Floorplay features twenty dancers, plus two vocalists and a pair of percussionists who provide "a live-music element that we didn't really have with Burn the Floor," Gilkison notes. "It feels particularly good for the dancers to dance to." When all of the performers are on stage at the same time, the result could be a traffic jam. Instead, Gilkison says, "it tends to look like a very interesting tapestry." In his view, the results will provide newer ballroom aficionados with a greater understanding of the style. "With Burn the Floor, we skimmed the surface," he says. "Now it feels like we're really going in deep."
Floorplay kicks off at 8 p.m. at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex; tickets are $15 to $57. The show continues through June 24. For details, call 303-893-4100 or visit www.denvercenter.org.
June 19-22, 8 p.m.; Sat., June 23, 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., June 24, 2 & 7:30 p.m.