HQ Review: Saint Louis Dance Theatre and Jazz St. Louis present “Gaslight Dreams”
In its second such collaboration, Jazz St. Louis and Saint Louis Dance Theatre, under the direction of Victor Goines and Kirven Douthit-Boyd, respectively, presented Gaslight Dreams at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts. Joined by special guest Denise Thimes, this holiday-themed production featured some Christmas classics as well as a reimagining of The Nutcracker Suite by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.
The first act of the evening was reminiscent of a variety show—an eight-piece band set on one half of the stage, the other half open as dancers and vocalists came and went. The artists and musicians performed in front of the closed, dark red velvet curtain, bringing them close to the audience and creating an unusually intimate viewing experience. At the Saturday evening performance, dancers Keenan Fletcher, Dave McCall, and Nyna Moore appeared in glittering gold and sleek black, entering the stage to perform individual solos next to the band. Confined to a sliver of the stage, the movement played in extremes: long leans and reaches or big kicks contrasted with slow rolls of the hips or syncopated side-stepping.
Denise Thimes, a vocalist and veteran of the stage, was a highlight of Act One. Her performance was full of poise and personality, and she was in complete control of her instrument. Wearing a floor-length blue glittering gown, Thimes joined Jazz St. Louis for two numbers: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Winter Wonderland. She exuded generosity, presence, and authenticity—the kind of performer who made you feel lucky to be in the audience.
In the second act, the curtain came up to reveal an elaborate set design, situating the performers in a lively nightclub during the Gaslight District’s heyday. The Gaslight District, once roughly located in what is now the Central West End of St. Louis, was so named because of the gas lanterns that lined the streets until the 1960s. Home to many clubs, cabarets, cafés, and restaurants, the neighborhood was known for its music, entertainment, and great food, and it was a gathering place for artists and performers.
Set in this vibrant neighborhood in the 1950s, Gaslight Dreams unfolded over the course of what seemed to be a single, fateful night, wherein composer and musician Billy Strayhorn, played by Dave McCall at the Saturday evening performance, crossed paths with Josephine Baker, performed by Nyna Moore, sharing music and conversation in a charged, intimate encounter. As the evening deepened, Strayhorn fell in love with one of Baker’s background performers, danced by Keenan Fletcher. The story was carried by Duke Ellington and Strayhorn’s reimagined The Nutcracker Suite, weaving romance, entertainment, and artistry together.
One especially memorable vignette was set to Ellington and Strayhorn’s version of the Sugar Plum Fairy variation—Nyna Moore, as Josephine Baker, appeared in a long yellow gown surrounded by four men in vibrant blue suits. The movement was bold, opulent, and playful—an enjoyable reimagining of this beloved melody.
The movement quality overall in Act Two was raucous, playful, and athletic. The set design and costuming were both a feast for the eyes, with colors, textures, and layers working together to transport the audience back in time. There were often multiple threads of narrative and action happening on stage at once, enlivening the space with jovial chaos. Gaslight Dreams created and immersed the audience in a world full of diverse and distinct characters. Each dancer on stage, even when not featured, came through as singular and specific, working together to create a strong ensemble.
This ongoing collaboration between Saint Louis Dance Theatre and Jazz St. Louis was alive, vibrant, and exciting—a wonderful match that offered a festive evening of artistry and entertainment.
Photos by Kelly Pratt
