Thriller 2022

I have been attending Odyssey Dance Theatre's annual Halloween dance extravaganza Thriller for the past fifteen years and it has always been one of my favorite Halloween traditions.  However, Derryl Yeager, the founder and artistic director of ODT, is retiring so this year's production will be the final one.  Since I won't be able to see it again I enjoyed it even more than usual last night and so did the loud and enthusiastic crowd at Kingsbury Hall!  There weren't any new dance numbers but that didn't really matter because I felt very nostalgic about all of my old favorites.  I looked forward with great anticipation to seeing the undead cavorting in a graveyard in "Thriller," a breakdancing mummy and his maidens in "Curse of the Mummy," misbehaving pandas during their first recital in "Miss Alli's Nightmare," a Pas de Deux gone horribly wrong in "Frankenstein & Frankenstein," tap dancing skeletons in "Dem Bones," schoolgirls who are possessed by porcelain dolls in "Annabelle of the Ball," a trio of Jasons wielding a variety of weapons (including chainsaws) in "Jason Jam," scarecrows that are not what they seem in "Children of the Corn," a coven of condemned witches seeking vengeance from beyond the grave in "Salem's Mass" (my favorite number in the show), demonic dolls in "Chucky-Rama," acrobatic vampires in "Lost Boys," and a costume parade in "Trick or Treat."  Every one of these numbers put a huge smile on my face and I think "Jason Jam" was even funnier than usual!  Once again the artists from Aeris Aerial Arts performed "Siren of the Sea," "Phantom of the Opera," "Full Moon," and "Slytherin" and these numbers were so much fun to watch because I have no idea how they do what they do!  My favorite was "Full Moon" which involved a group of six artists costumed as wolves and one as Little Red Riding Hood performing on a spinning globe.  Finally, I was so happy to see the return of Bubbles the Clown (he is hilarious) in between the numbers!  I had so much fun last night (as well as at every performance through the years) and, if you have never seen it before, I highly recommend getting a ticket before it is too late!  It runs at Kingsbury Hall through October 22 and at Tuacahn through October 31 (go here for tickets).

Riverdance at the Eccles

I was able to see Riverdance many years ago at Kingsbury Hall and I remember thinking that it was absolutely spectacular.  The show is once again on tour with a new production commemorating its 25th Anniversary and I was able to see it last night at the Eccles Theatre.  I really loved the dancing, which was amazing, but I was a little bit underwhelmed with the performance as a whole.  The show features stylized Irish step dancing that is incredibly energetic and so much fun to watch with high kicks, leaps across the stage, and instantly recognizable poses.  I especially loved it whenever the dancers would get in a line and kick in unison!  There is a story loosely connecting all of the dances together with narration, lighting, and dramatic projections and this focuses on nature in the first act and migration in the second.  I particularly liked "Reel Around the Sun," "The Countess Cathleen," "Thunderstorm," "Firedance," "Riverdance," "Anna Livia," and "Home and the Heartland."  I also really enjoyed seeing the addition of flamenco dancing in "Andalucia" and Russian dancing in "Macedonian Morning" and "Russian Dervish."  However, my favorite number of the night was "Trading Taps" which is basically an epic dance off between tap dancers and step dancers and it was amazing.  The dancers in the troupe are insanely talented, especially the lead dancers Amy-Mae Dolan and James Greenan.  There are musical numbers between each of the dances featuring the bodhran, fiddle, saxophone, and uilleann pipes and, while the performers are incredibly talented, I found these interludes to be a bit boring after a while.  I tend to grow weary of long improvisational solos (even at rock concerts) and whenever the musicians were on stage I kept wishing that the dancers would come back soon.  I don't remember these "filler" numbers in the original production but, to be fair, it was a long time ago.  I enjoyed the show but I wish that there had been more dancing in Riverdance.  The run at the Eccles ended last night but the production will be touring around the country through the summer and, if it comes to a city near you, I recommend it.

