Dance Nation at Olney Theatre Center

Dance Nation

Olney Theatre Center
2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd. Olney

The pre-teen dance team from Liverpool, Ohio is primed for competition, but in Clare Barron's explosive script the stakes are much higher than just a first place trophy. Lives are at stake, future happiness lays in the balance, emerging sexuality strikes with the power of a thousand lightning bolts, and every interaction in the tight-knit group is suffused with threat, risk, and the urgency of adolescence. Adult actors of all ages portray the girls (and one boy) amidst their tween confusion and as their future adult-selves in a dream play with moments of true terror, complete with fangs, blood, and wild, stylized, dance.

Thru - Oct 30, 2022

Wednesdays: 7:45pm

Thursdays: 7:45pm

Fridays: 7:45pm

Saturdays: 1:45pm & 7:45pm

Sundays: 1:45pm

Price: $54-$79

Show Type: Comedy/Drama

Box Office: 301-924-3400

www.olneytheatre.org

Olney Theatre Center Seating Charts

Dance Nation Reviews

Average Rating based on 3 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Washington Post - Recommended

"...Heard early in Olney Theatre Center's funny, poignant and occasionally tonally unsettled production, directed by Jenna Place, the chant suggests the complexity of the adolescent experience that Barron captures. The girls (and one boy) on the team are mature enough to grasp the planet's woes, but they're also callow enough to dream that some kicks and side aerials might make a difference. Above all, they're living in a pressure cooker that is part chosen, part adult-inflicted and part intrinsic to puberty and the process of growing up."

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- Celia Wren

Talkin Broadway - Recommended

"...While all seven dancers have their moments during the play, the core figure is Zuzu (Ashley D. Nguyen), who says she became obsessed with dance when she was two years old and will do anything to succeed. The others also are determined to outdo the competition while having locker-room conversations about the specifics of sex and their plans for the future."

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- Susan Berlin

MD Theatre Guide - Somewhat Recommended

"...As it turns out, the judges thought the fall was intentionally choreographed and awarded first prize to the Liverpool, Ohio team. The show ended before finals, so we’re left to consider the possibilities and challenges of another piece. If a drama about youthful competition is your cup of tea, “Dance Nation” will satisfy. If you’re seeking topnotch dancing (TV’s “So You Think You Can Dance”), look elsewhere. It’s a talented cast—most making their Olney debut—that deserves more."

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- Carolyn Kelemen

Dance Nation at Olney Theatre Center

Dance Nation

Dance Nation Reviews

Washington Post - Recommended

Talkin Broadway - Recommended

MD Theatre Guide - Somewhat Recommended

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