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FEAT U HE S Man of Steele 'FOLKS BERGESE' DANCER COMES TO SHOW IT WAY OF PUIS/ HAWAII, LAKE TAHOE By Hilary L. Green IT?╟╓S BEING CALLED ?╟úTHE BEST PRO- duction show in town?╟Ñ and ...?╟úa must-see for visitors and locals alike.?╟Ñ It?╟╓s the newest edition of the ?╟úFolieS,?╟Ñ aptly named ?╟úThe Best of the Folies Bergere ... Sexier Than Ever.?╟Ñ and it?╟╓s been at home at the Tropicana since 1959. Award-winning director Jerry Jack- son has done it again. He has put togeth- er a brilliant, fast-moving show that is a celebration of the history of the world- renowned ?╟úFolies.?╟Ñ Jackson is one of the most respected leaders in the entertain- ment world and certainly one of the most talented. In addition to being named the show?╟╓s director in 1975, he?╟╓s credited as being the creator, choreographer and costume designer for the ?╟úFolies Berg- ere.?╟Ñ He even wrote some of the music and designed sets and scenery. With Jackson?╟╓s reputation for first- class entertainment, he?╟╓s able to cast from the best of the best. Dancer David Steele is one of them. Waikiki-born, Steele grew up in Phoenix. He played football, soccer and baseball, and studied dance. ?╟úI got into dancing to improve my playing sports,?╟Ñ Steele said. ?╟úFor my coordination and balance, I took jazz classes and some ballet.?╟Ñ Steele was in his first year of college at Arizona State University when his dance teacher spotted his potential and suggested he audition for ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ So, instead of vacationing in California, he came to Las Vegas, tried out and got the job. That was in 1980. When the show had to go ?╟úon hold?╟Ñ three months into rehearsals, Steele audi- tioned for a role in the ?╟úLido de Paris.?╟Ñ The ?╟úLido?╟╓s?╟Ñ famed Miss Bluebell hired him, and Steele spent the next year and a half living in Paris, dancing in the show. While he was there, he took a month off, bought a rail pass and trav- eled throughout Europe. ?╟úIt was wonderful,?╟Ñ Steele said with a grin. ?╟úBut it made me appreciate Amer- ica, that?╟╓s for sure.?╟Ñ The Steeles have two sons?╟÷a 6-and- a-half-year-old and a 5-month-old baby, and they are in the middle of creating a third, their new house. Steele is building their two-story dream house, which is due to be completed in September. He also plays ice hockey and coaches his older son?╟╓s hockey and soccer teams. Steele must keep in excellent physi- cal condition to be able to lead his acti ve life. He says that the ?╟úFolies,?╟Ñ ?╟úIs very demanding?╟÷that?╟╓s why I wanted to do the ?╟ Folies.?╟╓ It?╟╓s great dancing. It?╟╓s very physical, and the dancers are really fea- tured in the show. It?╟╓s a high-paced show. It?╟╓s great.?╟Ñ You must see the longest-running production show in Las Vegas in the Tropicana?╟╓s Tiffany Theatre. Steele was the only American in the ?╟úLido?╟Ñ cast and, despite loving his time overseas, he started to get homesick for the States. So he moved back to Las Vegas, auditioned for the ?╟úLido?╟Ñ at the Stardust and spent the next six months in the show. He then accepted an offer to live in Lake Tahoe for a couple of years, dancing in ?╟úBreakin?╟╓ Loose?╟Ñ for producer Frederic Apcar before return- ing to the ?╟úLido?╟Ñ for six years, until the show closed. He spent six months dancing in the Stardust?╟╓s expanded edition of ?╟úBoy- lesque?╟Ñ before securing a spot in the ?╟úFolies Bergere?╟Ñ at the Tropicana. ?╟úI finally got the ?╟ Folies,?╟╓ ?╟Ñ Steele said. ?╟úThat was the one show I had been trying to get in. Not many people leave the ?╟ Folies,?╟╓ so there are very few oppor- tunities to get in the show.?╟Ñ Steele has had what he calls ?╟úthe best job in town?╟Ñ since 1991. It was a good year for Steele. He and his wife, Gail, a dancer, were married the same year. The two met when they worked together in the ?╟úLido?╟Ñ at the Stardust. Gail went on to become a principal in the ?╟úFolies?╟Ñ before retiring from show business. ?╟úThe Best of the Folies Bergere?╟╓ ?√ß Where ?╟≤ Tropicana ?√ß When ?╟≤ Fri.-Wed. ?√ß Information ?╟≤739-2411 46 August 31, 1997/SHOWBIZ