Dancing In The Light

Bang!

The speakers blast out a RnB rap hit, dazzling lights explode, flicker, change colour and bop around, several machines squeeze and gush smoke from the back, front and sides. Everything is glitzy, sensual, exposing! Three virile and shirtless male performers take centre stage and dance in unison as two appetising girls scramble up two six-metre-high scaffolds, on the side of the stage, mount their limbs on the white steel pipes and leap from the top. From the back, two female performers start to sing and a third pole dances. And whala, success, all eight performers are scrummaging the nether regions of every audience member who is cheering them on. Whoo!

How the hell did I end up here?

There are times during certain shows when I wonder how the hell I ended up here. This was exactly the case on the night I watched Gorgilicious. And this write-up doesn't fit the vibe of my other reviews.. If I can borrow a quote from one of my past articles, that sums it up best: "It stands out like a black person at a Fokofpolisiekar gig."

The words found herein were wished and slightly pained for, but I do consider them an apt description of the show. And there is a noteworthy performance that crossed that line between make or break, that gave this show its magical peak and for me a reason to write about it.

Bursting with energy and oozing sensuality

Firstly, here's what the makers would like you to know: Gorgilicious is a cabaret bursting with energy and oozing sensuality, and is physical celebration of music through dance. The show has been directed, produced and choreographed by Ashleigh Moore, who has designed a visual feast with a cirque feel. A dynamic cast of young, talented and gorgeous performers who incorporate different dance forms and vocals along a set list of popular favourites from Rihanna, Adele, Pink, Kate Perry, Björk, Beyonce, Madonna, Marilyn Manson and AC/DC. And that it's taking place at Grand West Casino.

Here's what you should know: All the songs are redone, not merely played from the discs they were found on, and the genres often lean on deep house, late rave and techno beats and bleeps. Ashleigh Moore's best work has been for Coca-Cola during the World Cup, the BMW X6, and the PSL football league. Gorgilicious' closely relates Grand West's personality and vibe. Thus it can be assumed, and it does seem close to the truth, that the show was commissioned and briefed by the casino. There's nothing wrong with that, but it explains a lot about what to expect. The overall experience is very Vegas showbiz, executed with faux-Mavericks finesse.

Extremely revealing wardrobe

The wardrobe is glitz and glam; extremely revealing and considered to be expensive (an online site estimates some of the dresses to be more than one thousand rand a piece). The lights are blinding, the sound deafening, everything is loud, proud and gorgeous.

But attractive bodies and sensual performances can only do so much, and the eccentricities are out of place certain times. One emotional love song, sung by an attractive long-legged blond wearing a pink diamond-encrusted mini, is like watching a prostitute who got her heart broken. And the exact same can be experienced by sitting inside any RnB hip hop club - it's been a happening event every weekend since the late 90s. But Gorgilicious has its moment, and it came in the form of a ballad.

More than the sum of its parts

The noise subsided, the dancers disappeared, and the lights were switched off - except for one bright white spotlight that remained fixed on the staircase at the back of the stage. Lead performer and vocalists, Lindiwe McClinton Rose, walked on, sat down and then: it was only her voice, an instrument and that light - that intensely bright white-grey barrel with her shadowy silhouette that kept filling up with smoke. I forgot what she wore, when she came on and when she left. I forgot the whole damn show. I just listened. No more live nudes, Vegas lights and casinos. This was more than the sum of its parts.

Rose has an incredible grip on Soul, she can bend notes, go high and just sound like herself and, at the same time, exactly what you're looking for: a simple melody that's nothing fancy, nothing much, but the kind that makes you yearn a cigarette and an old-fashioned affair. Thank you Lindiwe. If you want, you can be a successful musician by yourself or in a band. Contact me, if you have any desire to do so. Just stay in that spotlight.

Overall, everyone appeared well rehearsed. And the night prior to this review, one male dancer injured himself, and was substituted by Ambrose Uren - a skilful hip hop dancer, who also sang and did a duet alongside Rose. I didn't know of any performers being replaced until after the show, when I was told. Awesome.

All just song and dance

But ultimately, this show is not progressive, it lacks theatrics, there is no story anyone is trying to tell, it's all just song and dance - but perhaps that is the point. It is just frivolous fun. They say art is defined by having no function other than being art. But compare Gorgilicious to Romance-S, another dance performance I covered earlier this year - titled Dancing in The Dark.

Gorgilicious was completed in only three weeks - I can say it's no excuse for any and all obvious mistakes, but I won't, because the show is what is. In the end, the only improvement that can reach a general consensus between, Ashleigh, the audience and I, is that this show needs a bigger hall. Roxy Revue is too intimate.

If you enjoy this sort of thing, go see it. And if you have any regrets during the performance, you can always just stare at the pretty people on stage.

Gorgilicious runs at the Roxy Revue Bara at Grandwest Casino till the 29 October, 2011, Wednesday to Saturday. The show starts at 8.30pm. Tickets are available from Computicket at R67 each.