'Swing's' special zing
Dance floor, swing music part of opening night bash
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'Swing's' Marielys Molina, Ann Crumb and Sarah Jones at Biltmore opening night party |
But when it comes to tossing the girl over your head like the dancers at the Ahmanson Theater do, dancer-associate choreographer Scott Fowler warns: Don't try that at home!
"Great teachers taught us the mechanics of each lift," Fowler said.
Director-choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett said the various swing styles show "the kaleidoscopic diversity of this American folk art."
Corbett remembered her dad, a WWII vet, singing swing songs in the car when she was growing up.
Singer Sarah Jane Nelson's grandmother "danced a million miles of swing at USOs."
Warren Adams, a dancer originally from South Africa, said "swing comes from Harlem, but the rhythms come from Africa. This show would bring the house down in South Africa!"
Cutting a rug at the swinging opening night party with cast members were production supervisor Jerry Zaks, the Ahmanson's a.d. Gordon Davidson and guests Cyd Charisse, James Coburn, Harry Groener, Sean Hayes, Jane Krakowski, Tony Martin, James Avery and Cathy Rigby.
