This pix from Nigel Lythgoe's Twitter feed got us to thinking maybe we should start compiling a list of ideas for dance steps in the breakaway, steps that will "Wow!" the 1931 Savoy Ballroom audience-- and the ones in the theater-- so convincingly in the climatic dance contest that there is no doubt whatsoever that the dancical's hero and heroine Billy Rhythm and Tharbis Jefferson won it hands-- and feet-- down.

From the very beginning the play encouraged choreographers to use tap dancing (Billy and Tharbis are tap dancers working at the Cotton Club) as part of the breakaway, something in itself that probably would have been enough to win the contest since nothing like that ever showed up on the Savoy floor. But we want to take it further since "Jitterbug!" is also a subliminal metaphor about the powerful African-American spirit that influences music and dance world over. We want choreographers to "reach into the future for dance steps never seen or dreamed before" to win that 1931 dance contest. So, starting today, here's the beginning of a list of no particular order of dance steps and styles other than tap that we have compiled over the last few years that we'd like to see used in the breakaway in the dancical's climatic finale. Lots of ideas, just pick and choose some from here, some from there...

​Requests have come in from teachers for some monologues and, although the play doesn't really have any of the characters "speechafyin,'" we have rewritten parts for monologues for two of the play's male characters (female to follow shortly).

The first one is for Herbert "Whitey" White. He's the legendary founder of the Harlem gang The Jolly Fellows and a handful of Lindy dance troupes, "Whitey's Lindy Hoppers" being the most famous. The scene is at the beginning of the play as he confronts our hero Billy Rhythm, admonishing by word and violent deed. The content is adult/mature and comes with a glossary for period slang.

The second is between Billy and Owney "The Killer" Madden, owner of the Cotton Club where Billy works as part the revue's uncredited dancers.  This adult/mature monologue requires the actor to do two accents: Harlemese and Irish/British. This one gives you the option to use music and SFX. 

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DC Copeland

"Steppin Out" sculpture by Mark Newman.