The Bad Boys of Dance, by the numbers

Our stat sheet on the half-dozen athletes dancing into the Auditorium Theatre this weekend.
(Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of Dance)
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Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of DanceThe Bad Boys of Dance in performance
(Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of Dance)
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Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of DanceRasta Thomas
(Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of Dance)
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Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of DanceName Brandt Martinez, 21Hometown Peoria, ArizonaStats 5'9", 165 lbsBegan dancing at age 10Months as a Bad Boy 18Music in heavy rotation Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley. �I�m also a huge Eminem fan.�Guilty pleasures Hot peppers and hot sauces�Before a show, I� just relax. But I end every performance with a set of push-ups.�Aches and pains Fractured tibiaFavorite dancing footwear �Three pairs of socks, never matching.�Nondance interests Being outdoors, hiking and jet-skiing
(Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of Dance)
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Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of DanceName James Boyd, 23Hometown Jacksonville, FloridaStats 5'8", 160 lbsBegan dancing at age 11Months as a Bad Boy 12Guilty pleasures Fried chicken and Cheetos�Before a show, I� take three deep breaths.�Aches and pains Achilles tendinitisFavorite dancing footwear SneakersNondance interests Playing pool. Watching football. Anything that doesn�t require wearing tights.
(Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of Dance)
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Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of DanceName Lee Gumbs, 19Hometown St. Thomas, Virgin IslandsStats 5'11", 160Began dancing at age 8Months as a Bad Boy 10Aches and pains None, knock woodFavorite dancing footwear Bare feetNondance interest Photography
(Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of Dance)
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Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of DanceName Ryan Carlson, 20Hometown Jacksonville, FloridaStats 5'7", 140 lbsBegan dancing at age 12Months as a Bad Boy 10�I bring� that fresh, raw swag.�Career high Appearing on BET television show 106 & Park
(Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of Dance)
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Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of DanceName Shane Ohmer, 25Hometown Cincinnati, OhioStats 6'2", 180 lbsBegan dancing at age 8Months as a Bad Boy 10�I bring� the lead-ballet-dancer quality, with a little Freddie Mercury.�Career highs Performing with River North Dance Chicago, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Les Grands Ballets CanadiensMusic in heavy rotation Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright, Yes, Lil Wayne, Rascal FlattsGuilty pleasures Olives, pickles and chocolate milk
(Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of Dance)
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Photograph: Courtesy of the Bad Boys of DanceName Timmy Olson, 22Hometown Anoka, MinnesotaStats 5'6", 150 lbsBegan dancing at age 3Months as a Bad Boy 11�I bring� the turns, and I tell the jokes.�Guilty pleasure Being a Minnesota sports fan�Before a show, I� have to eat an apple.�Aches and pains None, knock woodFavorite dancing footwear �My awesome jazz shoes.�Nondance interests Watching and playing sports
By Zachary Whittenburg |
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By phone from L.A., ballet star Rasta Thomas says he created the Bad Boys of Dance, which visits the Auditorium Theatre this weekend, to make concert-dance more accessible, especially to young people. “I don’t mean any disrespect, now. I hope to one day be old and wealthy and go to the ballet and the opera, too. But I’ll ask my peers”—Thomas is 30—“ ‘You wanna come see me dance?’ and they’re, like, ‘No.’ ” He laughs.

When not on tour (they’re big in Germany), the Bad Boys all live together in a big house outside of Baltimore. They occasionally get fan mail. “When a guy writes me to say, ‘My wife takes me to stuff all the time and I hate it, but I liked your show,’ that’s the most flattering,” Thomas says. “When it comes from the dude who didn’t think that he’d enjoy what we do.”

Click through the slideshow above for all the deets on the cast of the Chicago show.

Rasta Thomas’s Bad Boys of Dance bust into the Auditorium Theatre Saturday 5 and Sunday 6.

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