Aspiring dancers leap at chance to showcase work

On a warm July afternoon, 80 teens dressed in baggy shorts, tees and layered tank tops lounge in the front seats of the Moore Theatre. Moving onto the stage to pose for a group portrait, they look like one big happy family.

Most of them, however, didn't know each other a week before. They have come from all over the Seattle-Tacoma area — and many different cultural backgrounds — to perform at the Moore Theatre in the annual "Dance This" youth dance showcase. What they share is the language of dance and, in many cases, a goal: to make their living as professional dancers.

Today's teens only have to turn on the TV to see that there are dance careers to be had.

Alex Jackson, 18, said, "One of my dreams is to be on 'So You Think You Can Dance' " — the popular dance show in which young dancers from across the country compete, in the same way "American Idol" auditions singers.

"I'm moving to New York or California," said Jackson, currently a resident of the University District. "In New York, they are always looking for male dancers for Broadway shows. But in L.A. there are also opportunities, much of it is in TV. You get more publicity."

TV shows fuel interest

"Dance This" guest artists Tabitha D'umo, 33, and her husband, Napoleon, 38, have seen an explosion in opportunities for young dance talent in the past decade.

"Because of television recognition, a young kid who loves to dance realizes, 'I could have a career doing this,' " said Tabitha. She and Napoleon were invited from Los Angeles by Seattle Theatre Group to set a hip-hop piece on some of the "Dance This" performers.

The D'umos' joint credits include directing the Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin tours. They have worked with Beyoncé and Destiny's Child, Monica and Missy Elliott, and choreographed shows in Las Vegas and MTV videos. All this because they fell into hip-hop dancing as kids in L.A.

"Napoleon and I never anticipated being professionals, we are blessed that it has blossomed into a living," continued Tabitha.

"In the '90s every pop star had five or six background dancers. For the dance community it was amazing and lots of work. Dance hit its peak with Madonna, Janet Jackson, 'N Sync and Britney.

"It's been six years since 9/11 and dance is making a big comeback. 'American Idol' has been huge for the dance community. Choreographers are hired for singers to have movement while they are singing. Dance is background fill in a lot of these jobs," said Tabitha.

Movie musicals such as "Dreamgirls" and the upcoming "Hairspray," in which John Travolta returns to his movie musical roots, are making a comeback.

And TV shows like "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing with the Stars" have developed a broad audience for dance.

"Television helps the common person appreciate dance," said Vicky Lee, education director for Seattle Theatre Group, which has presented "Dance This" every summer for nearly a decade.

The showcase teaches student dancers the value of versatility and hard work.

"Our style of hip-hop includes lots of different styles: jazz funk combined with lock and pop and cranking," said Tabitha. "It's raw L.A. commercial style. ... The kids nowadays are unbelievable. There were a few big power moves when we started, but now the 'battles' are gymnastic with big strength moves and unbelievable balancing. An average dancer practices hours and hours to do these tricks."

The world on stage

This year's "Dance This" program also includes Peruvian guest artist Luis Sandoval directing a group of teens in an Afro-Peruvian folk dance piece. No less athletic is a lively, gyrating re-staging of the 1930s lindy hop choreographed by Seattle's Century Ballroom director Hallie Kuperman.

Students in Pacific Northwest Ballet's professional division will perform a contemporary work that incorporates ballet and "vogueing" (as made famous by Madonna), set by choreographer and PNB faculty member Sonia Dawkins.

Bhangra folk dances will be performed by the Apna Bhangra Crew, directed by Kamal Sandhu.

Classical Indian master Shobha Raman presents the oldest Indian dance form of bharatha natyam, very difficult to learn and perform.

Ready for the show

Back in the theater, the dancers leave their seats and take the stage to practice the big finale, for which they learn each other's dances. Local hip-hop artist Daniel Cruz, who is collaborating with the D'umos, counts out "one-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight" as he shows the hip-hoppers and PNB dancers how to twirl their wrists and move their heads side to side when dancing the bharatha natyam. The dancers run through that segment and patiently wait while Cruz works with one individual. They practice over and over again until it is right.

"You have to be well rounded in all dance forms," said Jackson, the aspiring pro. "You never know when a choreographer is going to ask you to do an Indian move for a job audition."