the US? They were in Toronto, Canada and then crossed the border to Rochester. There was a large TV coverage in Rochester at 13WHAM. Since then they have performed in Buffalo and are now in Providence. More publicity is planned for Boston. If anyone has seen it, please let me know what you thought of the show.

[meow]

Has any one seen the play, "Burn The Floor"? If so what did you think? We have tickets for the one in Melbourne. Just don't know what to expect.

Now that you have seen the show, what did you think?

[Mawmaw]

My luck just doesn't improve! A few hours before we were to leave to go see Burn the Floor in Melbourne, my dog got very sick. We had to rush him to the emergency vet. A few weeks before our other dog became very sick with what seemed like the same thing and the emergency vet said if I had not brought her it could have been extremely serious. I was so afraid not to take him. So we waited through blood work and slow techs in a very busy emergency vet. Needless to say we missed our show! I had four tickets for 6 weeks and even paid for parking. I was so upset! My dog is fine. He recovered in a few days.... after taking him to our regular vet and spending almost $400 on bills and not really know what in the world was wrong with him!

I love my dog... but I wanted to see that show so badly!

Mawmaw

[meow]

I can certainly understand why you missed it. I would have done the same thing. I love my pets and couldn't have ignored an illness and gone to the show. But I'm sure they will come back - just don't know when.

[kieronkulik]

I have been the singer and dancer on the hit show 'Burn The Floor' for the past 4 years, and i can't wait to get to San Francisco to perform this show. I have seen so much of this world, but one of my favourite cities in the world.......and we open next week. The show has evolved and changed over the years, and we have performed at many of cities across America, but i feel the show has really hit new heights of late. The cast is more hungry and focused as ever, and turning up to work everyday has been the most inspiring experience. This job has made me experience things i never thought i would ever do. And the best part of the job, is i get to spend it with the Burn The Floor family. It really is. They are my new brothers and sisters..... and thats why the show has audiences craving more. You have to see it...... as i know u will be as inspired as i am everyday. Sure, the show is sexy, and takes you on a journey of latin and ballroom dance, which has really seen a rise in popularity of late..... but its so much more. Its like a contempory dance company.... but it focuses on the uniqueness of a man dancing with a woman. Have you ever been out at a club, and started dancing with someone you really like.... and your heart starts pounding, and you get all nervous...... our show is exactly that feeling, the chemistry on stage is electric..... we all have this amazing relationship, and it spills out into the audience and its infectious. You want to go out and dance straight after.....

The show is created by Jason Gilkison, who is the mentor for the Australian team on 'Superstars Of Dance'. Google his work from SYTYCD in Australia, and the USA. His stuff his like you have never seen before. Its not the dancesport style that you see at competitions or on 'Dancing With The Stars'. Its much more edgy, and more indicative of how the styles were originally performed. The show also features Henry Byalikov & Giselle Peacock, who are representing the show on 'Superstars'. (although competing for Australia, Gisele in fact a San Fran native). You may see from their power as a couple, this is not ballroom they way might think you know it. This show is indescribable.

I have the most awesome job...... i get to watch these dancers go on their journey every night.

I hope you all get a ticket, and see what i mean...... and wait around after to meet us..... have a chat, you never know as we all sometimes get in the mood to dance on after!!!!

[latingal]

Hello kieronkulik, welcome to DF! It is nice to have a touring member of the Burn the Floor show here participating in the community.

With your first post here I would assume that you are opening up the floor here to our members to ask questions they might have on performing, the touring life, qualifications for the show, questions about the dancers, the life, etc?

Let's see what our members come up with....

[latingal]

By the way, Damon (a dancer on the show, yes?) has also just signed on as a new member here in our community, hopefully he'll be along to give his views on the dancing side of the show? I believe you mostly sing on the show?

[elisedance]

welcome to DF KKL - good luck with the show. Fraid its a bit far for me.

What is your particular dance interest - or as a pro performer its almost certainly interests :)

[QPO]

I hope kieronkulik (http://www.dance-forums.com/member.php?u=39750) returns to talk about it, I have yet to see this show but am aware of Jason's work being an Australian.....I saw an old version of burn the floor (Jason was not involved) and did not think it had much to do with ballroom but I know many who have gone along and really enjoyed the experience. Anything that promotes Ballroom is worthy of support :-)

[kieronkulik]

Hello all.

