For extreme dancing, step on over to Luxor

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006 | 7:27 a.m.

What: "Burn the Floor"

Where: Luxor Theater

When: 7 and 9:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 4 and 7 p.m. Sundays

Through: Oct. 26

Admission: $29-$41; 262-4400, www.luxor.com/entertainment

Rating (out of 5 stars): **** 1/2

Riding the wave of ballroom dancing's sudden international fame, a troupe of energetic young dancers has waltzed - and tangoed and sambaed and rumbaed - into Las Vegas hoping to find a permanent home.

"Las Vegas is sort of a dream of mine. I have always felt this was the mecca for what we are doing," producer Harley Medcalf said.

What they are doing is extreme ballroom dancing - applying raw, youthful energy to the classic dance steps.

"Burn the Floor" premiered at the Luxor last week and is scheduled for a limited run, through Oct. 26. There could be demand for a longer stay; several performances are sold out.

It certainly seems to be in demand around the world. The road company performed in 106 cities last year, including four shows in Beijing with 12,000 fans each night, Medcalf said. "There was a near riot."

Japan is the show's biggest market. "We sold 135,000 tickets there during our last tour," Medcalf said. "We're going back to 10 cities in March and April next year."

Medcalf created the production in his native Australia in 1999. He describes it as "ballroom that is rock 'n' roll," familiar dances made over with lighting, sets and costumes of rock concerts.

"Burn" accomplishes what it sets out to do.

A nonstop performance by nine award-winning couples from a variety of countries, it is without doubt the most energetic show in town. Your feet are singing when you leave the theater.

It opens with a samba to the tune of Sergio Mendes' "Magalenha," quickly moves to a waltz ("Tonight" from "West Side Story") and then a couple of rumbas ("Open Spaces" and "Weatherstorm"). The couples samba to "Sing, Sing, Sing," tango to "Tanguera," cha cha to "Carino" and even waltz to Aretha Franklin's "Natural Woman."

Some of the liveliest dances have roots in the United States - the Lindy, swing, jive and quickstep.

Almost every base is covered in this fast-moving production, which can be thoroughly enjoyed by people of all ages. About the only things missing are the two-step and the polka.

If there is any fault to be found in "Burn," it may be overly choreographed and the dance styles tend to get lost in the choreography. At times, the Latin dances become repetitious.

I would have liked more emphasis on the most dynamic styles - the Lindy and jive.

But criticism aside, "Burn" has the potential to dance in place for a long time to come.