Ballet West's Romeo and Juliet

When I subscribed to Ballet West's 2021-2022 season, Romeo and Juliet was the ballet I was most excited to see and it certainly lived up to my expectations last night!  It was absolutely beautiful!  This ballet tells the well-known story of star-crossed lovers by William Shakespeare with music composed by Sergei Prokofiev and choreography by Michael Smuin.  I loved everything about it starting with the music.  The themes played during the Capulet's ball are incredibly dramatic and the variation played when Romeo and Juliet first see each other is haunting.  The choreography is absolutely riveting, especially the ensemble scenes on the streets of Verona because they are so playful and fun to watch, the sword fights between the Montagues and Capulets because they are tense and passionate, and the pas de deux between Romeo and Juliet because, not only are they incredibly romantic, they are also quite acrobatic (she leaps into his arms multiple times and at one point he lifts her effortlessly above his head).  The performances are simply brilliant!  I was particularly struck by the death of Tybalt (Rex Tilton) because Lady Capulet (Emily Adams) is filled with palpable despair and climbs on to his funeral bier as it is taken away.  It is a powerful scene.  I also enjoyed Hadriel Diniz as Mercutio because he is so charismatic, especially when he kisses a girl as he is dying.  Chase O'Connell, as Romeo, and Beckanne Sisk, as Juliet, dance their roles beautifully and their chemistry is off the charts (they are a real-life couple).  The balcony scene is beautiful and I loved it when he would fall at her feet and clutch her skirt to his face.  So romantic!  The sets and costumes really add to the drama.  I let out an audible gasp when the Capulet's crypt was revealed because it is so dramatic with gray marble, an iron gate, and black robed dancers carrying lanterns all around Juliet's bier.  I also liked the chapel where Romeo and Juliet are married because it looks like a Renaissance painting.  The Capulets are all dressed in various shades of red while the Montagues are in blue and this is especially impressive when the two families collide with each other.  This is a stunning production that kept me captivated from beginning to end and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets).

Thriller 2021

I have been attending Odyssey Dance Theatre's Halloween extravaganza Thriller for years and years and it is always so much fun!  It is one of my favorite Halloween traditions!  I was able to see this year's production at Kingsbury Hall (it is being performed in six different venues) last night and I loved it!  I (along with the rowdy and enthusiastic crowd) always look forward with great anticipation to all of the old favorites, including the undead cavorting in a graveyard in "Thriller," a breakdancing mummy and his maidens in "Curse of the Mummy," misbehaving pandas in "Miss Alli's Nightmare," a Pas de Deux gone horribly wrong in "Frankenstein & Frankenstein" (I am always amazed at how flexible the Bride of Frankenstein is in this number), glow in the dark tap dancing skeletons in "Dem Bones," a trio of Jasons who wield various weapons in "Jason Jam" (this gets funnier every year), scarecrows that are not what they seem in "Children of the Corn," a coven of condemned witches seeking vengeance from beyond the grave in "Salem's Mass" (my favorite number in the show), acrobatic vampires in "Lost Boys," and a costume parade in "Trick or Treat."  I am also very eager to see if there are any new numbers in the show and this year there was one called "Annabelle at the Ball."  This involved dancing porcelain dolls inhabited by spirits summoned by a group of schoolgirls and it was really creepy when the lights came on to reveal the dolls in the audience!  As in year's past, artists from Aeris Aerial Arts performed in between the numbers and they were absolutely amazing.  In addition to "Siren of the Sea" and "Phantom of the Opera," which were performed last year, this year included a group of six artists costumed as wolves and one as Little Red Riding Hood performing on a spinning globe in "Full Moon" and two artists costumed as snakes performing on silks in "Slytherin." I have no idea how these aerialists do what they do!  My only complaint with this year's show was the return of Giggle Girl and her comedy routine in between the numbers.  I think she is so annoying and I wish they would bring back Bubbles the Clown!  Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this show and I highly recommend adding Thriller to your list of Halloween traditions (go here for information, venues, and tickets).

Note:  This year marked the return of the undead who wander the aisles before the show.  Do not make eye contact with them!  Trust me on this!