As the singer in the show, i do see the show from a different angle, but im also trained in jazz and tap, and also get to share the stage with the dancers from beginning to end.
This show is not the original version of 'Burn The Floor'. Jason Gilkison created his own production, 'Jason Gilkison's Ballroom', back in perth in 2005. It was a workshop production and its alot more dark and grittier than the previous works. It fuses more of an innovative contempory style, showcasing rumba like u have never seen it before. It strips away certain misnomers that certain styles have succumb to... eg. jason has always disagreed that 'Rumba is the dance of love'. Its not. Rumba is the dance of lust, and forbidden desire, but u dont always have the happy ending. Waltz is the dance of love, and you will see a spectacular one performed by this brilliant Australian couple, Rebecca and Damon Sugden.
Sure, the show has to take theatrical liberties with 'dancesport' technique. But this is not a 'dancesport' show. This is Jasons homage to his past (he references moments out of his childhood), there is old footage screened in the background, which is actually footage of jason's mother and grandfather, and jason's dance partner Peta Roby's parents. And most of the songs in the show are performed, as they are songs that depict certain moments out of Jason and Peta's illustrious career. This show has one thing above, what the original show didn't have. This show wears its heart on its sleeve, and thats why Harley Medcalf, wrapped the original tour in japan 2006, and porduced this version for the world to see. On stage, there are two percussionists with the biggest drum kits u have ever seen. They provide the heart beat to the show. And as well as myself, who's role is really the 'showman' character, there is a fantastic 19 year old vocalist, Jessica Lingotti.
We are all so excited to hit San Fran, and more so, we are just so proud of what we have to share. So please, ask away, ask about anything!!!!. Im here to answer anything you have to say about the show, or our involvement with SYTYCD and Superstars of Dance as well.

[kieronkulik]

I know so many ballroom dancers might just wonder.... Jason has always stuck true to the original concepts and techniques of ballroom and Latin. As a company, we are not only trained in choreography, but we are trained in where each style derived from, why it has danced, and how the technique of each style came to be. 'Burn The Floor' isnt just a bunch of dancers on stage, just aimlesssly throwing their bodies around. Its a dance company, and the knowledge, as a jazz dancer, that i have accumulated over my time has been life changing.
Jason was taught and inspired by a man called Wally Laird, and for those that compete in the dancesport scene, would know that he wrote the book on technique. Before the show, the dancers are put through a gruelling hour long warm up, just like ballet dancers do at the barre. I mentioned before that this wasnt a 'dancesport' show. It is, but its the way dancesport was always intended to be, and bridges the gap between the excesses of the competetive format, and how it was originally intended. Please ask questions, and if i cant offer an answer, one of the dancers, damon Sugden, is also online to offer advice or share a few thoughts

[barrefly]

Kieronkulik,
My 14 yr. old daughter has trained all her life to be a "Burn the Floor" type dancer.
Ballet, Jazz, Hiphop, Flamenco, Tap, W.C. Swing, Salsa, Hustle, Ballroom/Latin.
I also know a few other amazing young dancers that are trained for the Burn the Floor format. (a few from Buddy Schwimmers studio).

I mention this because...I think it would be a wonderful idea that...say, after the show...you guys have a "Burn the Floor" workshop event , where the dancers give workshop classes in the dance styles...but with an edgy feel. Maybe a weekend event. You could draw the jazz dancers, ballroom/latin dancers, salsa dancers, swing dancers...etc. You could even have a "Burn the floor" comp. in the evenings.
...just throwing it out there.

I hope the Production comes to L.A.

[latingal]

Hi kieron! Good to have you back. Thanks for offering to converse with our members!

Actually I have not seen the most recent version of this show. I saw the DVD of the show. And actually I was a bit turned off by the interpretation of some of the latin dances. I love to see experimentation and mixing of styles (I too have a background in contemporary and ballet besides ballroom training), but I thought in some ways it had gotten too dark for my taste in some of the pieces.

It sounds like this version goes even farther away from the roots of latin and ballroom?

On a side note, have you had to learn much of the traditional ballroom/latin for your part in the show? How did it go if so, and what do you think of the styles?

[QPO]

I can tell you Jason is revered in Australia, changing the way ballroom dance is perceived.

Anything to improve the standing and following is a good thing :-)

[waltzguy]

I really liked the original Burn the Floor. Very exciting.

[btfgus]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for not posting earlier. My name is Damon and am a cast member of Burn the Floor. I would love to answer any questions relating to dance life as a performer in the show as opposed to a competitor or social dancer.

It has been such an incredible experience traveling in such a profession and hope to continue to do so for years to come. I look forward to chatting with you all soon.

Damon

[latingal]

Hello Damon,

How's the run of Burn the Floor going?

Question for you concerning keeping in good shape to dance a show multiple times in a short period of time and then traveling to the next city to repeat the same, what do you do to keep your body in good shape for the dancing? I'm referring especially to muscle fatigue and injury. Do you guys have a masseuse on staff? Lot's of advil?

[Rugby]

Is Burn The Floor Coming to Toronto, Ontario?

