Co’ Motion Dance spikes a classic

Susie Dunn

“Spiked 4ever!,” based on the seasonal ballet favorite “The Nutcracker,” will captivate its audience for the fourth year in a row this weekend.

The storyline for the play is based off E.T.A. Hoffman’s original story of “The Nutcracker,” which varies from the traditional ballet.

“Spiked 4ever!” features 50 dancers and singers form Valerie Williams’ Co’ Motion Dance Theater.

“This show is just a lot of fun,” artistic director Williams explained. “It is wild and crazy.”

Taking a different approach at “The Nutcracker,” the show incorporates various types of nontraditional dancing and movements. The performance contains everything from the mice doing martial arts to the main character Marie performing Broadway tunes.

The cast interprets “The Nutcracker” through the eyes of the arranger, Spike Jones, with a little help from Gilbert and Sullivan.

“Spike Jones takes the actual story and twists it, relating to the actual ballet and human natures,” Williams said.

Jones’s writing style has been compared to that of wild man Weird Al Yankovich.

Though it is based on a serious classic, laughter and enthusiasm are the main focuses for this concert.

“[‘Spiked 4ever’]” is a good time; the dancing is extraordinary, and the situations are ridiculous,” Williams added.