As titles go, Floorplay might sound like a lame pun. In terms of capturing the essence of the testosterone-supercharged dance extravaganza that opens at Toronto's Hummingbird Centre tonight, however, it hits the mark. The steps are dazzling, the show's spirit is unpretentiously playful and the eroticism pre-tumescent.
Floorplay is the latest incarnation of Burn the Floor, the Australian-produced, ballroom/Latin-inspired dance sensation. As a concept, Burn the Floor is the brainchild of Sydney-based entertainment mogul Harley Medcalf, a seasoned producer among whose numerous credits are fellow Australian Barry Humphries/Dame Edna's international tours.
Medcalf was inspired to create a dance showcase of ballroom champions a decade ago after attending Elton John's 50th birthday party in London.
The showstopper was a sexy, 20-minute ballroom segment. Aware of a resurgent interest in ballroom and eyeing the success of such dance phenomena as Riverdance and Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, Medcalf sniffed an opportunity, although he concedes that in the early days it was like "a terrifying ride into nowhere."
Two years and some $10-million later, Medcalf had marshalled a cast and creative team and the original Burn the Floor premiered in Bournemouth, England in 1999.
Since then, through numerous reworkings, the show has played to some three million people in more than 30 countries. In Japan, where ballroom is embraced fanatically, Burn the Floor has achieved cult status.
Despite high production values -- rock-show lighting, slinky costumes and mix of live and recorded music -- the key to Burn the Floor's success was always its simplicity.
It's all about the dancing. Unlike its competing brands, BTF has never taken itself too seriously nor dallied with mythic or allegorical significance. Even in its newly overhauled format, the essential ingredients remain.
Floorplay is a journey through different places, dance styles and eras, driven by pulsating rhythms and often-familiar tunes. But it's serious about stretching the conventions of classic ballroom and Latin to unleash the full potential of the international champion cast it puts on stage.
Jay Gilikson, the show's choreographer and artistic director, scours the world of competitive ballroom for young couples who can do more than win medals.
Says Medcalf: "We look for something special, that extra dimension of personality, even rebelliousness."
Gilikson and former dancing partner Peta Roby were a world conquering ballroom team before becoming charter members and effective stars of Burn the Floor. Although they retired from the stage two years ago, they remain the company's bedrock.
Both are now credited along with Medcalf as co-producers and Roby serves as company manager.
In reshaping a winning format, Gilikson has woven his and Roby's personal dancing story into the fabric of Floorplay. "It's partly their journey," says Medcalf.
Apart from obvious marketing concerns -- there's only so long you can sell the same show -- the decision to produce a new Burn the Floor show was also based on Gilikson and Medcalf 's experience of what worked best. "Over time, and playing in so many different venues," says Medcalf, "we realized we needed to trust the dancing. We began stripping things away to focus on the dancers.
They're the show." - Floorplay is onstage May 10-12 at 8 p.m.
and May 12 at 2 p.m. Hummingbird Centre (1 Front St.
E., Toronto). Tickets from $40, call 416-872-2262 or online at www.
ticketmaster.
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