Talented Performers in Ballroom With A Twist

Louis van Amstel Has Show for Dancers & Singers to Strut Their Stuff

It’s amazing to see the talented performers from Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, and American Idol transform a stage into a high-energy musical showcase filled with dazzling dancing.

The show is called Ballroom With A Twist, and it was conceived and choreographed by Louis van Amstel, the Dancing With The Stars pro, who acts as host, along with rotating celebrity co-hosts, among them Jane Seymour and Niecy Nash.

Louis van Amstel & Randi Lynn Evans

On DWTS, Amstel has been paired with a variety of celebrity dancers, including Priscilla Presley, Monique Coleman, Kelly Osbourne, and the lovely Lisa Rinna.

Lisa was in the star-studded audience for opening night to support her dear friend Louis. Actually, lots of his famous friends have been seen enjoying the show at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood during the three week stint (from Jan. 21 to Feb. 13).

From a production point of view, the show is ground-breaking, taking the top performers from the TV competitions and showcasing them. Basically, bringing the essence of the hit shows directly to the people live on stage, so it becomes a personal experience for the audience. Stunning costumes, music, staging, and lighting are also part of the impressive production package.

In addition, Ballroom With a Twist boasts an ensemble that includes dancers from High School Musical The Movie and Dance Your Ass Off. Providing live vocals are American Idol finalists David Hernandez and Gina Glocksen.

David Hernandez and Gina Glocksen

The featured dancers are Edyta Sliwinska, Alec Mazo, Jonathan Roberts, and Anna Trebunskaya from DWTS. Plus, from SYTYCD there were Randi Lynn Evans, Gev Manoukian, and Jonathan Platero.

Jonathan Roberts, and Anna Trebunskaya

The creative force behind the show is van Amstel, who directed, produced, choreographed, and performed the Broadway show Latin Fusion. And it looks like Ballroom With A Twist would also be comfortable strutting its stuff on Broadway.

Van Amstel says, “There are lots of surprises in the show. And my desire is to move the audience and touch their hearts by the beauty of the dancing.”

There’s a lot of passion in the dancing, and Randi Lynn Evans, a top ten finalist in last season’s SYTYCD, says that’s what unites everyone in the show.

Randi and the rest of the cast showed off just how passionate they were about dancing at a cast party at The Federal Bar, North Hollywood night club across the street from the El Portal. She and the other dancers started turning the club into a dance party.

They were showing off their moves and a tremendous amount of energy, even though they had just danced their hearts out during that night’s performance. “We’re dancers. We love to dance,” was Randi reply when I asked her where she finds all the energy.

The Utah native also revealed why so many great dancers come from the state, such as her castmates C.J. Blair, Paul Barris, and Tony Pututao, as well as DWTS’ famous pros Derek Hough and his sister Julianne Hough. “Well, first there’s a lot of talent there, and there seems to be a dance school on every corner with great teachers. So naturally, you’re going to see a lot of great dancers from Utah,” Randi explained.

The Federal Bar now has become a theater neighborhood gathering place for the cast and other celebrities, who are enjoying the high-quality food and the fun, and the room to dance at the historic former bank building. It’s an entertaining place.