[SDsalsaguy]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for not posting earlier. My name is Damon and am a cast member of Burn the Floor. I would love to answer any questions relating to dance life as a performer in the show as opposed to a competitor or social dancer.

It has been such an incredible experience traveling in such a profession and hope to continue to do so for years to come. I look forward to chatting with you all soon.

Damon
Hey Damon, great to have you here on DF! :cheers:

I'd love to know what you're own dance training and background were, and how you first got involved with the show. Similarly, what do you like best about dancing in the show (vs. social or competitive) and what the least?

[kieronkulik]

Hey latingal.

You mentioned that this show sounds like it strays further away from the latin and ballroom. It really depends on how you look at it. For Jason Gilkison, this is the true depiction of Latin and Ballroom. He was taught by the master, Wally Laird, so he his constantly teaching the dancers about the correct weight, and body postions. If you are aware of Jason's competitive career, you would know his reputation of being the 'best male lead in the world'. These dancers are always put to the test when it comes to technique. But they are also taught character.

All Jason has tried to do with this show, is actually pay homage to the roots of each dance. The original 'Burn The floor' was flashy, and colourful, and took dance away from the 'dancesport' style. This show is different. Its much more organic, and we hopefully inspire dancers and non dancers out there, to know that dance has so much history. This show is based on Jason's life, and has so many personal touches. And while some moments are dark, the show has this amazing heart to it.
We are just trying to turn whats become a 'sport' form of dancing, back to an 'art' form of dancing, showing parents out there what it was like, and showing kids out there, what it will be like. It really does cater for everyone and everything. We are not trying to change the artform either, but just showcase another way of doing it. Im sure you would definitely approve of the way the show balances it all out.
If you have any other questions, or if you cant make it to the show, i believe the new shows dvd is available at stores or at amazon.com
Any section of the show, i would to discuss, as there are so many elements that the audiences are always curious about.
Chat soon

Oh, and the company do a warm up everyday, which focus on core strength, but they do this amazing latin and ballroom warmup.
I was always a good jazz dancer, and my forte was partner work, so when i joined this company, i couldnt help but feel a bit of regret, that i had never tried latin dance before. For the past 4 years, i have done all the warm ups, and learnt so much about the technique, so i perform alot of the dancing now on stage, as well as my own tap dance breaks. I still have so much to learn, but its something i now love doing. I just wish i could turn back time and start 15 years earlier. I love going to the comps, and love all the different styles.
But hey...... better late than never!!!!

The show does offer q and a packages, so people can meet the cast after for some questions. They can also come in, a few hours early and watch the warm up of the dancers and meet production crew and company. If anyone is interested in that, just send me a message, and ill inquire the correct procedure of doing that, and how to set that up. 'Burn The Floor' always has its doors open to the public, especially to dance schools, as we love to do workshops, and hopefully inspire future stars!!!!

[latingal]

Thanks for the reply Kieron...

It's nice to hear that you've enjoyed your foray in to latin and ballroom, I too wish that I had started it at least 15 years earlier - but you're right better late then never. Perhaps you'll decide to take up competitive dancing when your stint on the show is over?

As for the show content, it is always wonderful when a dance goes back and rediscovers it's roots and blends it with the here and now and new. I think my objection to a few of the pieces in the original show was that it portrayed a few of the dances in a very "flat" light. It was just my opinion that it lacked subtlety and variation and over emphasized in some areas, but that is just my take and only on certain pieces. The new version sounds like an interesting journey.

Do you get to meet many people in the q&a sessions? I wonder if you find any youth who are inspired to actually go out and find a ballroom to take lessons or classes? It's difficult to get the young inspired to ballroom dance.

[btfgus]

Hello Damon,

How's the run of Burn the Floor going?

Question for you concerning keeping in good shape to dance a show multiple times in a short period of time and then traveling to the next city to repeat the same, what do you do to keep your body in good shape for the dancing? I'm referring especially to muscle fatigue and injury. Do you guys have a masseuse on staff? Lot's of advil?

Hi Latingal,

Thanks for your questions. As excited as we are about being in San Fran, we have not yet performed here. We have been in an intense week of rehearsals at the theatre and have our first dress rehearsal tonight, with previews starting on Friday (30th). We have needed a lot of changes to fit our production into this venue.
You do need to be in ultimate condition to perform with a dance company such as ours. We perform eight times a week plus promotional work. Generally our day off is a Monday which usually means traveling to the next city and starting our schedule again.
The dancing alone keeps us in good shape but we do have, prior to every show, a thorough warm up and technical exercises to assist us. Many of us also work out at the gym or do pilates.
A cool down after the show is also vital to avoid muscle fatigue and injury. Then there is the dreaded ice bucket. After our cool down we stand in knee deep in ice for as long as we can take it. Usually thirty seconds. This helps reduce any inflammation in the lower joints.
As far as physical therapy goes it is very expensive to travel a masseuse with us, so we tend to seek out good people in each location. (Any recommendations are most welcome).

