"The Joy List" by Collide Theatrical at Luminary Arts Center

Collide Theatrical Dance Company's new original jazz dance musical is inspired by the British play Every Brilliant Thing, of which I saw two local productions in 2021, and is now having its Broadway premiere (starring a little-known actor called Daniel Radcliffe). It's a beautiful and bittersweet solo play, in which the narrator tells the story of his life, including past and present traumas, all while constructing a list of "every brilliant thing" he encounters, or in this version, a "joy list." As usual, Collide has expertly transformed this narrative story into one told primarily through dance, and captures that beautiful and bittersweet feeling in about 75 minutes. Coming out of a difficult winter (for multiple reasons), it's good to be reminded of the little and big things that bring us joy, but also that we can't fully appreciate the joy until we acknowledge and deal with the pain. The Joy List continues at Luminary Arts Center through April 12.

"Little Women" by Collide Theatrical Dance Company at Luminary Arts Center

Louisa May Alcott's beloved 19th Century novel Little Women has been adapted countless times on stage and screen. There are TV miniseries, multiple movies, and several stage adaptations (including by two of America's most produced playwrights, Kate Hamill, commissioned by Jungle Theater, and Lauren Gunderson, coming to the Guthrie this spring). There's even a (not very successful) musical! It seems we just can't get enough of this story of four very different but ultimately loving sisters as they forge their own paths in life. And now we have a new adaptation to add to the list - Collide Theatrical Dance Company's dance piece. Collide has been creating original dance musicals for 13 years, sometimes adaptations, sometimes original stories, always gorgeously choreographed and performed, telling a story theatrically with few words. For their Little Women adaptation, director/ creator/ choreographer Regina Peluso has chosen to give Jo all of the narration and dialogue duties, with the bulk of the story told through dance, which works remarkably well since Jo is the writer telling her family's story. This Little Women is beautiful storytelling that conveys all of the emotions of Alcott's novel. And as it turns out, even (or maybe especially) when this story is told primarily through movement and dance, it still makes me cry. Only six performances remain through this Sunday, so head to Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis' North Loop neighborhood to spend a little time with the March sisters in a whole new way.

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

Just in time for spooky season, Collide Theatrical Dance Company is debuting a new original dance musical based on the original Dracula novel by Bram Stoker. In 2016 they did a version of Dracula set in the modern world, but this is a wholly new production that interprets the novel through the character of Mina, best friend of one of Dracula's victims Lucy. The story is told through voiceover, in which we hear Mina's thoughts and experiences (voiced by Becca Hart), but primarily through dance. A fantastic troupe of ten dancers, performing to recorded tracks of a couple dozen perfectly chosen pop songs, make this iconic story feel new and fun and thrilling. I attended their first preview performance, but the show is already very smooth and polished. Dracula continues Thursdays through Sundays until November 9, including Halloween night, and is a great way to get into the spirit of the season.

"Romeo & Juliet" by Collide Theatrical at Luminary Arts Center

My second Romeo and Juliet of Valentine's Day Weekend (and my 17th lifetime), was a steampunk dance version. And there's no one I would trust to do a steampunk dance version of this classic tragic love story other than Collide Theatrical. They first interpreted R&J in 2014, with two actors reciting some of the dialogue interspersed with dance scenes, which didn't always work. At the time I wrote, "I would love to see them go all the way with the concept and tell the story strictly through dance with little to no dialogue." And that's what they've done here, to great effect. (They also did a version of this show in February 2020 but I missed it, I guess I was too busy in those blissful pre-pan days.) After a bit of an introduction, we're off on the dance train, with the main plot points clearly told through movement and dance (it probably helps that the story is so familiar). Collide's Romeo & Juliet plays for one more weekend at the gorgeous Luminary Arts Center. And if you're on the fence about whether or not to see this oft told story again, here are ten reasons you should.