Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

Hip-hop Hooray!

Shakespeare and hip-hop? O, what men dare do! Urban Dance Complex puts a fresh spin on the Romeo and Juliet-inspired West Side Story by threading evocative pop-and-lock moves through the tragic tale of star-crossed lovers. The Story features 40 dancers (ages 10 to 19) from all corners of the state drawing on East and West Coast styles in time to songs such as Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind.” “I felt like it was time to push the envelope a bit,” says director-choreographer Sarah Cover, explaining that previous UDC productions, such as Hard Knock Life and The O.Z., didn’t tackle such serious storylines. Two performances running an hour and 20 minutes each steal the stage this Friday. Jets versus Sharks ... go!