Dance review: Danny Nielsen's In Conversation is full of jazzy joy
Tap dancer delivers pyrotechnics in a show that feels like a music concert, with Miles Hill on standup bass and Kristian Alexandrov on keys and drums
Danny Nielsen. Photo by Jeremy Fokkens, edited by Stephanie-Trattner
The Dance Centre presents Danny Nielsen’s In Conversation at the Scotiabank Dance Centre to May 24
TAP MASTER Danny Nielsen’s new show, In Conversation, is categorized as a dance performance, but it could just as well be described as a concert. The artist is accompanied by Miles Hill on standup bass and Kristian Alexandrov on keys and drums, with Nielsen contributing his own percussion, his fast-flying feet being his instrument. Together, the three form a jazzy trio that’s full of joy.
Nielsen dances on a rectangular wooden board set atop the Scotiabank Dance Centre floor, all the better to hear the click-click-whoosh of his shoes as he pounds the ground and slides or drags his toes along it in a circular motion. After an opening number, he grabs a microphone and addresses the audience directly, just as a lead singer of a band would, asking, “How are we doing tonight?” He requests that viewers let go of any preconceived notions they have about tap dance and then says, “We’re going to play some more music”, reinforcing that concert feel.
To be sure, this isn’t the tap dance you might see at a variety show but rather a fresh, contemporary take on the art form. Nielsen’s technical prowess is obvious with the pyrotechnics he delivers with his feet, while his musicality adds depth and pushes the genre into new territory. Jack Chipman’s shifting patterns of light are projected onto the floor, lending a cool visual element that complements Nielsen’s dancing.
Sometimes, the conversation between Nielsen and the musicians is a call and response; consider the segment where Alexandrov has a bongo solo which Nielsen replies with his own lone expression. At other times, the musicians and Nielsen seem to be in a heated debate, as if trying to outdo—or rather out-talk—each other.
The joint is jumping in the hour-long show, which earned plenty of hoots throughout from the audience on opening night. This is the kind of conversation you don’t want to end. 
Related Articles
