"We wanted to have that feel of a smoky club and keep the balance so that a big show succeeds. It's all about satisfying the audience and dancers' demands," Gilkison said.
A consultant to the promoter -- New Aspect International Cultural and Educational -- and an experienced dance teacher and performer, Kent Chou (周志坤) said he had seen the show in Japan and recommended it.
"It's been a long time since we have seen some new steps, that are fresh, light and shiny. This dance style is fashionable, very fresh and different. It's individual and is a new way of expression," Chou said.
"The fox trot and dance steps like that were our grandparents' way of dancing and we recreate those styles for the clubbing generation," Gilkison said.
As the saying goes: "The more things change, the more things stay the same."
During the Martial Law period (1948 to 1987) in Taiwan going to dance halls was banned because it was viewed as a form of "illegal assembly." Ballroom dancing was also mixed up with what was called "social dancing" -- which sometimes involved prostitution.
"Yes, it's funny," Chou said after the press conference. "Twenty-six to 27-years ago the police used to catch us and arrest us if we went dancing. Now we can see the sunshine."
"Before it was illegal to dance and now there's freedom of expression. We Taiwanese do not have to restrict ourselves and this intimate relationship between a man and woman, so sexual, can now be communicated."
Judge for yourself at Burn the Floor Dance Evolution.
Burn the Floor fact box:
Where: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館), 505, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei (台北市仁愛路4段505號)
When: The show runs every night to April 16, at 7:30, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm
Tickets: NT$700 to NT$3,600 from www.artsticke.com.tw or (02) 3393 9888