Ballet West's Nine Sinatra Songs

One of the last performances that I attended at Capitol Theatre before everything was canceled and everyone went on lockdown was Ballet West's beautiful production of Giselle so I was especially happy to be back there yesterday afternoon for another Ballet West production.  I found Nine Sinatra Songs to be incredibly moving and I absolutely loved all three pieces.  The program began with the world premiere of Tides, a ballet commissioned by Ballet West featuring choreography by Jennifer Archibald and traditional music that is almost primal.  Several different groupings of dancers, both soloists and couples, form intricate patterns pushing and pulling against each other which represent the complicated ebb and flow of human history.  The backdrop alternates between blinking stars in a night sky, the rising and setting sun, and then back to the stars again and the costumes mimic the ocean.  I really liked the athleticism of the choreography and the timeliness of the theme.  The second piece was another world premiere by Ballet West's Resident Choreographer, Nicolo Fonte, called Faraway Close.  This is another powerful commentary on our times with various groups of dancers downstage and other groups of dancers on an elevated platform behind a scrim upstage.  The dancers upstage sometimes mimic those downstage and sometimes they move in opposition to or in reaction to the movements of the dancers downstage.  I loved the imagery of finding a way to connect with people even when you are physically separated and I loved the evocative music by Harry Escott and Max Richter.  Katlyn Addison is one of my favorite dancers in the company so it was nice to see her featured in this piece.  I was particularly excited for the final piece, Nine Sinatra Songs, because I was a little bit obsessed with Frank Sinatra when I was in my late twenties.  His music is used by choreographer Twyla Tharp to showcase various types of relationships through the medium of ballroom dancing.  Emily Adams and Beau Pearson portray glamour and romance in "Softly As I Leave You," Victoria Vassos and Hadriel Diniz portray seduction in "Strangers in the Night," Beckanne Sisk and Chase O'Connell portray the bittersweet end of a relationship in "One For My Baby," Lillian Casscells and Beau Chesivoir portray the awkward nervousness of first love in "Somethin' Stupid," Jordan Richardson and Adrian Fry portray abiding love in "All the Way," Olivia Gusti and Tyler Gum portray a playful fling in "Forget Domani," Beckanne Sisk and Chase O'Connell portray love on the rocks in "That's Life" (my favorite), and all of the couples are featured in two different versions of "My Way" to showcase the ultimate power of love.  I loved the costumes by Oscar de la Renta and I was very impressed by the ability of the dancers to convey so many emotions with just movement (they were all wearing masks so they couldn't rely on facial expressions).  All of these pieces emphasize the importance of connection during difficult times and I thoroughly enjoyed them.  I highly recommend this production which runs at Capitol Theatre through November 15.  Go here for ticket information (many performances are sold out but a matinee performance has been added recently). 

Thriller 2020

One of my favorite Halloween traditions is seeing a performance of ODT's dance extravaganza Thriller.  With so many things being canceled because of Covid-19 I was so happy to learn that this year's show was still going to happen!  It moved from Kingsbury Hall to Capitol Theatre, which is a much bigger venue, and all of the usual protocols (socially distant seating, contactless ticketing, digital programs, and mandatory masks) were in place.  The show was a bit scaled down without an intermission and the performers wore masks on stage.  Even though the audience was smaller than the usual sold-out crowd, we cheered in anticipation for every familiar number including the undead cavorting in a graveyard to Michael Jackson's iconic song "Thriller," a breakdancing mummy and his maidens in "Curse of the Mummy," a Pas de Deux gone horribly wrong in "Frankenstein & Frankenstein," a group of misbehaving pandas in "Miss Alli's Nightmare," tap dancing skeletons in "Dem Bones," a trio of weapon wielding Jasons in "Jason Jam" (an audience favorite), scarecrows that are not what they seem in "Children of the Corn," a coven of condemned witches seeking vengeance from beyond the grave in "Salem's Mass" (my favorite number), acrobatic vampires in "Lost Boys," and a costume parade in "Trick or Treat."  As in year's past, artists from Aeris Aerial Arts performed several numbers in between the dances including "Siren of the Sea" and "Phantom of the Opera" (which was amazing).  There were also several original films by Scott Winn featuring twerking stormtroopers and dancing Orcs.  This year, unfortunately, also featured the return of Giggle Girl's (Emily Perucca) comedy act in between numbers.  I think she is really annoying (where is Bubbles the Clown?).  Many of the numbers are performed year after year and I always enjoy seeing all of the subtle changes in the choreography.  This year there were a few humorous references to Covid-19!  One of Miss Alli's misbehaving pandas refused to keep his mask on and one of the Jasons put a mask on (over his hockey mask), used hand sanitizer, and used an infrared thermometer to find someone from the audience to participate on stage.  I think I enjoyed the show more than usual this year because I was so happy to be able to see it!  It just wouldn't be Halloween without it.  There are three more performances at Capitol Theatre (go here) and I highly recommend getting a ticket!

