"Hollywood" by Collide Theatrical Dance Company at Luminary Arts Center

Collide Theatrical Dance Company is opening their 13th season of dance storytelling with Hollywood, inspired by iconic dances from movies. But because this is Collide, they're not just recreating our favorite dances (which would still be a fun show), they're telling a story about a troupe of movie dancers whose careers are on the line. It's a pretty light story, but it works well as a framing device, and adds some humor and behind-the-scenes drama. For more intense storytelling, stay tuned for their original jazz dance musicals based on The Scarlet Letter (hmmm, do I need to add to my theater-inspired reading list?) and Sherlock Holmes. But for now, head to Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood to watch some incredible dancing wrapped up in a story that comments on the way we consume art in the modern era, through October 25 only. 

The show opens with a troupe of dancers preparing to film for a movie, when the director (played by Bella West) receives word that the producers have pulled funding, because there's no money to be made in movie musicals; consumers would rather watch YouTube and TikTok. With the encouragement of the assistant director (played by Noah Coon) and the dancers, she decides to film a bunch of iconic dance scenes from movie history, to try to persuade the producers to change their minds. Thus begins a frantic night of dancing, filming, changing costumes, messing up, and doing it all again. In some of the numbers the dancers intentionally mess up to show that this is a spontaneous in-process thing, or they accidentally get in the shot, or show up in a dance they're not supposed to be a part of. It adds another layer of fun and interest and storytelling on top of the dancing.

And the dancing is, as always, gorgeous and impressive and so much fun to watch. This ten-person company (including the above plus Kenny Bieschke, Jarod Boltjes, Johanna Engebretson, Elayna Sitzman, Olivia Thornton, and apprentices Erin Clementich, Venecia Salas, and Anabel Talmage) are all fantastic dancers, and also create specific characters throughout the show (and call each other by their real names). They also all assisted director/creator/choreographer Regina Peluso with the choreography (Noah and Erin are credited with the tap choreography and the characters they play are so excited to perform it). But none of the choreography is simply lifted from the movies, rather it's original choreography inspired by or in the style of the movie being referenced.

And wow, are there a lot of movies referenced! There are almost two dozen numbers listed in the program, but several are medleys, including the finale that includes snippets of at least a dozen movies. From early 20th century movies, to movies from this century, pretty much everything is covered (including two of my favorite movie musicals, West Side Story and Dirty Dancing). And almost every number has a new costume - from glamourous gold gowns, to basic black for the jazz medley, to gingham dresses for the tongue-in-cheek Rodgers and Hammerstein, to blue jeans and white tank tops for West Side Story.

If you love movie musicals, or just dancing in general, you will love Hollywood. It's like Dancing with the Stars, but live and in person, and without the celebrities who can't dance and the pros who make inappropriate jokes on social media.