SHAPE UP, BROADWAY STYLE
January 14, 2009 - AM New York
Whether you’re craving a taste of a dancer’s life or just looking to shake up your workout, head to Crunch for the latest installment of their Broadway Dance Series, where participants learn routines from current Broadway shows. This time around, it’s the hottest ticket in town, “Billy Elliot: The Musical.” If you’ve been lucky enough to catch the production, based on the 2000 Steven Daldry-Lee Hall film — or even if you’ve just seen clips, you may have mental images of the cast seamlessly blending tour jetés and grande pirouettes with furious tap and lissom street moves. While the dancing in the show is nothing short of skilled, Crunch’s class is for any and all levels of dancers and exercisers — neophytes included.
“Our class is designed to teach choreography but it’s fun and easy to follow,” says Crunch coordinator and class instructor Carol Johnson. She stresses that interested New Yorkers can take the class with absolutely no dance experience and leave having gotten a killer workout and a basic understanding of Broadway-caliber choreography.
The 60-minute workout is set to the show’s original cast recording and formatted like a typical dance class: warm-ups and cross-the-floor exercises, followed by routines inspired by the show. Expect a combo of jazz, ballet, tap, even jump rope, ultimately offering an “amazing cardio workout with some strength and flexibility,” Johnson says.
Crunch keeps the atmosphere light and genial, with cast members occasionally swinging by to lend their expertise, giveaways (tickets, anyone?) and a diverse group.
“The crowd is full-range,” says Johnson. “It’s really a mixture that shows up. It’s great to see. Broadway lovers can get a real taste of the musical experience.”
