This weekend, as a part of Dance Chicago 2010, Chicago Dance Crash revived its show Radio Stars from 2008. The show embraces those pop songs that no one will do for fear of being unoriginal. Lady Gaga. Michael Jackson. Rihanna. All the songs you sing in your car and shake your hair to on the dance floor after three vodka sodas. No? Just me?
Anyways, what a relief. A free pass to enjoy all those songs I love that aren't Tchaikovsky or alternative rock. Contemporary companies are desperate to escape the confines of dullness and unoriginality by embracing abstract music and sometimes non-music. But Dance Crash lets us fall into something we all love but would never admit. I enjoyed Dance Crash's Qwan Sauce back in August, a parody of a slew of poppy dance movies a la Center Stage, Save the Last Dance, Step Up, etc, and this show proved a similar delight.

One of the standout pieces was a duet set to "Love the Way You Lie" (Eminem and Rihanna) performed by Chantelle Mrowka and Chris Courtney. An adorable gymnast type, Mrowka weaves in back walkovers with strong, powerful turns. A power pack of muscle in a tiny, graceful body. Company member and choreographer Lyndsey Rhoads hit the spot with this one. Paired with towering, muscular Courtney, a fireball Mrowka proved to be competition for her masculine partner.

Some of Crash's larger pieces were packed with punch too, although their fatal flaw is precision. The choreography is innovative, strong, and powerful, but the dancers have trouble as a cohesive unit.

Crash collaborated with guest artists from FrameWork Dance Chicago and Ronn Stewart & Dancers. Ronn Stewart (with input from dancers) choreographed So Close, the closing segment of the program set to covers of songs by The Police. A particularly moving piece involved three couples duets and a slow-mo version of Roxanne (classic!) that was pulled off effortlessly by its performers. With grace, strength, and chemistry, each couple danced intuitively and with their hearts instead of their heads. It didn't hurt that they were technically right on par and maintained lovely lines throughout. Gorgeous!

Crash never fails to entertain. Great dancing and high energy. Bravo!