Surge Dance Team Worth Price of Admission
By Lee Nessel
Florida Today
This group doesn’t just think they can dance, they know they can. But the Surge dancers still seem to be a too-well-kept secret. You need to see them to understand the level of talent we’re dealing with here.
Gee “GB” Bethancourt, 28, and his wife, Colleen, 29, own Evolution Dance Center in Port St. John. They have brought years of experience dancing and choreographing to Brevard County, and are part of the five-member Surge Dancers that perform at all home games for the Florida Winter Baseball League team — the Space Coast Surge — based at Cocoa Expo.
My first impression when seeing the Surge Dancers do their thing at a sparsely attended Surge game on Halloween night: Wow, this is very high-level entertainment for Brevard County. I could watch them dance all night.
So it came as no surprise when I learned that the Bethancourts have been working with the Orlando Magic, choreographing for their dance team since 2002. Or that Colleen, a master choreographer, worked in Las Vegas and with Disney. GB has worked for Universal Studios and with Aretha Franklin and Marc Anthony.
And after coming to understand the sincere passion they have for what they do, it’s refreshing to hear they are teaching and sharing their talents with local children and teens, and do a lot of work with non-profit organizations.
The Bethancourts moved to Brevard from Orlando and opened Evolution Dance Center in August 2007.
“We wanted to bring what we do to this side of town,” GB said. “The arts needed a push.”
So, what has the reception been like?
“I will say that it has been tough, but people are starting to open their minds to something new and different,” GB said.
The dance team does short routines between innings, interacts with the crowd and hosts fun fan activities on the field.
A random meeting with Surge general manager Sean Boudreaux led to the gig. When asked what they could do, GB said: “You give me the green light . . . we’ll choreograph some routines and dance on top of the dugout.”
That’s exactly what they do, GB throwing in some unfathomably high backflips. The dance team also supports and motivates the players.
“We’re really getting into the games, cheering for the team,” Colleen said. “We’re not just there to dance, we’re there supporting the team.”
The Surge are 2-13, and in last place of the four-team league. They only had three home games before hitting the road for most of November. Not much time to build a fan base.
“Whether there’s one or 1,000 (fans), we’re still going to be the same,” GB said. “We still have to provide the entertainment. It does not matter, really. Yes, of course if you had 1,000 people sitting in these stands, the energy of the game would be a whole lot better. But you can’t rely on that if you are the entertainment.”
The Surge’s next home games start on Nov. 27, when Brevard fans can check out both the professional baseball and professional dance talent through the middle of January. Not bad for a $5 general admission ticket.
“When I first found Gee Bethancourt I could not believe that level of talent would be available to us here locally,” Boudreaux said. “Their diversity makes it a good fit for any audience of any age or background. I truly feel it is equivalent to NBA entertainment at a baseball game.”
But don’t take our word for it. Go catch some winter baseball and energized entertainment.
