Ballet Folklórico de Antioquià Colombia

Little grass skirt-tails were flailing round and round as the male dancers shook their hips and revealed more skin than I anticipated.  It was like an R-rated live Disney show, beautiful dancers half-naked jumping around and showing off their incredible flexibility and dance technique while live musicians at the back of the stage kept the flow of the show continuous.  Gorgeous colors, long flowing skirts, Andes-style outfits, and more were included in this showcase of Colombian tradition in folk music and dance. Presented by World On Stage (Namaskar Foundation), The Ballet Folklórico de Antioquià Colombia performed at the Stamford Palace Theater in Connecticut last month, and in celebration of my mother's birthday, I took her as my date.  It was a very entertaining show, and the audience was in for a ride.  To say the dancing was energetic is an understatement, and there was such a wide variety of dance styles, it was hard to keep track of them all.  From the classic Colombian ruffled skirts that the ladies used as wings, to the Mayan temple statues ornamented with the ballet dancers in loin clothes, to ballroom salsa with such fast partnering, to Carnival-feathered creatures floating on high-heeled shoes, and of course to the African-inspired rhythms of the tribal dances.  One after another after another, these dances kept coming at you like an endless meal of rich delights!

THE BARE FEET™ FIVE: 1.  I want to dance!  The most popular dance styles in Colombia include Cumbia, originally from the Caribbean coastal region, and Salsa which was actually imported from Puerto Rico and Cuba.  Classes for both are offered weekly at Latin Moves Dance Studio in Stamford,  or check your local ballroom dance school to find a class in your area. 2.  Colombian Music:  Some great recordings of traditional Colombian music include Musica Colombiana Andina along with Merengue & Cumbia. 3.  More World On Stage:  The next show presented by World on Stage is this weekend!  TAO: The Art of the Drum is an energetic group of artists incorporating the classical Japanese art form of Taiko with an athletic and modern flair .  (Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 8pm - The Stamford Palace Theater, Stamford, CT - for tickets, click here!) 4.  The Palace Theater:  The Stamford Center for the Arts at The Palace Theater in Connecticut hosts a number of performances every month - some upcoming shows include Liza Minnelli on March 30, 2012, and an evening of Tchaikovsky by the Stamford Symphony. 5.  Stamford at night:  Downtown Stamford has some great spots to grab dinner and drinks before or after a show.  My favorites include Capriccio Cafe that offers the best outdoor seating in the warmer months and delicious Italian food, as well as Barcelona, a fantastic Spanish tapas restaurant with a wide selection of Spanish wines (located right behind the theater).