Bad was yesterday. Today, the English word "bad" means something like "cool" - Michael Jackson redefined it in his 1987 song of the same name. That's what Rasta Thomas meant when he called his dancers Bad Boys of Dance: Cool dudes who just got it. Sexy and entertaining like a pop concert, ballet should be for a young audience. Since 2008, Rasta Thomas and his Bad Boys of Dance have been shaking up the scene - Rock the Ballet redefined classical dance.
The idea is as simple as it is brilliant: world-class dancers move to rock and pop songs in front of exciting video projections.
Handpicked songs from the international charts, charismatic dancers, breathtaking choreography, great video projections and sexy costumes: Rock the Ballet is a kind of showcase in which everything revolves around great songs and great dancing. A party in whose heated atmosphere the dancers act like an energy drink, powering the audience for ninety minutes.
Invented by husband and wife team Rasta Thomas and Adrienne Canterna, Rock the Ballet has him directing the troupe, her choreographing. Rasta Thomas has danced the great roles of the classical repertoire, appeared on stage in works by world-renowned choreographers, and cleared plenty of (gold) medals in ballet competitions. He has seen a lot of the world, worked with excellent teachers and met great dancers. And he has passed all this on to his own company. From the beginning, Rasta Thomas was determined to show ballet at the highest level, but to enrich the tradition with hip hop and modern dance, martial arts and ballroom dancing. After all, his idols include not only the famous classical dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, but also pop legend Michael Jackson and actor and kung fu fighter Bruce Lee. "When I created the troupe, I really wanted to create something unique, never before seen. And this show was going to be put on by the best dancers imaginable," he says, describing his dream at the time.
The dancers of Rasta Thomas (Bad Boys of Dance) all graduated from the rigorous, classical ballet training at the most prestigious schools in the United States. All the more reason that the spectacular dance show from New York fascinates experienced ballet lovers as well as dance beginners. Rasta Thomas received standing ovations and fantastic reviews for it in the USA, Europe and Australia.
Text source and further information about this event: https://www.alteoper.de/de/programm/veranstaltung.php?id=519793835
