‘Concrete Rose’ a colorful, sometimes electrifying experience

Vegas has been lucky to have at least two outstanding holiday productions this season, one of which still is running.

Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts is offering an original dance concert through Saturday at the Lowden that is sensual, emotional and intriguing.

Choreographed by faculty member Jeneane Gallo Huggins and the students, "The Concrete Rose" combines poems (some by Tupac Shakur), music and movement expressing the heartache and bliss of relationships, self-identity and other confusions in being alive. As always, what stands out for me in this annual program is not only the unexpected skill of the performers, but the abundance of attitudes. Interpretative movement often communicates to us in a vague way, but I get the impression here that the movements of the 55-cast members are the result of something very specific going on in heads and hearts. The troupe particularizes action.

Huggins' text is mixed in with Chile's Pablo Neruda and Shakur's poetry, and that's probably not a good idea. Huggins' writing tends toward the pedestrian. The dances feel so much richer when Huggins doesn't try to explain them to us, or put them in some sort of context. But the show adds up to a colorful, sometimes electrifying experience, even, I suspect, for those who have had little exposure to this sort of entertainment (Grade: A. Tickets: (800-585-3737). ...

Trinity Productions' third annual "Black Nativity," which played last weekend at Cashman Center Theater, made for a nonstop celebration of talent. Director Robert Connor's take on Langston Hughes' gospel-flavored Christmas story was so full of joy that it was tough to remain still. The two dozen cast members were made up mostly of professional entertainers, church singers, and high school students -- many of whom were equally adept at singing, acting and dancing.

I wish Connor had had the budget to advertise on television. A 30-second clip of any of the choral numbers should be enough to put this production on many people's "must see" list. It's unfortunate the show had such a short run, especially since so many theaters are dark this time of year. "Black Nativity" deserves a wide audience (Grade: A). ...

The New York Post columnist Michael Riedel recently reported that Julie Taymor, the genius designer behind "The Lion King" (soon to play Mandalay Bay) is having budget trouble with her upcoming Broadway musical "Spiderman." Riedel joked that expenses are so out of hand that the show should open in Vegas instead of New York. He may have been kidding, but that sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Taymor thinks visually, and visual sells here.

Why didn't Taymor think of us first?

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at DelValle@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.