Want to have some fun at the ballet? Six muscular men and one woman, in tight fitting pants leaping and gyrating onstage to Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Queen and Maria Callas – now that’s what I call a show! The Bad Boys of Dance will be performing in Israel for the first time, presenting “Rock the Ballet” – a combination of ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap and gymnastics, performed to a sound track that will make you want to get up and dance too.
The company was founded in 2007 by Rasta Thomas and made its debut at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in that year. Rock the Ballet is directed by Rasta Thomas and choreographed by Adrienne Canterna, his partner on and off-stage.
Rasta Thomas’ ballet street cred is serious, and seriously amazing. He won the Junior Gold Medal at the 1996 Varna International Ballet Competition, despite having recently injured his foot in karate class. He has performed with the Kirov Ballet, Imperial Russian Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and at the Metropolitan Opera House as a guest artist in the Lar Lubovitch production of Othello.
Performances:
Jerusalem – Wednesday, October 31 at 20:30, Jerusalem Theatre, 20 Marcus Street, Jerusalem. Tickets: *6226.
Tel Aviv – Thursday, November 1 at 20:00; Friday, November 2 at 13:00; Saturday, November 3 at 21:00; Sunday, November 4 at 20:00; Monday, November 5 at 20:00; Israeli Opera House, 19 Shaul Hamelech Blvd, Tel Aviv. Tickets: 03-6297777.
Haifa – Wednesday, November 7 at 20:30; Haifa Auditorium, 132 Hanassi Blvd, Haifa. Tickets: Garber – 04-8384777; Ethos – 04-8353508.
Beer Sheva – Thursday, November 8 at 20:30; Beer Sheva Performing Arts Center, 41 Rager Blvd, Beer Sheva. Tickets: 08-6266400.
