By Jay Ménard,
It was the seminal rap group Whodini who stated, “The Freaks Come Out at Night.” And not only were the freaks on display in The London Dance Ensemble’s Fringe production entitled Dancing on the Dark Side, so were the fairies, fighters, and even a feathered Mohawk.
The production features 18 dancers, ranging in age from eight to 17 – with varying degrees of experience. The show itself is a collection of production numbers, loosely tethered by the concept of “night.”
It offers a smorgasbord of dance styles: ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. It’s not what you would call a cohesive collection of performances, but it’s more of a series of vignettes.
There are copious costume changes, there are differing musical styles, and there are both solos and ensemble performances.
In essence, it’s a recital. And if you enjoy amateur dance recitals in general, you’ll enjoy Dancing on the Dark Side.