Johnson County Community College
Press Release
College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Associate Vice President, Marketing Communications, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122
8/25/09
Story by Peggy Graham
Bad Boys gone good
Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance, a company of male dancers who combine ballet, Broadway, tango, tap and hip hop, will present their high-energy show at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College.
Founded by dance superstar Rasta Thomas, this talented and versatile group brings physical prowess, raw masculinity and technical perfection to electrify an audience and stretch the boundaries of male dancing. Their choreography mixes a pas de deux with an acrobatic backflip and martial arts kick.
Bad Boys is a show for dance afficionados as well as first-time dance-goers with added appeal to a younger audience attracted to the company’s youth, good looks and athleticism. Music ranges from classical to popular to avant-garde.
Thomas has gathered international medalists and dancers from well-known companies to form the Bad Boys, who debuted at Jacob’s Pillow in July 2007 to sold-out houses and rave reviews.
Thomas himself is an undeniably watchable, cutting-edge performer. Though a Californian by birth, he spent his early years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Trained at the Kirov Academy, Washington, D.C., under Oleg Vinogradov, Rasta was a prodigy and featured in the Russian television special
Stars of the Kirov Ballet when he was only 12 and won the Senior Division Gold Medal at the prestigious Jackson International Ballet Competition when was 16. He created an instant sensation dancing on the stages of Japan, China, Russia and New York, to name a few. Thomas most recently starred in Twyla Tharp's Broadway hit, Movin' Out, in association with American Ballet Theatre for their 2007 Met season.
Thomas’ skills in martial arts and acrobatics, his precision, dramatic ability and bravura gave him versatility beyond the boundaries of classical ballet. As he searched for wider expression,he affectionately became known as the ultimate “Bad Boy.”
Bad Boys of Dance tickets are $35 and $25, available by calling the Performing Arts Series box office, 913-469-4445, or online at
www.jccc.edu/TheSeries.
Performing Arts Education will offer master classes with the Bad Boys Oct. 23-24. For more information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 4221.
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