REVIEW: Curio Dance – Drop the Mic!

Last evening I had the pleasure of attending Curio Dance – Drop the Mic! at the Cowles Center.  This show includes a multitude of dance performances in a variety of styles from B-boy to Latin to Native American.  There is something for everyone in this show and the diverse crowd really got into it, especially during the high-energy second half.  They even had a talented artist painting a real-time interpretation of the performance onto canvas just off stage.  It was fun to see how the painting progressed during the brief interludes between dance numbers.  I had an absolute blast!

The  fantastic choreography brings unique blends of dance vocabulary from around the world.  One great piece is based on a blend of (what appears to be) traditional Ojibwe dance and music remixed with a hip-hop beat.  The costumes, lighting and dancers all come together in an electrifying performance.  I was in awe.  I also wish I knew the name of the dancer from 20/20 Collective who captivated the audience with her breathtaking solo performed to Beyonce’s Heaven.  Another noteworthy piece was choreographed by famed choreographer Travis Wall. If you are a fan of So You Think You Can Dance, your eyebrows just perked up because you know how exceptional his work is.  The Larkin Dance Studio definitely did this piece justice.  My only criticism is that with the show largely consisting of amazing professional dancers, the few amateurs that featured really seemed out place. They show promise, of course, but their pieces really just felt like filler.

I very highly recommend you see Drop the Mic! this weekend, especially given the forecast for inclement weather today and tomorrow.  It is riveting entertainment.  My guest last night wants to see it again and I don’t think that’s a bad idea.

This show runs through June 15, 2014  at The Cowles Center in downtown Minneapolis.

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