From dancing vampires to … sloths? Scorpius Dance premieres ‘Animal’ – AZCentral.com

Scorpius Dance Theatre thinks pink in a piece inspired by flamingos, featured in the all-new "Animal" program May 18-20 at Phoenix Theatre.(Photo: Scorpius Dance Theatre)

The famed ballet The Carnival of the Animals gave us dancing lions, chickens, tortoises and kangaroos. And now pop choreographer Lisa Starry, of A Vampire Tale fame, is adding to the terpsichorean menagerie with cats, dogs, snakes, flamingos and even sloths who will take the stage to the beat of Guns N Roses Welcome to the Jungle.

Animal, the latest offering from Starrys Scorpius Dance Theatre, premieres this weekend at Phoenix Theatre. Its a series of vignettes inspired by animal movement, mostly comical but with a serious animal-rights message folded in.

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When I did L.O.V.E. last year, I was going to add the animal element, because thats one of my biggest loves, Starry says. But I just felt like I was going to have to have a whole show for it.

In addition to a sloth race, the concert will feature an aerial dance inspired by birds, praying mantises on a postcoital killing spree (set to the theme from Jaws) and a finale involving a giant-size cat toy.

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When we were playing the Jaws music, we had a hard time finishing it because we were laughing so hard, Starry says.

Details: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 18-20. Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road. $26-$31. 602-254-2151, scorpiusdance.com.

Reach the reporter at kerry.lengel@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4896. Follow him at facebook.com/LengelOnTheater and twitter.com/KerryLengel.

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From dancing vampires to ... sloths? Scorpius Dance premieres 'Animal' - AZCentral.com

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero