A high-test evening of men in motion

The Bad Boys of Dance came to town Friday evening, and the Main Hall of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts echoed with approving squeals and screams. The troupe delivered the sort of high-octane blend of ballet, contemporary movement, hip-hop and gymnastics that would fit in on television dance competition shows (one member, Robbie Nicholson, is actually the first -- and only -- "American Dance Idol").

In short, these dancers have real skills, but the concept and choreography doesn't always serve them well.

Artistic director Rasta Thomas is a dazzling dancer who starred on Broadway in Twyla Tharp's "Movin' Out" and has performed with an impressive list of companies including American Ballet Theatre and Russia's Kirov Ballet. Thomas is one of those performers you just have to watch, especially when he reels off moves that seem impossible without ice skates or a trampoline. He led the Bad Boys through two fast-paced acts, one centered on a love story, the other a hyperkinetic jam session.

Thomas choreographed the first half of the show, "Beautiful Day," with Adrienne Canterna-Thomas, set to music by several pop artists, most prominently U2. The group leapt and spun to Bono, urging the crowd to clap along, but then the scene shifted, and as Maria Callas sang music from "Carmen," the performers bounced around blow-up dolls in the most repulsive moment in dance this year. Thankfully, a real woman -- guest artist Ashley Canterna -- arrived to defuse the testosterone-fest, and soon she and Thomas were partnering their way through the ups and downs of a relationship.

The first act felt disjointed, and the soundtrack didn't offer a strong enough through-line. The performers did hit their stride in the second half, "Rock You," which featured music from Queen, Prince and Michael Jackson.

Here they pulled out all the stops -- Robert Roldan used his appealing energy to channel Jackson's vibe, Canterna gamboled with confidence, and the guys were sweetly goofy while mimicking "Bohemian Rhapsody." Although Canterna-Thomas's choreography was mostly limited to big, applause-baiting moves, the Bad Boys embraced it, effortlessly pirouetting into aerial cartwheels and showing off hang time with space-devouring leaps.

It was also one of the few dance shows with an encore -- actually two, the last an "I'm Too Sexy" throw-down -- and then the Bad Boys of Dance called it a night, their reputation intact.

Caroline Palmer writes regularly about dance.