Note:  I usually spend my time trying to avoid eye contact with the undead who roam the aisles before the show but this year they stayed in their graves because of Covid-19.  I kind of missed them!

Thriller 2019

It has been a long and stressful week so I was really happy to be able to relax and attend Odyssey Dance Theatre's production of Thriller last night.  This Halloween themed dance extravaganza is one of my favorite traditions and I look forward to it all year.  Sometimes I think that maybe I don't need to see it every year because I've seen it so many times but, as I sit in the audience anticipating each dance, I know that I would feel really sad if I missed it.  It seems like everyone in the audience feels the same way that I do because they cheered out loud at the beginning of all the old favorites, including the undead cavorting in a graveyard to Michael Jackson's iconic song "Thriller," a breakdancing mummy and his maidens in "Curse of the Mummy," misbehaving pandas in "Miss Alli's Nighmare," a Pas de Deux gone horribly wrong in "Frankenstein & Frankenstein," tap dancing skeletons in "Dem Bones," a trio of chainsaw wielding Jasons in "Jason Jam" (an audience favorite), scarecrows that are not what they seem in "Children of the Corn," a coven of witches seeking vengeance from beyond the grave in "Salem's Mass" (my favorite number), demonic dolls in "Chucky-Rama," and acrobatic vampires in "Lost Boys."  It is always really fun to see subtle differences in the choreography or in the staging year after year and I love seeing returning members of the company.  This year there were also some new dances including a dance-off between dinosaurs in "Dino Dance," demonic possession in "Annabelle of the Ball," a tap dancer at odds with himself in "Jekyll & Hyde," and a costume parade in "Trick or Treat."  For the past several years there have also been performances by the artists of Aeris Aerial Arts in between the dance numbers.  They were all spectacular but my favorites were "Full Moon," with seven aerialists performing on a spinning globe, and "Phantom of the Opera," with two aerialists performing as the Phantom and Christine Daae on silks.  I really don't know how they can make their bodies do what they do!  I had so much fun last night and I highly recommend getting a ticket to one of the few remaining shows (go here).  Whether you have never seen the show before or whether you go every year like me, you are sure to be impressed by the talented dancers of ODT!

Thriller 2018

I have not been doing very well with my fall bucket list because I have only checked off two items!  Now that I am on fall break I'm sure that I can get a few more items checked off during the long weekend.  I started with ODT's production of Thriller last night.  This Halloween-themed dance extravaganza is one of my very favorite holiday traditions and I have been looking forward to it all month!  Even though I have seen most of the dances more times than I can count I really love the the old favorites including the undead cavorting in a graveyard to Michael Jackson’s iconic song “Thriller,” a breakdancing mummy and his maidens in “Curse of the Mummy,” a Pas de Deux gone horribly wrong in “Frankenstein & Frankenstein,” tap dancing skeletons in "Dem Bones," a trio of chainsaw wielding Jasons in "Jason Jam," scarecrows that are not what they seem in "Children of the Corn," a coven of witches seeking vengeance from beyond the grave in "Salem's Mass," demonic dolls in "Chucky-Rama," acrobatic vampires in "Lost Boys," and doomed Irish dancers in "River of Blood Dance."  I eagerly anticipate every dance, especially the opening number, "Salem's Mass," and "Lost Boys."  This year there were several new numbers performed by the dancers in Odyssey 2.  My favorite was a high-flying Harry Potter in "Dementor's Kiss."  Like last year, there were several numbers in between the dances performed by the artists from Aeris Aerial Arts.  They were all very cool but my favorite was "Full Moon" featuring seven aerialists performing on a giant spinning globe.  I didn't really like the comedy act of Giggle Girl because she was super annoying (where is Bubbles the Clown?) but I loved everything else and I had so much fun at this show!  It just wouldn't be Halloween without it!  This show runs at Kingsbury Hall and many other venues throughout Utah and Idaho until Oct. 30 (go here for tickets and information).

