The Australian-based showcase of music and dance, Burn The Floor: Floorplay, was slow off the blocks but gradually picked up a good momentum and ended on a high. Although I would hesitate to gush that it was an absolutely brilliant performance, it was highly enjoyable in many aspects and definitely worth the discounted ticket that I picked up for one of the best seats in the house in my opinion.

The show mixed elements of ballroom, contemporary, jazz, story lines, and even live vocals, staying true to a theme of song and dance. The melting pot of styles was billed as the new face of ballroom in this new century, yet the merging was somehow contrived at times, with music and form seemingly immiscible with one another. It was, for example, quite unbearable to watch the dancers doing ballroom partnerwork to what was otherwise excellent flamenco music. Where were the gaudy skirts? Where were the castenets? Where was the intricate footwork of the female soloist? Perhaps some will comment that I am being too harsh a critic, but for a professional performance company like this, surely there is the understanding that all dances stem from the music, and to interpret flamenco music in a way that does not befit its passionate stature is to denigrate it. Surely there must be this knowledge.

But aspects that could not be faulted were the energy, the lines, and the cleanliness of movement. Since the dancers mostly have a ballroom and ballet background, the lines and sharpness were to be expected. Yet the energy exceeded everyone's expectations; the dancers' auras seemed to stretch out to every corner of the concert hall and touch the crowd's hearts with that same dose of vibrancy and vitality emanating from each and every dancer - and it was truly amazing.

There may be obvious areas that are lacking in the show, but I am glad I chose to watch it this year. It even wavered my performance plans for the coming academic year! :p