(Tucson, AZ)─Stars from American Idol, Broadway and the world of dance will join the Tucson Symphony Orchestra for a dazzling display of dance and dance music at the SuperPops program Let’s Dance Saturday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m. at Tucson Music Hall. Stuart Chafetz, who conducted Cirque Musica last season and trumpeter Byron Stripling the year before, returns to lead the two vocalists, three dance teams, tap dancer and orchestra as they waltz, cha-cha, tango and swing their way around the Music Hall stage.
Let’s Dance will feature performances by:
- Michael Lynche, vocalist: After wowing millions of fans on American Idol with his comforting and powerful voice and performing throughout the U.S. as part of the American Idol LIVE! Tour, Michael Lynche, “Big Mike” as he was known to fans of the show, has released two studio albums and toured as an opening act for Boyz II Men.
- Mamie Parris, vocalist: Mamie Perris most recently starred as Grizabella in the Broadway revival of Cats. Her Broadway and national tour credits include: Patty in School of Rock, Wicked (Elphaba), 9 To 5 The Musical (as Judy Bernly, the role created by Jane Fonda in the film), the Tony-nominated revival of Ragtime, five-time Tony-Winner The Drowsy Chaperone and Legally Blonde-the Musical.
- Chandrae Roettig and Stephen Sayer, dancers: Stephen Sayer and Chandrae Roettig specialize in smooth style lindy and collegiate shag. Their primary influences and inspirations come from the Los Angeles Jitterbugs of the 1940s and 1950s. They have won first place in the Lindy Hop divisions at the National Jitterbug Championships and U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships. In 2012 they also took first place at Camp Jitterbug and again at the U.S. Open.
- Forrest Walsh and Melissa Shahin, dancers: Forrest Walsh has been a guest dancer on Dancing with The Stars and danced Lindy Hop and Foxtrot in The Gangster Squad with Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Sean Penn. He is a two time Open Professional American Smooth Champion and an Open Professional International Latin Champion. He’s also won competitions in Lindy Hop, Argentine Tango and Salsa as well. Melissa Shahin is a certified and professionally trained American and International Ballroom Dancer. She has performed in countless productions and continues to compete in various dance competitions. She is also known for her contributions to stage and theatrical choreography.
- Patricio Touceda and Sonya Tsekanovsky, dancers: The Seattle Times regarded Touceda’s latest performance with partner Sonya Tsekanovsky as “…the sexiest performance so far witnessed in Benaroya Hall.” Symphonic Tango is among one of Touceda’s favorite performance pieces. Sonya Tsekanovsky won her first national title at the age of twelve, followed quickly by two more championship titles and has represented the U.S. ten times at World Championship competitions.
- Ted Louis Levy, dancer: Ted Louis Levy made his Broadway debut in the smash hit Black and Blue. For his performance as the Mikado in Ford’s Theatre’s production of The Hot Mikado, Levy won a Helen Hayes Award. Levy collaborated with George C. Wolfe and Gregory Hines on the choreography of Jelly’s Last Jam, for which he received a Tony nomination, a Drama Desk nomination and the 1993 Outer Critics Circle Award. The 1992 production Ted Levy and Friends, directed by Gregory Hines, celebrated Levy as one of America’s premier tap dance artists. Influenced by Hines, Levy then made his debut as director of Savion Glover’s Dancing under the Stars.
Tickets to Let’s Dance are $32 to $79. They are available online at www.tucsonsymphony.org, at the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Box Office, 2175 N. Sixth Avenue or by phone at 520.882.8585. TSO Box Office hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.
Contact: Terry Marshall, Public Relations Manager, 520.620.9158
