Philly fringe: 'Gala' rouses the crowd with both pro dancers and wannabes

Jérôme Bel's Gala opened Tuesday night at the Prince Theater as part of Philly Fringe. Twenty people of every size, shape, age, and gender gave a dance performance that brought the audience to its feet, demanding four curtain calls.

Sure, there were some ringers: former Pennsylvania Ballet dancer Anne White, contemporary dancer/choreographer Megan Bridge, the smashing Edgardo Colon, along, perhaps, with another few. A couple of young boys knocked everyone's socks off but kept theirs on. One was boy wonder Tristan Price.

I was reluctant to review a show that included non-professional dancers. It doesn't seem fair. But each of them was game and put out marvelous individuality in Bel's loosely structured show.

Here is a video of FringeArts president and producing director Nick Stuccio talking about "Gala":

A sandwich board off to the side announces each section. The first, "Ballet," required each dancer to do a ballet relevé tour, a simple full turn with one foot in demipoint and the other bent and pointed at the knee. Solo grand jetés followed. Some could and some couldn't - but, oh my, the grit and spirit of each dancer made each attempt delightful.

Maybe wheelchair-bound Delano Turnipseed could not accomplish these feats, but he did not let his spinal-cord injury impede his pleasure in being part of this cast. In the next section, his upper-body strength and movement showed that not only is he fit, but also he must have cut one cool figure on the dance floor before his injury and still does. In the section called "Bow," Turnipseed rolled his wrist toward the audience in a courtly manner.

Once the "Company" section began, all the dancers onstage together followed the lead of a solo dancer. The young Price led the company in his dance to David Bowie's "Space Oddity," even succeeding in a step up a wall. Cynthia Son, part of a Bok school group that practices traditional Cambodian dance, led the group in a graceful floor-based pose using her hands and fingers. Rhythmic twirler Helen Gassmann brought hilarious mayhem as batons whirled up into the flies and even the best of the dancers missed most of their catches. But she never missed hers.

Felice Jordan of Germantown brought the house down with her version of "New York, New York," turned into "Philly, Philly." She even had the kids tossing off some odd piece of clothing. It was a most joyous, not-to-be missed dance mess.

"Gala" final performances 8 p.m. Wednescday and Thursday, Sept. 14-15, Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut St. Tickets: general $29, members $20.30, student and 25 and under $15. Information: 215-413-1318, FringeArts.com/709.