The Gold Over America Tour made a stop to Pittsburgh on Oct. 2 at the PPG Paints Arena.
Tickets were reduced to only $19 for all dance majors in the Conservatory of Performing Arts. This deal was offered by the executive producer of the tour, Mark Swanhart, a Point Park dance alumnus. Swanhart, also known as “Swany,” has had a successful career since graduating from Point Park.
Swanhart may have started working as a performer, but his career has since taken off in all aspects of the entertainment industry. He has been able to choreograph, write, direct and produce for stage, film and television. Swanhart has worked with music icons such as Celine Dion and The Rolling Stones, as well as various tours, some of which include “The Bachelor Live on Stage 2020,” “Dancing With The Stars Live Tour 2020” and “America’s Got Talent Tour.” Aside from writing and producing for traveling shows, he has also worked on creating Super Bowl performances, notably with Snoop Dog, Pitbull and Kelly Clarkson. Additionally, he has contributed to pieces by Cirque du Soleil and Disney.
Swanhart was unable to comment due to the show’s rigorous travel schedule, but he was able to fit in a Q&A session with upperclassmen dance majors in the GRW on Oct. 1. Fortunately for the listeners, Swanhart brought in Olympic gymnast Jade Carey, who talked about her career. More specifically, she discussed her experience working on the Gold Over America Tour.
The tour features impressive routines and high-energy choreography. It runs similarly to a concert, with “back-up” dancers performing popular moves. The gymnasts dance with the ensemble and will then complete routines to themed music. The flips, tricks and twirls left the audience erupting in applause.
The show features Simon Biles, known as the most decorated Olympic gymnast of all time. By her side is Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Fred Richard, Joscelyn Roberson, Shane Wiskus and Yul Moldauer,all of which compete for Team USA. In this show, they individually perform their highest-scoring events. The women gymnasts perform on the uneven bars and the balance beam, while the men showcase their skills on the pommel horse, uneven bars and parallel bars. Both identifications also demonstrate their floor event.
Alongside the Olympic gymnasts who performed, there were many renowned college-level gymnasts. In total, the cast involved fourteen men and women.
To students in attendance, the staging and script of the performance represented what it meant to work both as a performer and as a member of a creative team. This illustrated the meaning behind being a true artist.
