Pink Martini Pop-up Cabaret | Evoke Dance & Theatre Company

Evoke Dance & Theatre Company present an ode to the Latin and cabaret dances of yesterday with their fun and high-energy showcase, the Pink Martini Pop-up Cabaret, created by Angelique Marie.

Showcasing a range of dance styles including salsa, tango, samba, the cancan, contemporary, jazz and even a conga line, gorgeous costuming and backed by a stellar eight piece band, the cabaret hit all the right places. As someone who got swept up in learning Latin dance years back, it made for great night of nostalgia, leaving me smiling and humming along. The local audience seemed to agreed, as they clapped and stamped their feet throughout.

Jamie Lin Shelton has a star-making turn as MC and lead vocalist of the cabaret. Charismatic and charming, she captured my attention whenever she was on stage, showing impressive musicality and range throughout the night. She was able to switch effortlessly between multiple languages for the songs of the night. On top of that, the emotion she imbues into her songs left with me with chills a number of times throughout the night. Keep an eye out for her, she’s going places.

Creator Angelique Marie showed impressive range, performing in almost all of the routines. An striking dancer with that it-factor, I couldn’t take my eyes off her whenever she was on stage. She was backed by a number of local dancers who fill the stage with energy and passion for the styles they performed. Standouts included Madalyn Milazzo’s contemporary performance to Summertime, which took my breathe away, and Beto Brazil’s sassy interpretation of Nature Boy.

As a die-hard carnie and circus enthusiast, I have to also mention the gorgeous duo lyra routine by Abby and Rhylee of Sparkle Society. Going from subservient 50s housewives on the ground to independent women in the air, they captivated the audience from the moment they hit the stage. Showcasing gorgeous shapes, effortless transitions and a powerful performance quality, they got one of the biggest responses of the night. I can’t wait to see them perform again.

The Pink Martini Pop-up Cabaret is an ambitious, fulfilled and energetic ode to the cabaret dance styles of old that left the audience with a right kind of buzz. The combination of dance and a live band brought a fun and playful energy throughout that made for an enjoyable night.

Congrats to all involved, I look forward to the next round.