Regards

Damon

[latingal]

Hi Damon,

Thanks so much for the answers....

We perform eight times a week plus promotional work. Generally our day off is a Monday which usually means traveling to the next city and starting our schedule again.

How many times do you do multiple shows the same day? Sounds like a tough schedule.

A cool down after the show is also vital to avoid muscle fatigue and injury. Then there is the dreaded ice bucket. After our cool down we stand in knee deep in ice for as long as we can take it. Usually thirty seconds. This helps reduce any inflammation in the lower joints.

Ice bucket???? Owwww. Hadn't thought of that one, and not sure I'd like to try it. *grin* Does everybody do that? Is it preventative?

What type of promotional work do you all do when you hit a new city?

[btfgus]

Hey Damon, great to have you here on DF! :cheers:

I'd love to know what you're own dance training and background were, and how you first got involved with the show. Similarly, what do you like best about dancing in the show (vs. social or competitive) and what the least?

Hey SDsalsaguy,

I started dancing at the age of ten with a push in the back from my parents. A year later I started competitions and it has been the main part of my life from that point forward. I met Rebecca at the age of seventeen and we have danced together from then on. We were married in 2002.

We decided to move from Australia to London to continue our dance training. A year later we received a telephone call from Jason Gilkison asking if we would like to join a new show, "Burn the Floor". Naturally we jumped at the chance. Ten years later we are still touring with the company, although it is a totally different show from the original arena production.

The thing I like best about dancing in the show is that it is a group effort. Instead of competing against one another, we are joined as a team. The energy of us all striving for the same goal is quite overwhelming.

The most difficult thing about performing in the show is that we are on stage as opposed to being on a floor. There is only one side where there is audience and this can be challenging, especially to demonstrate ballroom.

Damon

[btfgus]

Hi Damon,

How many times do you do multiple shows the same day? Sounds like a tough schedule.



Ice bucket???? Owwww. Hadn't thought of that one, and not sure I'd like to try it. *grin* Does everybody do that? Is it preventative?

What type of promotional work do you all do when you hit a new city?

We perform single shows Tuesday through to Friday then what we call the double double. That is double show Saturday, double show Sunday. It is tough end to the week with the reward being a day off on Monday.

Most of us use the ice bucket where the facilities are available and yes it does help prevent further injury as well as treat current ones.

In a new city we try and get as much media coverage as possible. Such as have media attend our dress rehearsals, interviews with newspapers and tv stations, visit night clubs etc. So we do not stop performing just because we have stepped off stage. It is a continual effort.

Damon

[btfgus]

Is Burn The Floor Coming to Toronto, Ontario?

The last time we performed in Toronto was in 2007. We do not have another visit scheduled for this year. However, we loved our time there and hope to return soon!

Damon

[new-ish]

I saw Burn the Floor, this past weekend in San Francisco.

Great Show.

I liked it better than the original show because it was more ballroom dance. I thought the original overworked a couple of the themes they portrayed.

[btfgus]

I agree with your statement new-ish. This is a problem the old show faced having been directed and even choreographed mostly by non ballroom dancers. It was a wonderful part of our lives but the new show is by far more enjoyable to dance.

Glad you liked it too.

Damon

[gracie]

My friend just called. She is sitting in the theater in Manhattan waiting for the curtain to go up on Burn The Floor with Maks and Karina! Needless to say, she was so excited she almost couldn't get the words out. Wonder who else is in this version. She says she will bring a program to me.

[samina]

Huh...read about that ice bucket treatment...interesting.

LG, have you tried it yet??? ;)

[latingal]

Huh...read about that ice bucket treatment...interesting.

LG, have you tried it yet??? ;)

Nope, I'm a great big chicken.... *bock, bock, boooock!*

[samina]

heh. sounds like a fun ritual to try as a group... i'd give it a go! am a big fan of following up hot showers with cold ones... :)

[latingal]

heh. sounds like a fun ritual to try as a group... i'd give it a go!

Okay you first....and then I'm running for the hills! *grin*

[btfgus]

My friend just called. She is sitting in the theater in Manhattan waiting for the curtain to go up on Burn The Floor with Maks and Karina! Needless to say, she was so excited she almost couldn't get the words out. Wonder who else is in this version. She says she will bring a program to me.

I hope she enjoyed the show and had a fun night!

