Hot Feet: Burn the Floor Opens on Broadway Aug. 2

By Andrew Gans
02 Aug 2009

Burn the Floor dancers
Burn the Floor dancers

The dance show Burn the Floor — boasting an eclectic mix of champion dancers — officially opens on Broadway Aug. 2 at the Longacre Theatre. Previews for the 12-week limited engagement began July 25. Veterans of TV's "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing With the Stars" are in the troupe.

The cast features Henry Byalikov ("Superstars of Dance"), Sharna Burgess ("So You Think You Can Dance"), Kevin Clifton (International IDSF Open Champion), Sasha Farber (three-time Junior & Youth Latin Australian Champion), Jeremy Garner (six-time Australian Amateur Latin finalist), Gordana Grandosek (Italian Open Champion), Patrick Helm (Welsh Open Champion), Sarah Hives ("Dancing with the Stars"), Melanie Hooper (two-time Australian Professional Latin Champion), Peta Murgatroyd ("Dancing with the Stars"), Giselle Peacock (four-time U.S Champion), Nuria Santalucia (two-time Australian Latin Champion), Sarah Soriano (8th in the world, British Open Championship – Youth Latin American), Damon and Rebecca Sugden (three-time Asian Pacific Ballroom Champions), Trent Whiddon (Australia's "Dancing with the Stars"), Damian Whitewood (Australasian Champion), and Robin Windsor (Ballroom & Latin International finalist).

Joining the dancers onstage are vocalists Ricky Rojas (The Buddy Holly Story) and Rebecca Tapia (The Boy from Oz) and musicians Henry Soriano, Roger Squitero, David Mann and Earl Maneein.

For three weeks only — through Aug. 16 — the artists are joined by special guest stars Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" fame.

Burn the Floor features direction and choreography by Jason Gilkison and is produced on Broadway by Harley Medcalf, Joe Watson, Richard Levi, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Raise the Roof One, Toppall/Stevens/Mills, Benigno/Klein, Caldwell/Allen, Carrpailet/Danzansky, Bud Martin, The Production Studio, Schaffert/Schnuck, and Carrie Ann Inaba by special arrangement with Dance Partner Inc.

"From Harlem's hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, Burn the Floor takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance," according to Telecharge.com. "The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble — audiences will experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep, and Swing. It's Ballroom dance with a sexy 21st century edge."

Conceived five years ago at a 50th birthday party for composer Elton John, Burn the Floor was created by producer Harley Medcalf and features 32 champion ballroom dancers. About the genesis of his show, Medcalf previously said, "I wanted to create a showcase that is a fusion of the wonderful traditions of ballroom dancing, a combination of the sensuality, discipline and commitment of the dancers, with the technology, creativity and energy of a rock and roll production."

The Longacre Theatre is located at 220 West 48th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

Tickets are available by visiting www.telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. For more information go to www.burnthefloor.com.