The finale of "Evolutions of Dance" at the SCERA Center for the Arts brings all the decades of dance together in one spectacular number.
Jason Olson, Deseret Morning News
OREM — Rick Robinson's "Evolutions of Dance" is full of energy, kicks and color.
There's plenty of talent on display, and it's fun to see a variety of styles all in one concert.
It's just a little long, and that's partly due to the preshow, partly because the concert started late. (The 28 dances listed on the program take up 90-plus minutes. Add in the extra half hour and an intermission, and you're there until after 10 p.m.)
There's really no reason to have a preshow, especially one that isn't danced prior to the real show. The cute young dancers are included in several of the regular numbers, so you would still get to see them.
But, that aside, "Evolutions" — produced by Kim Del Grosso of Center Stage Studios — is a nice mix of jazz, Latin and hip-hop styles with elaborate, creative costuming and inventive choreography, done largely by Kellie Messerly and Robinson. (On opening night, there was only one collision.)
The journey through the ages goes from getting on a plane in "Flight" to a tribal dance with Robinson featured as the tribal chief and lots of dancers onstage with him. At one point, there are more than 60 dancers sharing foot space.
It merges into the '20s and '30s, with Mafia-type characters to poodle skirts and zoot suits, then to boogies and break-dancing and into the present day with a finale that brought it all together.
Along the way, Jacob Lattrell adds some vocal relief as he steps on the stage here and there with his guitar, his saxophone, his cardboard piano and his keyboard.
Standout performances include "Bugle Boy" and the "Tribal Love" piece.
Lattrell also does a good job introducing the Michael Jackson segment, which is a fun watch.
The "Flashdance" segments, choreographed by Janalyn Memmott, are another highlight.
Not to take away from any of the other dances — every one is a feat in physical movement and artistic interpretation.
It's also nice that the numbers come pretty much one after another in a seamless fashion, which is great for the audience, but it's gotta be grueling on the dancers.
Bravo!
If you go
What: Rick Robinson's "Evolutions of Dance" concert
Where: SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State
When: 7:30 p.m. through Feb. 2; Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.
Cost: $12/$10 children, seniors, students
Phone: 225-2569
Web: www.scera.org
E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com
Sharon Haddock is a former full-time writer and editor for The Deseret News. She currently does freelance writing from her home in American Fork where she lives with her fellow journalist husband Marc Haddock. They have 12 more ..
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