Anyone who saw Holiday Inn at Roundabout Theatre Company this past fall thought one thing when they left the theatre: That jump-roping, tap-dancing extravaganza was epic.
The idea to turn Christmas garlands into jumpropes during the tap-dancing romp 鈥淪hakin鈥� the Blues Away鈥� was one of choreographer Denis Jones鈥� first ideas. 鈥淭his was the first thing we did within two hours of the first day,鈥� says Jones, now a Tony nominee for his work on Holiday Inn.
鈥淭he first thing I thought about is: What would be in the room? If you鈥檙e decorating for Christmas, what are the things that are around? Wreaths, Christmas garlands, ornaments. And then how do we play with these things?鈥� Jones explains. 鈥淚 like jumping rope and tap was my first love so I thought what would those two things be together in a grouping like this鈥攖hree ladies and a jump rope?鈥�
Still, the routine relies on spontaneity. 鈥淵ou want it to feel like it鈥檚 happening in real time, in the way that the character Jim is experiencing 鈥極h, I鈥檝e never seen this before,鈥� you want the audience to feel that same way,鈥� says Jones.
Jones has peppered the number with moments of daring to propel that momentum. And he enjoys when there is potential for things to go wrong. (Watch the full pop up video above to see those moments and find out if any of them actually did go wrong.)
But the choreography of 鈥淪hakin鈥� the Blues Away鈥濃攁nd all of Holiday Inn鈥攊s not only a high-octane joy ride. 鈥淢y style does bend according to what project I鈥檓 on,鈥� says Jones. 鈥�Holiday Inn was very much a celebration of movie musicals of the Golden Era, which I was very inspired by as a kid and continue to be inspired by.鈥�
And tap dancing, be it in those movie musicals or Jones鈥� Holiday Inn, can be as communicative as other styles of dance. 鈥淎ll of the ideas in [鈥楽hakin鈥� the Blues鈥橾 are playful, joyful, rowdy, fun ideas that would bring a smile to [our leading man鈥檚] face because that鈥檚 the story of it,鈥� says Jones. 鈥淚f you can also bring a smile to the audience鈥檚 face at the same time then it鈥檚 a win-win.鈥�
Thanks to BroadwayHD for providing the video capture of Holiday Inn. Visit to see the full musical and other theatrical offerings on-demand.
