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The Underground: El Ritmo is a sassy, sexy blend of urban beats with a variety of dance styles ranging from heels to breakdancing. As the name suggests, this edition of The Underground also comes with light smatters of Latin inspiration thrown in for a hit of spice.
While I was expecting a bit more Latin flavour, the performances still captured my attention. I was especially in awe of the gymnastic abilities of some of the ladies. With each dramatic split to the floor, I was both astounded and slightly concerned for what the next morning will hold for them.
It was clear that Paul Merciadez (Justice Crew) had a bevy of fans in attendance. Their whoops and catcalls were not unwarranted though as he flexed his breakdancing skills without seeming to break a sweat.
The dancers were backed up by a live band and two singers. Amy Ehlers, in particular, had me spellbound with that ever slight rasp in her voice. I was glad that she was given the opportunity to shine with her rendition of Alicia Key’s Fallin’.
Truthfully, the first half of the show felt a bit disjointed. The individual sets were great but they didn’t seem to have a common thread linking them. However, once the telenova started, I found myself increasingly engaged in following the the scandalous love lives of our protagonists. We talk about dance being a form of expression; these players did well to express desire with their sultry moves.
Overall, this was an enjoyable evening out but I would recommend adjusting your expectations. As a former salsa addict, it did not have enough Latin influence for me. However, as a dance fan in general, the sizzling performances left me with a giggly blush.