Note:  If you go to the show and see any of the undead roaming about, do not make eye contact!  Trust me on this!

Thriller 2017

I love rituals and traditions.  In a world that seems to be full of chaos it is really nice to have something that you can count on and look forward to!  I have recently purchased tickets to quite a few seasonal performances and I have already started looking forward to them.  One such performance occurred last night after putting in a long and difficult week at school finishing up the first quarter (students only care about their grade during the last week of the quarter).  It was exactly what I needed!  In my opinion, it simply wouldn't be Halloween if I didn't get to see Odyssey Dance Theatre's production of Thriller.  The fact that I have seen this show so many times adds to, rather than detracts from, my enjoyment because I anticipate each number as I watch!  I love when the undead begin cavorting in a graveyard during "Thriller," when the break-dancing mummy comes to life in "Curse of the Mummy," when the uncooperative pandas begin acting up in "Miss Alli's Nighmare," when Frankenstein breaks his Bride's neck in "Frankenstein & Frankenstein," when the tap-dancing skeletons start tossing their heads around in "Dem Bones," when a trio of Jasons get crazy with their chainsaws in "Jason Jam," when the scarecrows come to life in "Children of the Corn," when condemned witches come back for revenge in "Salem's Mass," when a group of chucky dolls come to life in "Chucky-Rama," and when acrobatic vampires spin and leap in "Lost Boys."  Even though the numbers are the same from year to year, there always seems to be some new choreography or special effects to keep them interesting.  This year, in addition to the hilarious films of Scott Winn (the twerking stormtroopers are my favorite) in between numbers, there were some amazing aerial numbers choreographed by Aeris Aerial Arts.  I absolutely loved "Bats in a Box" which featured between four and six aerialists performing on a spinning steel box.  It was fabulous and I may or may not have said "Wow" out loud multiple times!  I also really liked "Phantom of the Opera" which featured two aerialists performing on a rope (it reminded me of Cirque de Soleil).  It is such a fun and exuberant show and I highly recommend getting at ticket (there are four more performances at Kingsbury Hall) which may be purchased here.

Note:  I have been attending this concert for twenty years!  I remember the first concert distinctly because I had just started teaching at Westminster College in 1997 and I ran into two of my students.  Last night I only saw one of my HHS students!

Thriller 2016

For some reason I haven't done very many Halloween-themed activities this year.  However, one Halloween tradition that I always try to uphold is seeing Odyssey Dance Theatre's production of Thriller.  I successfully avoided the undead (don't make eye contact!) as I made my way to my seat at Kingsbury Hall last Monday night and I thoroughly enjoyed the show, as I always do.  Even though I have seen this Halloween dance extravaganza more times than I can count, I always look forward to it and anticipate every single dance as the show progresses!  I love the undead cavorting in a graveyard in "Thriller," (the dramatic opening number) the break dancing mummy and his maidens in "Curse of the Mummy," the three year old pandas in "Miss Alli's Nightmare," a pas de deux gone horribly wrong in "Frankenstein & Frankenstein," tap dancing skeletons in "Dem Bones," a trio of Jasons wielding assorted weaponry in "Jason Jam," scarecrows who are not what they seam in "Children of the Corn," a group of voodoo priestesses in "Servant of the Spirits," condemned witches who return for revenge in "Salem's Mass," (my favorite number) a group of malevolent dolls in "Chucky-Rama," acrobatic vampires in "Lost Boys," and high stepping Irish lasses in "River of Blood Dance." As each number began, the audience would cheer wildly which made the experience even more fun.  It simply would not be Halloween without Thriller!  You can purchase tickets to this show, which is performed in various venues around Utah, by going here.

