Some
things don't 'Swing!'
By Sonya Smith
On-line Forty-Niner
LOS
ANGELES — When Duke Ellington and Irving
Mills wrote “It Don’t Mean a Thing’ (If
It Ain’t Got That Swing),” in 1932, who
knew how true those words were.
The musical “Swing!” sent the audience into
toe-tapping and head swaying delight, as
their old swing favorites were presented
by a group that lacked that certain swing
as the “Duke” would say.
The two-hour show traversed through various
forms and eras of swing dancing, including
a fabulous World War II section with very
true to life costumes and an upbeat country
swing dance featuring full skirts which
accented the turning girls. The style of
swing dance was sultry, sexy and definitely
not tame, transforming swing dance into
a modern setting.
For the most part, the company dancers seemed
to lack a sincere quality to their dancing,
as their excitement on stage seemed more
than well rehearsed. This control over their
presentation did create a show where every
moment was filled with smiles. However,
if they could have depended on the adrenaline
from the stage lights to make the dancers
smile, then it would have given the performance
a finishing flare.
The dancing was definitely swingin’ throughout
and “In the Mood,” making the lifts and
flips throughout the show appear smooth
and effortless through good control.
Despite these skills, the couples missed
the mark on performing like couples. When
watching couples swing dance, they seemed
to have a rehearsed enthusiasm rather than
a genuine excitement and did not seem to
dance together.
In their West Coast swing duet, both Alycia
Perrin who has danced with Dance Theater
Harlem and Tom Richardson who has appeared
in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
managed to take the show.
The chemistry onstage between Perrin and
Richardson is what good partnering is all
about. With complete trust leading to flawless
lifts and their interaction leading to a
perception they both wanted to be dancing
together rather than anywhere else.
Another highlight of the show was the “Caravan”
piece performed by the band unhindered by
dancing and singing. This set proved that
swing music does not need dancing to be
energy packed. The eight piece band, illuminated
with gem colors and a highlighter yellow
spotlight, played out for the audience with
Michael Dorio jamming on his electric guitar
in a Brian Setzer like image.
The singing throughout the show was very
good, with the songs flowing off their lips
as they entertained the audience. One of
the best vocal performances of the night
was “Blues in the Night” with Clarolyn Maier’s
bold voice stealing the scene.
“Swing!” shows at the Wilshire Theatre through
March 2.
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