The critically acclaimed American Spirit Dance Company, under the direction of Jo Rowan, will tour Los Alamos, New Mexico April 12-16 and present performances at Duane W. Smith Auditorium and Fuller Lodge. The company is comprised of 30 dancers from Oklahoma City University's School of American Dance and Arts Management, which is the first of its kind of higher education to celebrate the indigenous American art forms of tap, jazz, and musical theatre. The touring company has previously performed in the Republic of China, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Singapore and for U.S. military personnel under the auspices of the USO of Pensacola, Florida. In 1998, the company made its first tour to Los Alamos and found tremendous success.

The two-hour shows presented at Duane W. Smith Auditorium will take place Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15 at 7 p.m. On Thursday, April 13, at 2 p.m., in Duane W. Smith Auditorium, the company will present a shorter version of the show, along with question and answer session, for the students of Los Alamos High School. Another abbreviated show will be presented Friday, April 14, at noon, at Fuller Lodge, as part of the Brown Bag Lunch Series.

The American Spirit Tour Company Show is a Broadway-style revue that truly offers something for everyone. The full performance begins with an explosive men's jazz and tap number, "Women Need Not Apply." Following is a women's exciting swing-style piece, "Dancin' Fool." The comical, cute and quirky "Tap Marks" features fast footwork while "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a beautiful contemporary ballet piece. Next, return to the Jazz Age of the 1920s with"Won't You Charleston With Me?" The dramatic "Letter to Sarah" is the story of the last words written to a Civil War widow. "Marry the Man Today" is a lively vocal duet and is followed by a soulful jazz number, "I Can't Stand the Rain" and the energetic "Everybody Says Don't." Ending the first act are the men in the "Crapshooter's Ballet" from Guys and Dolls and the women's lyrical interpretation of "Let There Be Peace on Earth."

The second act begins with the high-stepping "City Lights" and a male lyrical solo to "Open Arms." Three couples tap their hearts out in "Almost Like Being in Love," and the story of love lost in the Vietnam War is expressed in the emotional "Why God Why?" "Rhythmic Ride" is a precision tap number which the company performed at the 1999 Flo-Bert Awards for Tap in New York City. A female vocalist will sing "All That Jazz" from Chicago and Mason Williams' "Flamenco Lingo" will follow. The spanish flair continues with "Samba," which is followed by a female solo to LeAnn Rimes' "Crazy." The finale features the cast in an aerobic swing number to "Sing Sing Sing."