Note:  I also really enjoyed the films by Scott Winn which were shown in between the numbers, featuring twerking Stormtroopers, the crew from the Starship Enterprise in a dance-off, and a group of Orcs getting down.

Gwinna

Yesterday I went with my family to watch Tashena dance in CDT's production of Gwinna at Capitol Theatre.  The production, based on the children's book of the same name by Barbara Helen Berger, tells the story of a little girl who has wings but doesn't know that she can fly.  A woodworker and his wife want a child desperately and ask the Mother of the Owls to help them.  She promises them a child but they must let her go when she turns twelve.  The couple agrees but when their child, Gwinna, develops wings, they bind them up so she can't leave them.  Gwinna hears a melody that only she can hear and it frightens her parents.  When Mother Owl calls her home her parents try to stop her but they are turned to stone.  When Mother Owl learns that Gwinna can hear the music, she sends her in search of it.  With the help of a griffin Gwinna finds Druantia, the guardian of the trees, who tells her that her song has been forgotten and that she must bring it back to the world.  Gwinna builds a harp and the wind teaches her how to play it.  She flies back to her parents and brings them back to life by playing her harp.  I really liked the story, the choreography, and the music.  The costumes were really beautiful, especially all of the owls and their wings.

Tashena's dance (which was at the end!) was called "Wind in the Harp" and I thought it was very elegant and graceful.  My favorite part of the choreography was when Tashena had a very dramatic leap to mimic the wind.  I always love watching Tashena on stage because she expresses everything she feels through dance.

Tashena did such a good job and we are so proud of her!

Gwinna will be performed once again at the Sandy Amphitheater on June 21 (a free concert) and at the Utah Arts Festival on June 25.  Come see my beautiful and talented niece perform.

The Three Questions

Crumb and the Pirates

Thriller 2015

One of my favorite Halloween traditions is seeing Thriller performed by Odyssey Dance Theatre.  I've been going to this dance concert for years and years and I always look forward to it.  Just like The Nutcracker at Christmas time, I anticipate every dance even though I've seen them countless times!  The concert always begins with the undead cavorting in a graveyard to Michael Jackson's iconic song, "Thriller."  Speaking of the undead, they roam the aisles of Kingsbury Hall before the concert and they usually leave me alone because I don't make eye contact with them.  Last night they targeted me for some reason (maybe because I was on the front row?).  I loved the breakdancing mummy in "The Curse of the Mummy," the Pas de Deux gone horribly wrong in "Frankenstein & Frankenstein," the tap dancing skeletons in "Dem Bones," the trio of Jasons with their knives and swords and chainsaws (oh, my!) in "Jason Jam," the scarecrows who come to life in "Children of the Corn," the condemned witches who return for revenge in "Salem's Mass," the acrobatic vampires in "The Lost Boys," and the doomed Irish dancers in "River of Blood Dance."  There were also a few new surprises this year which were a lot of fun.  All of the dancers are amazing and the show is incredibly entertaining and fun to watch.  It just wouldn't be Halloween without it!  Thriller is being performed in multiple venues around Utah through Oct. 31.  Go here for tickets and more information.

