Dancing Queen (Tribute to ABBA)

Show Review

Get your jive on in Vegas

By Caroline Fontein

Dancing Queen at the new Broadway Theater at New York-New York pays tribute to ABBA’s music and other popular tunes from the '70s and Motown in a riveting musical extravaganza featuring singers, dancers and a catalog of make-you-wanna-move tunes from the decade. The emphasis is on ABBA music, but the show also features other hit songs including “Night Fever,” “Stayin’ Alive” and “We are Family.”

A vocal ensemble of two female singers (one blonde and one brunette) and two male singers leads the show. Decked out in platform shoes and sequined outfits, the funky foursome opens with ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.” They’re joined by a cast of male and female dancers who turn the stage into a disco with their upbeat dance moves and '70s-themed costumes. From there the soundtrack progresses to more ABBA hits including "Money Money Money," "Waterloo" and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" The singers take turns performing as an ensemble and doing solo numbers complemented by the troupe of dancers.

With plenty of moving and shaking happening on stage, the performers don’t just stop at ABBA tunes. Other hits from the decade are performed. The disco fever reaches an all-time high during "YMCA." The entire cast, including dancers costumed like The Village People, take the stage for this high-octane number. It's also the setting for the aforementioned roller skater. With all the action on stage, people in the audience can't help but join in with the performers in spelling out "YMCA" with their hands.

After plenty of booty-bumpin’ the show takes a turn down Motown lane as “Dancing in the Streets” fills the theater. The feel-good tunes keep coming with “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and other hits including “My Girl” and “Shout.”

If you’re just there to hear ABBA, don’t worry. It’s not long before the performers get back to the '70s and more favorites from the Swedish superstars.

British producer and composer David King of Spirit Productions is behind Dancing Queen. He's made a career out of launching shows in popular tourist destinations and currently manages about 20 hit shows around the world. His first musical, Spirit of the Dance, has been running for almost 15 years in other locations. It can also be seen at New York-New York.