Rooted in the formal social balls that were traditionally maintained by upper-class society, ballroom dance evolved into an pastime enjoyed by every class of the general public. From Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' on-screen dance sequences to the present-day DanceSport tournaments and shows like Dancing with the Stars, ballroom dance has established itself as a cultural institution appreciated (but not necessarily practiced) by many.
Regardless of your status as a novice or an enthusiast, if you like ballroom dance, you'll probably want to check out a show by Burn the Floor. This traveling showcase features the talents of 16 of the world's best ballroom dancers, who present a modern take on a miscellany of dance styles — salsa, swing, rumba, waltz, cha cha, tango and more — in vibrant costumes and against a live soundtrack of percussion-infused music. Burn the Floor's new show, FloorPlay, is a sensual program that builds upon the raw essence of dance and the physical chemistry dance can ignite while showing off the technical prowess of the dancers. FloorPlay has them performing a variety of athletic numbers as pairs and in groups to songs like "Tainted Love," "If It Ain't Got That Swing," "Harlem Nocturne" and "Proud Mary." The tour stops in town for two nights at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
Burn the Floor in FloorPlay, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri., June 7-8, Carol Morsani Hall-TBPAC, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, downtown Tampa, $29.50 and $48.50, 813-229-7827, tbpac.org.
This article appears in Jun 6-12, 2007.