I dare you guys to try the ice treatment. It is quite traumatic yet effective. Good luck!!! ;)

[latingal]

I dare you guys to try the ice treatment. It is quite traumatic yet effective. Good luck!!! ;)

*grin* something about staring at a bucket full of ice that will freeze me up to my knees makes me want to turn tail and run! But I am sure it is something I should contemplate with some of the issues I have with my feet.

How's the show going on Broadway btfgus?

[New in NY]

My family and I enjoyed Sunday night's show in Bway tremendously. The dancing was terrific; it seemed to us that each performer was giving it their all. Yet what really blew us away (including one member of my family who is a former director of several performing arts centers and has literally seen it all) was Kieron's voice and stage presence. Fantastic!

[gracie]

I hope she enjoyed the show and had a fun night!

I dare you guys to try the ice treatment. It is quite traumatic yet effective. Good luck!!! ;)

Haven't been given a full report yet, but I'm sure she did.

[samina]

I dare you guys to try the ice treatment. It is quite traumatic yet effective. Good luck!!! ;)

i'm game, no sweat. well... literally i guess... ice crystals instead, lol.

LG: september :cool:

[wonderwoman]

I've never heard of this. Looks fantastic. Hey, I have time off, how bout a trip to NYC?

[btfgus]

My family and I enjoyed Sunday night's show in Bway tremendously. The dancing was terrific; it seemed to us that each performer was giving it their all. Yet what really blew us away (including one member of my family who is a former director of several performing arts centers and has literally seen it all) was Kieron's voice and stage presence. Fantastic!

So glad you all enjoyed it so much. Thank you for the compliments. Kieron is now an artistic consultant for the show and Ricky is our new male vocalist.

In regard to the ice torture, make sure there is plenty of water in the bucket too. Otherwise you will not get your leg through all the ice. This also allows the ice cold water and ice to totally surround your limb/s. Your leg will go bright red and it kinda hurts more when you get out. :doh:

[wonderwoman]

Why are we sticking our legs in ice now?

[19DancerBabyLin]

Cccooooollllllllll!!!!! I'm gonna see if I can get my team to roadtrip up there to catch a show! Group ticket prices are really cheap (or at least a significant discount) too!!!!!

Might hold back on the ice torture though....

[latingal]

In regard to the ice torture, make sure there is plenty of water in the bucket too. Otherwise you will not get your leg through all the ice. This also allows the ice cold water and ice to totally surround your limb/s. Your leg will go bright red and it kinda hurts more when you get out. :doh:

*grin* it just gets worse and worse. *lol*

ww...we discussed the ice torture earlier in the thread regarding what the dancers do to prevent/help injuries with such a tough schedule of dancing (reduces inflammation and the like).

[latingal]

Might hold back on the ice torture though....

*grin* yeah, you might not have a team left after it....

[DancingJools]

I'm surprised no one has reviewed the Broadway show yet, so here goes.
I attended the show last week, and one of the first things I did upon returning home was to buy tickets to see it again. So that tells you something. I also bought the DVD, but haven't watched it yet. (I want to see the show live again, before watching the DVD.)
Because I also watched the original Burn the Floor live, twice, the comparison between the two is inescapable. I think I liked the new one better, but they are really two different animals. Everything in the original production was BIG: Big stage, big cast, big costumes, big numbers. The new show is a lot more intimate. The stage feels almost tiny for some of the movements, and sometimes I held my breath for fear a dancer was going to fall off the stage. But I think the intimacy is part of the theme of the show, and used very well to show off the precision and intricacy of the moves.
As a previous poster said, the dancing is more strictly ballroom than the original production, and the technique of the dancers is quite impressive. That's not suprising, of course, considering the caliber of each individual dancer. Each is a star in his/her own right (Kevin Clifton, Giselle Peacock, and Nuria Santalucia, to name a few), and the numbers showcased them quite well. So in terms of dance technique, this show is even better than Louis Van Amstel's Latin Fusion show on Broadway a few years back, and it has a better organic unity about it.
The show's music is very, very well chosen. Almost every track is a well-known ballroom and/or popular piece. And the music is performed live on the stage, giving greater vitality to the whole show. The small band is fantastic, with a sound that really belies its size. Add to that two great vocalists, and the result is really a complete mature production that is very satisfying. The costumes are great, too. Nothing in it is overdone, and everything is, in its minute details, simply excellent. I loved it. Hats off to Jason Gilkison for the great choreography and the whole spirit of a fantastic show.
Oh yes, Maks and Karina were great, too :-)

[njdancegirl]

Thanks, Jools! I'm going tomorrow night...happy to hear its getting some good reviews!

[tangotime]

.
Jason was taught and inspired by a man called Wally Laird, and for those that compete in the dancesport scene,

would know that he wrote the book on technique.





