Burn The Floor

GaynorOctober 2, 2015

Some of you may have noticed that we had a big site issue and the site was down for a good few days. But the good news is we are back (though some posts and pictures are still missing and will be added soon) and can now publish this review on Burn The Floor! You only have one day left to see it in Joburg – so get to it!

Burn The Floor – “Fire in the Ballroom” will run on the Mandela stage at Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein for a limited season from September 16th to October 3rd.

Crafted over the past two years by groundbreaking choreographers Jason Gilkison and Peta Roby, the hit dance sensation is currently performing to rapturous European and American audiences.

Burn the Floor’s Executive Producer Nic Notley says, “The new show is totally different than our last production that came to Joburg, and will blow the roof off the theatre! It has the same rebellious spirit, though more daring with a more theatrical rock angle – we have also designed a new set, new costumes and new music including Santana, Janis Joplin, Christina Aguilera and Led Zeppelin. Don’t think twice about returning to see the show – it will be a great night out, I promise!”

Burn the Floor has the reputation of being the “worlds toughest dance show” and the dancers are handpicked to embrace a new Latin American feel. The producers are delighted to have a South African performing on the world tour.

Johannes Radebe, along with his Strictly Come Dancing celebrity partner Leigh-Anne Williams, have had the South African television viewing public on the edge of their seats each week with their deft dance moves and crept into everyone’s hearts as a firm favourite, right up until their were declared runners-up in the recent final held on Friday August 7th.

Peta Roby, Burn the Floor’s Director says, “Johannes is a choreographer’s dream and with his spellbinding charisma and dance skills to match, it does not get a lot better! The audiences are in for a visual treat – South Africa has some extraordinary dance talent that I want the world to see.”

Burn The Floor – “Fire in the Ballroom” will run on The Mandela stage at Joburg Theatre from September 16th to October 3rd.

My friend Lornette Joseph attended the show and wrote this poignant piece about it.

WOW to the infinite degree! When given the opportunity to see ‘Burn the Floor’ on opening night, I jumped at the opportunity. Friends had said how wonderful it would be, other had booked their tickets weeks before. I had no idea what to expect, I did no research into the event, and I’m so-so when it comes to watching dancing.

The first half was simply amazing, the show started off slow and steady, and by intermission my pulse was racing, my heart in my throat, and I was exhausted from just watching this amazing performance. When Johannes Radebe appeared on stage for the first time, I thought the crowds would leap up on stage, they were so excited to see him. What we had expected as the ‘norm’ from him on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ was nothing compared to the performance that he gave. I have yet to see someone so happy and completely at home and comfortable on stage as Johannes was – dancing his heart out. The first half moved along quickly, almost too quickly, I didn’t want it to end.

The second half of the performance was a lot shorter, also much slower from the pace of the first half. The singers rendition of ‘Carmen’ was very unusual, almost like heavy metal, and a bit wicked and wild, which threw me off for a bit as I am a fan of the Opera, but I found I actually like it towards the end of the piece. The second half of the show was, in my opinion, less energetic, almost as if the dancers were tired but it did pick up towards the end.

The music matched the dance routines very well, and both singers did a wonderful job. All the dancers were out of this world, but it was definitely Johannes’ big night.

The fluidity of the moves, the complete trust the dancers had in each other, the energy, style, rhythm; all these elements made for a most enjoyable evening, a definite see for young and old and the only thing going through my mind “When can I go back and see it again?!”

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