Brazouka

Braz Dos Santos has quite the tale to tell. Born to humble beginnings in the Brazilian town of Porto Seguro, birthplace of the much loved Lambada, his passion for dance was all that he needed to take himself from the fishing boats of home to the bright lights of Paris and on now to creating and starring in his own show at the Festival.

A real pulsation of different dance rhythms that's both contagious and thoroughly entertaining.

It's only fitting then, that the show itself centres around this very story. From football and fishing nets to fame and fortune, this company of 14 dancers smash the Assembly on the mound to pieces with an energy, vivacity and skill to rival any dance group.

Its roots are set in the style of Lambazouk, a new-age Lambada with a more modern Latin approach. The choreography also uses some of the best elements of breakdance, capoeira, Afro-Caribbean dance and contemporary style. It becomes a real pulsation of different dance rhythms that's both contagious and thoroughly entertaining.

What lets it down slightly for me is that the attempt at a story is marginally lost by Dos Santos' slightly too thick – though fantastically charming – Brazilian accent. I felt like I missed a lot of what was supposed to be going on. Additionally some of the slower duets started to drag a touch – but that's really nit-picking.

Directed by Arlene Phillips and produced by Pamela Stephenson Connolly, this show was never going to fall too short of the mark and by that I mean delivering to it's intended audience. By the looks of the middle aged men and ten year old girls alike who helped make up some of tonight's crowd – who were guiltlessly up on their feet clapping, dancing and cheering by the end – they really delivered.