Work Dance Company debuted its newest production in front of a sold-out audience at the Hult Center Friday evening, using dance elements as well as visual effects and props to illustrate the ups and downs of celebrity stardom.
A team of ushers addressed the mayhem before the show as the last ticket holders to arrive scurried throughout the 500-seat venue in search of an open chair. As the theater lights faded, uproarious applause sprung from the audience eager to witness the performance. Entitled “Fame!”, the show was a modern rendition of the classic 1980 film.
“The movie talks about all the struggles that went with being famous back then,” said Nathan Boozer, founder of Work Dance Company and director of the production. “But today, especially with the paparazzi, things have just gotten so out of hand. I wanted to take the film and modernize it because it’s not all glitz and glam anymore; there’s definitely a dark side.”
That down side to fortune and fame was nowhere to be seen in the opening act, however. As the curtains rolled back, dancers in glittering outfits streamed onto the stage and performed a dazzling routine. A fast-paced fusion of hip-hop and jazz, it celebrated the fabulous thrills of a famous lifestyle.  
This theme continued during the early scenes. Featuring upbeat songs from Usher, Lady Gaga and Flo Rida, the production portrayed celebrity status as something to be desired. At one point even, a couple of dancers on cell phones strutted across the back of the stage, carrying Dolce & Gabbana shopping bags that teamed with new clothes and items.
The glamour came to a screeching halt right before intermission, when red and blue police lights flashed inside the theater. A movie screen played reports on the arrests of icons like Snoop Dogg and Kanye West, and dance routines began to depict the scandalous aspect of fame.
Over the course of the show, special effects like these appeared frequently. In addition to lighting and audio basics, the performers made use of props, video pieces and nine costume changes to amplify their message. One scene featured a jail-cell full of dancers, who, despite recounting playful anecdotes about murder, all managed to make bail because of a single phone call.
“We spent a lot of time working on the theatrics,” Boozer said. “I didn’t want ‘Fame!’ to be another cliche dance show. I wanted to tell a story and we did that by adding visual effects and props.”
These efforts seemed to pay off as the audience cheered the extra creativity whenever it was noticed. Still, the highlight of the night for many viewers was simply the dancing.
“I just really liked the moves,” local fan Brittney Coon said of the closing routine, a piece that once again conveyed the happier sides of fame. In addition to the hip-hop choreographed to Katy Perry’s “California Gurls,” the segment included stylish sunglasses, a slideshow of Southern California, and over a dozen beach balls being tossed into the audience.
In all, “Fame!” was the result of nearly nine months of preparation. Practices ran four days a week for two hours or more, and countless hours were spent on choreography. Work Dance Company also collaborated with several other groups, including King’s Krew, Phenomenon and Urban Pulse, among others. In all, the show comprised more than 100 individual dancers and received sponsorship from a total of 30 businesses.
Work Dance Company’s presentation of “Fame!” coincides with its own emerging reputation as a local performance group. While it may not rival the stardom of ‘N Sync or the JabbaWokeeZ, Work Dance Company has generated three sell-out shows since it began in 2008 and often appears as a guest group in nearby productions. It has also increased dramatically in size, from four dancers originally to 23 at present. As this group continues to grow, so does its reputation among fans for hard work and impressive performances.
“I think productions like these really demonstrate the dancers’ commitment,” said Brandi Jordan, another audience member. “You come to them and they’re not sloppy or thrown together. The group puts a lot into it, and it shows.”
Work Dance Company will appear as a guest group this Friday at 7:30 p.m. in King Krew’s debut of “Operation Innovation” at the Hult Center. Also, on Nov. 18, Work Dance Company will be holding open auditions at the Oakway Fitness Center for its next show, “A Mechanical Dancer: Reloaded,” set to appear May 20.
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