One of my "mentors ", and 1000s of others... as to " books ", his is the original ( other than Pierres' ) and subsequent authors whose "works " have been adapted ..( we should also mention his fab. partners Ande Lyon, and Lorraine )

[soshedances]

Oooh, really want to go!!

[j_alexandra]

FYI, Goldstar has discounted tix. goldstar dot com

"discounted" is a relative term.

I'm going tomorrow night; anyone else from here seeing it tomorrow (8/4)?

[njdancegirl]

FYI, Goldstar has discounted tix. goldstar dot com

"discounted" is a relative term.

I'm going tomorrow night; anyone else from here seeing it tomorrow (8/4)?

I am! Got discounted tix as well through broadwayoffers .com.

[njdancegirl]

I'm going tomorrow night; anyone else from here seeing it tomorrow (8/4)?

So, J Alex, what did you think?

Having never seen it previously, I have nothing to compare it to, but thought it was great. High energy, quality dancing, lots of fun!

[j_alexandra]

So, J Alex, what did you think?

Having never seen it previously, I have nothing to compare it to, but thought it was great. High energy, quality dancing, lots of fun!

Terrific dancing from the regular cast. Unbelievable energy, especially from Giselle Peacock, who knocked me out. I thought Maks and Karina phoned it in, except in a couple of places. Its good to know that even if you see the show without them, it'll still be pure dynamite. I wish there had been a bit more Standard, but the stage wasn't big enough, and Standard isn't really great eye candy for a Broadway type audience. Too subtle.

I thought it was ironic that the theater is right across the street from the Crowne Plaza, where the Empire State competition is being held this weekend. Hey, if I were the Empire promoter, I'd have someone outside Burn the Floor after every show, handing out flyers advertising the comp. Cheap advertising to build audience from the general public.

[njdancegirl]

Terrific dancing from the regular cast. Unbelievable energy, especially from Giselle Peacock, who knocked me out. I thought Maks and Karina phoned it in, except in a couple of places. Its good to know that even if you see the show without them, it'll still be pure dynamite. I wish there had been a bit more Standard, but the stage wasn't big enough, and Standard isn't really great eye candy for a Broadway type audience. Too subtle.

I thought it was ironic that the theater is right across the street from the Crowne Plaza, where the Empire State competition is being held this weekend. Hey, if I were the Empire promoter, I'd have someone outside Burn the Floor after every show, handing out flyers advertising the comp. Cheap advertising to build audience from the general public.

Maks and Karina were great, but it will be just as a good a show if you see it without them. And agree about Giselle - unbelievable energy. The other one who repeatedly caught my eye was the blond girl from New Zealand I think....unbelieveable!

[samina]

had to google giselle, as am not familiar with her. was she sporting the same wildebeest look in the show? not used to seeing so much wild hair flying when it comes to ballroom...;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu-TJfHoAI8

[njdancegirl]

had to google giselle, as am not familiar with her. was she sporting the same wildebeest look in the show? not used to seeing so much wild hair flying when it comes to ballroom...;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu-TJfHoAI8

Yes, sporting similar look. Though, to be fair, they all had their hair down pretty much the whole show - long hair flying everywhere.

Giselle is a very athletic dancer - compact, energetic movements. Completely her opposite (and more my preference in terms of style) was Peta Murgatroyd. Not good at giving descriptions...a more "feminine" dancer with beautiful lines.

[samina]

Giselle is a very athletic dancer - compact, energetic movements. Completely her opposite (and more my preference in terms of style) was Peta Murgatroyd. Not good at giving descriptions...a more "feminine" dancer with beautiful lines.
yes, i'm not a fan of giselle's abbreviated lines, at least as shown in the vid i posted. i would love to see her be faster and take more time over her feet.

yah, well... wouldn't we all like to be there. :)

[j_alexandra]

had to google giselle, as am not familiar with her. was she sporting the same wildebeest look in the show? not used to seeing so much wild hair flying when it comes to ballroom...;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu-TJfHoAI8

LOL yes, the wildebeest hair is definitely in the show. All the women have more hair than I'm used to seeing. Took a little getting used to. But this is a theater piece, not a dance competition, so Liberties Were Taken. Still Giselle was astonishing. She's a bit older than the others, but she was mesmerizing. Couldn't take my eyes off her, even on a crowded stage.

Petra, the blonde from NZ that njdg mentioned: holy cow. Think legs as long as Bree but with Latin technique. There was one rumba where she... no, I don't want to spoil it for you.;)

[j_alexandra]

yes, i'm not a fan of giselle's abbreviated lines, at least as shown in the vid i posted. i would love to see her be faster and take more time over her feet.

yah, well... wouldn't we all like to be there. :)

I certainly would. But this was characteristic of the entire cast: modified Latin technique, not perfect Latin technique. It's Theatre, not Ballroom. I made allowances.

