The all-male virtuoso troupe Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance makes its Philadelphia debut at the Annenberg Center
March 22, 2010DANCE CELEBRATION PRESENTS THE PHILADELPHIA DEBUT OF RASTA THOMAS’ AWARD-WINNING, ALL-MALE VIRTUOSO TROUPE BAD BOYS OF DANCE
APRIL 15-17, 2010
Philadelphia, PA – Back from a three-month European tour, the all-male virtuoso troupe, Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance (RT/BBD) makes its Philadelphia debut April 15-17, 2010 as part of the Dance Celebration Series at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA.
With Rasta Thomas, International Ballet Gold Medalist and star of Twyla Tharp’s hit musical Movin’ Out, at the helm, RT/BBD consists of a stellar cast, including a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance; an American Dance Idol winner, Broadway stars and winners of numerous dance competitions. RT/BBD aims to push the boundaries of male dancing, helping to make dance accessible to wider audiences. The program features the choreography of Rasta Thomas and Adrienne Canterna-Thomas (associate artistic director) set to the music of such icons as Michael Jackson, Prince, Queen, U2 and Coldplay. The movement style is a mix of ballet, contemporary, Broadway pizzazz, hip-hop, capoeira, acrobatics, and tap (choreographed by dancer Michael Keefe). Noted the Boston Globe, “This was absolutely fabulous dancing.”
The program is divided into two parts, “Beautiful Day” and “Rock You” and features Robbie Nicholson, Michael Keefe, Anthony Colantone, Chris McCarthy, Kevin Mylrea and Rasta Thomas. Adrienne Canterna-Thomas appears as a guest artist courtesy of Pretty Girls of Dance. The movement vocabulary juxtaposes sensational multiple pirouettes and fouettes with armless flips, straddle leaps, grande jetees, 180 degree extensions, timesteps, freezes, flares, one-handed balances and dramatic posturing.
Dances named after songs like Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean,” “Bad,” and “Smooth Criminal:’ Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and “Another One Bites the Dust;” Prince’s “When Doves Cry” and “Baby I’m a Star;” and Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash” explore relationships, coming of age transitions and pop culture. Dancing to U2’s “With or Without You” Thomas and his wife depict the raw emotions at the bitter end of a troubled relationship.
Called “a dancer of enormous talent and undeniable charisma,” by the New York Times, Thomas made dance competition history as a teenager, with honors including the Special Jury Prize from the 1994 Paris International Dance Competition, the Gold Medal in the Junior Men's Division from the 1996 Varna International Ballet Competition, and the Gold Medal in the Senior Men's Division from the Jackson, Mississippi International Ballet Competition. His guest credits include American Ballet Theatre, Victor Ullate Ballet of Spain, National Ballet of China, Joffrey Ballet, Lines Contemporary Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
In 2001, Thomas was the first American to become a member of the renowned Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has been in several TV documentaries, performed at the Academy Awards, was a featured dancer in an international ad campaign for GAP, appeared in Patrick Swayze’s One Last Dance and starred on Broadway in Twyla Tharp's hit musical, Movin' Out.
Under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, the Dance Celebration series, presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center’s Penn Presents, maintains the tradition of bringing to Philadelphia the world’s best contemporary touring dance companies. This season’s The Magic of Movement pays tribute to American dance and showcases its diversity of styles, from tap to Broadway, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, multimedia and dance theater.
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