The show is called “Broadway With a Twist,” but Music In Motion might use another title for its dance spectacle – Funky Broadway.
Jim Caisse is the co-director and choreographer for the dancing showcase, Feb. 13-15 at 7 p.m. in Savannah Center. It features over 50 Villagers, including nearly 10 singers and a couple surprise guests.
Proceeds will benefit Hospice, and Alzheimer’s Association.
The goal is take some well-known Broadway songs and, in a way, turn them inside out. That includes everything from “La Cage,” to “Man of La Mancha.”
Watch video of the group’s rehearsal here:
“We want to surprise people and we’ve got some unique ideas,” said Caisse. He doesn’t mind working with so many people on a project filled with twists and turns.
“It’s fun; this is my life,” said Caisse who has been teaching dance most of his adult life. “This is what I do and this is what I love.”
This production will be a family affair for Caisse. Melissa Caisse, his daughter will appear along with his granddaughter, Kayla Luoma.
Kayla auditioned for the “So You Think You Can Dance” television program and made it to the final 40 contestants. She and Melissa are helping with choreography for “Broadway With a Twist.”
All three members of the Caisse family will appear in the finale, which features parts of 17 memorable Broadway numbers. The Caisse family will be dancing to, appropriately enough, “Lullaby of Broadway.”
“It means so much to me to dance with my daughter and granddaughter,” Caisse said. “I’ve been in The Villages for 11 years and we always wanted to perform together. It’s special.”
So is the entire production.
“People know these songs and have expectations when they see them,” said dancer Vicky Magee, who lives in the Village of Pinellas. “But we want to present them in a different kind of way, with a little edge.”
That means the audience should be ready for surprises, as on a gender-bending number from “La Cage aux Folles.”
The “Man of La Mancha,” number features nearly a dozen dancers, wearing ruffled, yellow dresses and moving to Spanish rhythm as Don Volkman sings
“I, Don Quixote.” Also, Caisse teams with Jim Flynn on a powerful flamenco dance.
The Music In Motion chorus line is dressed in gaudy purple-sequined outfits for “On Broadway.” Sharon Archer belts out “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” from “Gypsy” as a group of dancers surround her on the stage and move with the vocal energy Archer provides.
Over 20 Broadway shows are included in the production.
“This is a show about Broadway, but there are a lot of shows about Broadway, ”Caisse said. “The difference is we’re going to do the unexpected.” For more information go to musicinmotiondancecompany.com
The singers include Dave Vece, Dave Leshay, Debbie Carter, Janet Maloney, Carolyn Hoffman and Sally Spieth.
Caisse and Karen Bouffard did most the choreography and Dianne Bolton is co-director. All worked together to come up with the unique concept.
“I don’t call the people in our show dancers, I call them performers,” Bolton said. “We’re performing a series of a numbers in a different way, and acting them out. It’s not just doing steps, it’s acting out a show.”
The program is set in three parts, Bolton said. “The first is iconic scenes from New York City. The second part takes the audience backstage to a Broadway production. Finally, part three is opening night of the actual show.