I liked Giselle's compact power. You have to see it itf; she has amazing stage presence.

[njdancegirl]

It's Theatre, not Ballroom. I made allowances.

My friend made mention that it was not traditional ballroom and I think the show's tagline summed it up - "Ballroom Reinvented". Was more ballroom for Broadway than competitive ballroom as JAlex mentioned, but the dancers' technique was not lacking for either venue.

[njdancegirl]

Petra, the blonde from NZ that njdg mentioned: holy cow. Think legs as long as Bree but with Latin technique. There was one rumba where she... no, I don't want to spoil it for you.;)

Good comparison to Bree in terms of legs and style - long, lean, feminine, balletic lines.

[samina]

Well, I trust your recommendations and would love to check it out.

[njdancegirl]

From what I read online, when Maks and Karina exit, Pasha and Anya are joining the cast.

[Beto]

http://www.broadway.com/Star-Dancers-Anya-Garnis-and-Pasha-Kovalev-to-Join-Burn-the-Floor/broadway_news/5031144

[LucyDiamond]

They have been heavily advertising "Burn the Floor" in the NYC TV market and I saw that last night in their latest ad. Now, I have to decide, "Do I want to see Maks and Karina or Pasha and Anya?" Tough decision... :wink:

[wonderwoman]

Anya and Pasha!

[GJB]

Irina Boubnovskaia also joined the cast recently.

[marianya]

They have been heavily advertising "Burn the Floor" in the NYC TV market and I saw that last night in their latest ad. Now, I have to decide, "Do I want to see Maks and Karina or Pasha and Anya?" Tough decision... :wink:If it were me... I'd say BOTH!

Totally worth it... but alas I'm not in NYC and when I do make it to NYC it'd be in late-September... no telling if Anya and Pasha would be there when I get there... I know the bf is big with seeing Maksim and Karina... me I could do with either.

Both'll be nice though... :p

[Beto]

I'll be back up in NYC for their salsa congress, plus some additional zouk-lambada classes, over Labor Day weekend so I'm thinking this could make a nice daytime event to catch. :D

[GJB]

Jason Gilkison the creator/director/choregorapher of the show just posted this on Facebook: "BURN THE FLOOR broke the Longacre Theatre weekly box office record last week !!!!!!!! SWEET JESUS!!!!!!!!"

[btfgus]

Jason Gilkison the creator/director/choregorapher of the show just posted this on Facebook: "BURN THE FLOOR broke the Longacre Theatre weekly box office record last week !!!!!!!! SWEET JESUS!!!!!!!!"

This was the news we were delivered today about last weeks box office. And it looks like we could break our own record this week!

We met Pasha and Anya today and they seem very nice. However we will miss Maks and Karina, they have become a real part of the team.

[Peaches]

An interesting article...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/arts/dance/13ballroom.html?_r=1&8dpc

[etp777]

We've been discussingt hat article in thread over here:

Ballroom Today (http://www.danceforums.com/showthread.php?t=33659)

[Peaches]

Oh...sorry. I automatically skipped that one since, well, I figured it wouldn't contain anything that was relevant to me. I ran across the NYT article while taking a break, and the name just rang a bell.

[etp777]

Just happenstance that I knew about it. no worries. :)

[dance234]

i received an email from DanceSportComps.com that they were offering a special price for Burn the Floor, but they neglected to include the discount code you need in order to get the reduced price. does anyone happen to have it?

[Spitfire]

Has anyone seen Burn The Floor? (http://www.burnthefloor.com/index.php)

It's coming here on the week of April 19th. I've seen the flyers for it at the dance I go to and posted at a few bus stops. Had not heard of it until I saw these.

[pygmalion]

I haven't seen it. The tour will be here later this month,as well, IIRC. But this older thread might interest you. :-)

http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=31017&highlight=burn

[Spitfire]

I was wondering if there was an existing thread, but thought it would be more recent if so since I believed the show to be more recent. I'm considering seeing it, but would like to hear from others who have.

[pygmalion]

There are a bunch of BTF threads. The 2009 one is most recent. Maybe 2009 is around the time the US national tour started? I can't remember.

[ash_sk8s]

I wanted to see it when it was in Portland, but didn't get the chance to. :(

[j_alexandra]

Saw it in New York. Great eye candy. Very theatrical. Some awesome dancing. Very entertaining.

[kckc]

Saw it in New York. Great eye candy. Very theatrical. Some awesome dancing. Very entertaining.


what she said. I saw it 3 or 4 years ago and enjoyed it very much. I think my prevailing thought was "holy cow, how did they do that!"

[Spitfire]

For those of you who have seen it does it have a story to it like a musical as well as a lot of dancing?

