The Keeper of the Floor dance- off is back
“JUST GOOGLE KTF DANCE” says a promotional plug for Chicago Dance Crash’s Keeper of the Floor championship, returning this weekend in a new venue after a one- year hiatus.
What you end up with is a handful of search results highlighting past shows, with themes like “I ( heart) the 80s” and “Here Comes Hollywood.” This year’s title is “KTF: The Return,” for obvious reasons. You’ll also find videos such as ” The KTF Experience,” which features, among other things, hip- hop crews, jazz dancers, acrobats, tappers, and a scantily clothed emcee named Mattrick Swayze tearing up the dance floor.
In other words, this audience-decided dance- off is vintage Chicago Dance Crash: a competition, a showcase, a little drag. And best of all, it doesn’t discriminate— no style is too strange, no skill level too shoddy. If you’ve got the stones to put yourself out there, the presenters are happy to welcome you with open arms. The experience tends to fall somewhere between high school talent show and indie rock concert. But mostly, it’s just a lot of dancers and a lot of dancing for the sake of a good time.
Newbies will be glad that Swayze, whose real name is Matthew Hollis, has decided to once again tackle hosting duties. His queer, zany alter ego has graced the stage of many CDC performances, providing comedy bits and the improv. It’s all capped off by a DJhosted dance party. — MATT DE LA PEÑA KTF: THE RETURN Sat 1/ 21, 9: 30 PM, Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 773- 327- 5252, chicago dance crash. com, $ 25.