Dance is the backbone of so many different Las Vegas shows and live entertainment options. Take the talented dancers out of any production and you lose that special flair that sets things off on any stage. The many brilliant artists that make up the Strip’s diverse dance community know how important they are, and that’s why they couldn’t wait to return to the stage after last year’s long entertainment shutdown.

Shelby Jordan kept busy during the downtime, and her hard work paid off; she’s back in two different dance-centric spectacles on the Strip—the burlesque sensation “X” Country (which has been back since the fall) and MJ Live, the musical tribute to the King of Pop. The Las Vegas native took a short break to share her perspectives.

Congratulations on the reopening of MJ Live last month! How long have you been with that show?

I’m coming up on five years this summer. One of the great things about that show is it’s an early show at 7 p.m., so I’ve always been able to do other things, bounce around, and still maintain that show. And it’s seven days a week and it used to travel every month, too, so they always need more people.

How different is dancing in MJ Live from performing in “X” Country? Obviously, they are very different kinds of productions.

They do offer two totally different experiences. MJ Live has the impersonator and we’re really the back-up dancers, but it’s also fun because there’s a live band. Dancing to live music really adds to the energy of performing and everyone in the cast working together to make this cohesive thing. And in “X” Country, we (the dancers) are the main focus. It’s a smaller cast, more intimate, a different vibe. When you’re the focus, that’s kind of a lot sometimes, so sometimes it’s easier to sort of share the show. And there are two different dance styles because one is Michael Jackson and based on all his moves, and “X” Country really goes through the full spectrum.

What was it like to adjust to the different restrictions? You are dancing while wearing a mask.

It was so nice being back because I was off for eight months and I was doing these odd jobs, and all that time, all I wanted to do was have my regular job back. Masks were a physical adjustment and … it’s hard in both shows. The cloth mask is not easier than the plastic transparent mask; both are hard to breathe in. And I feel like I’m using my eyebrows a lot more to send messages to the audience. But another big adjustment was that when we (reopened), the people in the audience were so far away and you could only see their eyes, so even if they were smiling, we can’t see it. It’s hard to gauge how much they liked the show. Now, with everyone being closer, it’s a lot easier to work from those reactions.

How did that long eight-month layoff change your habits and routine?

Since there was not a lot to do, I started taking time to work on photography, and I kept running every day to stay in shape. When studios started to open, I continued to take dance classes and just found as many gigs possible that were still in the realm. It definitely made me feel like you need multiple outlets, not just dance, but a second or third or maybe fourth thing to be working on. That way you can latch on to another career at some point.

Did this crazy year change the way you think about your profession?

I think so, and I’m actually excited, because I think there’s going to be a whole different dance market in Las Vegas. It’s going to look completely different from what it was, and I’m excited to see that landscape, and I just want to push forward with creating in the Vegas space and whatever kind of entertainment takes hold in the future.

MJ Live, The STRAT, 702.380.7777

“X” Country, Harrahs, 18+, 702.777.2782

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