'Tap Dogs' a nice fit in its new home

Dein Perry's "Tap Dogs," six incredibly talented young athletes plus two exceptional musician-percussionists, adds a new high-voltage dimension to the art of tap dancing -- blue-collar style -- twice nightly (except Mondays) in the Stratosphere's 300-seat Images Cabaret. There were a few empty seats at 8 p.m. Thursday, but there shouldn't have been.

Sheldon Perry, Dein's brother, is lead tap dog, the foreman. As his work crew, Todd Anderson, Dan Clemente, Jeremy Fullam, Garon Michalitsis and Chris Burke excel individually and as an ensemble. There are 29 separate segments. The longest, made up of six quick solos, runs four minutes and five seconds. The finale has the sextet dancing off the stage onto six ringside tables for a sure standing ovation.

The flexible construction site set, by designer-director Nigel Triffitt, is the one used during a recent one-week engagement in the 1,700-seat MGM Grand Theatre. It is just as effective in the Stratosphere's smaller showroom setting, which enables the audience to more fully experience and appreciate the performers. Andrew Wilkie's driving score could be less obtrusive down a few decibels.

Creator-choreographer Perry has come up with a timeless vehicle that can be tailored to fit almost any venue. In the Images Cabaret, it is back to its Australian roots. Perry was an industrial machinist in Newcastle, a steel town north of Sydney, Australia. "Tap Dogs" came into being there first as The Tap Brothers. In its current form, it has won major awards in London, New York and Australia.

At $24.95, it is different, unique -- one of Las Vegas best and most exciting entertainment bargains, worth seeing more than once.

JOE DELANEY is a Sun entertainment critic.

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