'Rhythm' not too blue

They've got rhythm. They've got music. And most importantly, they've got attitude. Who could ask for anything more?

Rhythmic Blue's fall show, "Hot Like Fire," turns up the heat with pounding pop music and high-energy dance routines. The performers are obviously having fun, and their enthusiasm infects the audience.

Energy, precision, charisma, and endurance define the Blues dancers. "Four Women," choreographed by Camele-Ann White, TC '03, consists of mechanized dance routines with a certain surprising fluidity—these aren't your standard awkward robotic twitch-es, but rather edgy animation-like movements. The hypnotic undulations of Alice Kim, DC '02, seem like an extension of the haunting music. Easily the best piece in the show, "Four Women" integrates individual performances into a unified vision.

CHIP LOCKWOOD/YH Damn! Don't be dissin' my man!

"Dr. Livingston's Presumption," choreographed by Drew Baldwin, BK '03, highlights both the technical skill and the humor of Blues members. Most of the dancers wear crowns and bracelets of leaves, while a sexy seductress in a leopard-print tank, Jazmine Leon, DC '03, takes center-stage to bask in their fawning attentions. Humor balances out the self-consciously stylized theme—whether it's Baldwin's quirky facial expressions or a group of boys at the front of the stage wrapping their heads in towels, peasant-style, the number demands laughs.

The group's cohesiveness and technical skill provide the foundation for "Army," choreographed by Kim. A group of dancers in black shirts and camo pants rivals Marine Corps precision with fast-paced, coordinated movements. Peter Shanley's, DC '03, motions, with an undertone of rolling, smooth grace, distinguish him from the rest of the troops.

In terms of entertainment value, "Hot Like Fire" scorches. But as exciting as it is to watch 15 sets of arms, legs, and heads moving in unison, it's even more thrilling to see dance solos. Too many big group numbers dilute individual talents.

So if you've got the blues (or even if you haven't), head over to the Rhythmic Blues show for a quick fix. All the tight bodies and bare midriffs are nature's alternative to Prozac.

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