Crumb and the Pirates

Yesterday Tashena performed at the Capitol Theatre with Children's Dance Theatre (CDT) in their production of Crumb and the Pirates.  I really love that Tashena performs on the same stage as prima ballerinas and Broadway stars!  My entire family went to support her (as we do every year).  While I really enjoy watching Tashena play sports, I especially love watching her perform on stage!  She is such a beautiful dancer and I think she expresses everything she feels through dance.  Tashena was on the CDT Dancers' Council this year so she got to perform in an extra dance called "Silver."  It was very beautiful with original music composed specifically for it by Wachira Waigwa-Stone.  Crumb and the Pirates tells the story of a fishing village in Napoli.  After being caught in a terrible storm, many fishermen from the village are presumed dead.  A young boy named Crumb thinks that his father, one of the missing fishermen, is still alive and decides to borrow a boat and look for him.  As he is fishing, he feels a tug on his pole so he reels in his line only to discover that he has brought a sunken pirate ship, with a group of prisoners in the hold, to the surface.  Captain Rafael the Red decides to follow Crumb back to Napoli and the pirates wreak havoc on the village.  When Rafael decides to marry his mother, Marie, Crumb comes up with a plan to banish the pirates back to the sea but not before discovering the mystery in the ship's hold!  I really enjoyed this story and all of the dances, especially the pirates, the prisoners, and the little girls who portrayed seagulls!  Tashena's dance was "Fog" which was very mysterious and atmospheric.  The dancers wore gray tunics and they moved in and out of actual fog on the stage.  The dancers seemed to disappear at times!  A lot of the choreography involved rolling and tumbling across the stage which I thought was very effective at simulating how fog moves.  Tashena was amazing!  I always get a tear in my eye watching her!

Crumb and the Pirates will be performed once again at the Sandy Amphitheater on June 23 (a free concert) and at the Utah Arts Festival on June 27.  Come see my beautiful and talented niece perform!

Note:  CDT is the performing arm of the Tanner Dance Program at the University of Utah.  Go here for more information.

Thriller 2014

I really love Halloween and one of my favorite Halloween traditions is to see Odyssey Dance Theatre's production of Thriller.  I've been going for years and it just wouldn't be Halloween without it!  Last night was opening night at Kingsbury Hall in SLC (the show is also touring all over Utah this month) and I was happy to see all of my old favorites, as well as a few new surprises.  The dance extravaganza features the undead cavorting in a graveyard, break-dancing mummies,  a pas de deux gone horribly wrong between Frankenstein and his bride, tap dancing skeletons, a trio of Jasons jamming with assorted weaponry, scarecrows who are not what they seem, condemned witches who come back from the dead for revenge (my favorite number), frolicking Chucky dolls, acrobatic vampires, and gunned down Irish dancers.  All of the dancers in the company are amazing and this show is definitely a crowd-pleaser, especially "Jason Jam."  I had a great time, as always, and I highly recommend seeing Thriller for a fun night out.  It runs until Nov. 1 at Kingsbury Hall.  Go here for tickets and information about the various touring locations and dates.

Note:  If you should happen to see any of the undead wandering about, do not make eye contact with them!  Trust me on this!

The Three Questions

Several weeks ago Children's Dance Theatre (CDT), the performing arm of the University of Utah Tanner Dance Program, presented The Three Questions at the Capitol Theatre.  It was a retelling of a story by Leo Tolstoy in which the son of the Emperor of China must learn to rule wisely after his father is murdered.  When he is eighteen, the council asks him three questions to determine if he is fit to rule:  What is the right thing to do?  When is the best time to do it?  Who is the most important one?  Each dance was an interpretation of his quest to find the answers to these questions and the program was simply beautiful.  My very favorite dance was actually Tashena's dance (which, believe it or not, is not always the case).  Her dance was entitled "Childhood Lost" and the music and choreography evoked such a sense of longing that I actually had tears in my eyes!  I also thought the costumes were amazing because they seemed to shimmer with each movement (Tashena thought they were heavy).  I absolutely love watching Tashena on stage because she is such a beautiful dancer and my entire family was so proud of her!

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Note:  I have to brag a little more about this beautiful and talented girl!  In addition to being a dancer, she is also a three sport athlete!  She played volleyball and basketball this year and yesterday was her first track meet.  She threw the discus 89 feet 11 inches which shattered the school record.  Her coach thinks she is well on her way to breaking the district and state records.  The other coaches can't believe she is a seventh grader!  We already knew that she was amazing!