[latingal]

actually we have a DF member here who is in Burn The Floor, his name is btfgus if I remember the spelling right. there was a thread started on it when BTF was in San Francisco if I remember right.

[btfgus]

For those of you who have seen it does it have a story to it like a musical as well as a lot of dancing?

Thanks for your question. There is no story line, as in traditional musical theatre. BTF is simply a collection of short dance scenes put together in a fast paced and hopefully entertaining two hour format.

BTF is definitely not dancesport on stage. It is more stripped back and raw. I hope you get the chance to catch it and would love to hear your feedback also.

Thank you to the posters above for their flattering comments.

Any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask. :peace:

[sambanada]

great show with lots of energy

[jjs914]

Tons and tons of energy. I was so impressed by the stamina and really enjoyed it.

[want2dance]

I saw BTF in New York and then again in Chicago. I loved it both times. If you like dancing, you will love it....exciting, always moving, great dancers...

[FeetwithaBeat]

Saw it in Raleigh twice -- SUPER show loved the energy, the dancing -- a fantastic must see!

[Spitfire]

So I take it it's worth the ticket price to see?

[Larinda McRaven]

I saw it in Philly a few months back... It made me long for the old days when it was new and fresh.

[ireniecat]

I saw it maybe 9 years ago or so in Chicago. It was entertaining and the dancing was good. I wish there was more of a story or sense of continuity.

2 things I did not like:
- Hated most of the costumes. They were very distracting and took away from the dancing.
- There were several numbers where there were many couples on the stage at the same time doing similar but not identical choreography. (Like formation gone bad.) The lack of focal point made it difficult to enjoy watching it.

I don't regret seeing it, but I would not see it again. I have no idea how much the show has been changed or updated since then.

[mayflower]

I've seen it for 3 times, but I like the one in 1999 in Australia the best, the other 2 were not as good as the 1999 one.

[pygmalion]

Welcome mayflower!

Just curious. How has the show/choreography changed over the years? (Anybody. Not just mayflower.) I know it's been around a long time. One of the very first posts I read, here in DF, was about the show.

So how has it changed or evolved? Or has it? :cool:

[MidwestDancingGuy]

Welcome mayflower!

Just curious. How has the show/choreography changed over the years? (Anybody. Not just mayflower.) I know it's been around a long time. One of the very first posts I read, here in DF, was about the show.

So how has it changed or evolved? Or has it? :cool:

According to my standard instructor, who has several friends who have been in several productions of Burn the Floor over the years: once a particular tour ends, there tend to be staffing changes, sometimes including the producers and choreographers. As a result, every "new tour" can have significantly different choreography and numbers from the previous tour.

[btfgus]

Welcome mayflower!

Just curious. How has the show/choreography changed over the years? (Anybody. Not just mayflower.) I know it's been around a long time. One of the very first posts I read, here in DF, was about the show.

So how has it changed or evolved? Or has it? :cool:

The original arena production toured for twelve months, 1999 to 2000. It debuted in Bournemouth, UK and toured Australia, Europe and the USA. It was a very large touring production with 44 dancers and seven trucks worth of set and equipment. Universal were major partners in establishing the tours. Sometimes the dancing took a back seat to the production but still garnered many fans all over the world. Prestigious venues such as Radio City Music Hall and Universal Amphitheatre saw BTF perform.

In 2001 the show was overhauled to adapt to theatres. Jason Gilkison and Peta Roby took the helm choreographically and in management whilst still performing in the production itself. This version of the show toured the world until its last performance in Osaka, Japan in 2006.

Mid 2005 Jason, Peta her husband Nic and Burn The Floor producer Harley Medcalf started a new show "Ballroom". This was the workshop production of what is now touring the globe "Burn The Floor, Ballroom Reinvented". This stripped back version of the show made a conscious effort to highlight the dance and not the production or even costumes. This is the production that broke box office records on Broadway and the West End in London.

Any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask. :)

[White Chacha]

I recently watched the DVD version of "Burn the Floor: Floorplay". Where does that fit in the timeline of the show?

-wc

[btfgus]

I recently watched the DVD version of "Burn the Floor: Floorplay". Where does that fit in the timeline of the show?

-wc

That was filmed in Canberra, Australia in 2007. The sub title "FloorPlay" was in the headline of a review of the show around that time. It so aptly described the theme of the show it was taken to distinguish the 2007 production from previous versions.

[BasicsFirst]

I'm with Mayflower, it's "good" show dancing, but I must say if you DO manage to focus on one dancer or couple... ummm, I'm didn't see the "champion competitive" level footwork or body movements that you'll see at a high-profile comp. But then that's not what you are there to see (after all it's a "show"). Could never figure why they tried to include solo "singing" either... that's the real YIKES part of the show.