Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: Let’s Dance!

Dates and Venue 13 & 14 April 2012, 8pm | Orpheum Theatre

Conductor Jeff Tyzik, Choreographer Carla Heiney

Reviewer Ed Farolan

Whenever Jeff Tyzik comes to town, you're sure to have a fabulous show. Vancouver audiences love him--he has that delightful sense of humour that appeals especially to us, the seniors in the audience. In this special Symphony Pops concert, a dance element was created with director/choreographer Carla Heiney, the 2010 National Jitterbug Champ and choreographer for the hit TV show, So You Think You Can Dance.

Top professional dancers Stephen Edward Sayer, Chandrea Roettig, Patricio Touceda, Alex Dugdale, Eva Lucero, F.J. Abaya, and Catherine Abaya danced Swing, Waltz, Latin, Ballroom and Tap to the splendid sounds of the VSO. Vocalists Tom Arntzen and Rebecca Shoichet spiced the evening with song hits of the 50s and 60s--"Fever", "Blue Suede Shoes", "Johnny B. Good", "Twistin' the Night Away" and others, bringing back memories of old.

VSO Concertmaster Dale Barltrop was featured again and he gave a beautiful violin rendition of "Tango" from the film Scent of Woman, as the dancers did their ballroom tango moves.

Rebecca Soichet did a fantastic rendition of "Fever", and I heard a lot of "Oohs" and "Aahs" from the audience who remembered Peggy Lee's signature song. Tom Arntzen had his moves too---from Elvis to Chuck Berry, singing those classics of yore the way they were done more than half a century ago.

This was another splendid show by London Drugs VSO Pops, and the Vancouver audience will surely want to see Tyzik back in the next season with something new, something old, and I suppose, something blue.

© 2012 Ed Farolan