Review on the fly:
#mnfringe show 4: Latin Papi: beauty, grace, athleticism, sensuality of the human body on full display in this playful, flirty, often funny dance showcase from Gabriel Mata and Armani Rey Colon; saving one last punch for the end, of course; it's not hot in here, it's them; treat yourself - 5 stars
Dance shows at the Fringe are always a fun challenge - trying to convey the impact of movement in words. Plus, Gabriel Mata always creates shows where there are other layers beneath the movement or comical dialogue. So there’s a lot to unpack, as usual, with his latest show “Latin Papi” a series of duets created with his fellow dancer in the show, Armani Rey Colon (and together the two of them recently founded the new Washington, DC dance company Cuerpo x Cuervo, presenting this show).
Mata and Colon don’t speak themselves until the show is over (as Gabriel joked to the opening night crowd, “The show only runs for 46 minutes so that means I get to talk for 14.”). The two performers move wordlessly through the space to the sounds of Latin, club, techno and electronic music, accompanied periodically throughout by a voiceover from Mata, which is where a lot of the comedy in the evening comes from. Introducing the concept of the show at the beginning, and then extrapolating in greater detail about the variety of Papis later on, Mata keeps the spirt of the show playful and inviting.
“Relax. Your husband doesn’t need to know.”
Also playful and inviting, the flirtiness of the two dancers, both with the audience and one another. There is an undercurrent between them throughout the show, at times competitive, at times alluring, at times intimate and supportive. Mata and Colon play off one another well.
“All that denim.”
It’s a very extroverted show, almost exhibitionist. The dancer characters - and they are characters, not the dancers themselves - want the audience to look at them, when they’re moving, when they’re dressing or undressing. There’s also an evocative use of color and light and shadow in the different dance sections of the performance (shout-out to the Fringe techs making the most of the shared light plot to give the show a distinctive visual look). The light and dark plays over the sometimes sparkling and colorful costumes, as well as over the lines of muscle in the performers’ bodies.
“Are you ready for the ride?”
Mata mentioned in the brief remarks to the audience at the end of the show that he’s been able through his performances in the Fringe across these last several years to more confidently explore and connect with his culture, and celebrate being a brown body moving in this space. That philosophy is evident in every minute of the show, including its arresting final sequence.
Because it’s a Gabriel Mata show (now equally a Mata and Colon show, however), they were of course going to leave us with something to ponder. So after over half an hour of joyful, uninhibited, athletic dance, bodies filling the space with swoops and dives and bodies colliding and entwining without apology, just when you think this might just be a happy uncomplicated show from start to finish, the music shifts and becomes a bit more ominous. Mata and Colon strip down to their dance belts in a way that suddenly isn’t sexual or inviting (or even perhaps consensual), but heads down, almost in shame or wanting to avoid being fully seen. They collect the clothes that have been scattered around the space over the course of the show and its many sultry costume changes, then finally face not the audience but each another, and find a way even in this darker circumstance to connect and support one another. Even in a grim moment, there is hope. Given the general climate these days for queer bodies, and bodies not perceived as white, those last moments of “Latin Papi” are a lot to consider.
If you want a joyful dance show, if you want a sexy dance show, if you want a dance show that makes you think, Mata and Colon have a great Fringe show for you in “Latin Papi.” See the show and have some fun.
5 Stars, Very Highly Recommended
You can find reviews of other shows in these links to my listings of 5 and 4.5 Star Shows (VERY Highly Recommended) and 4 and 3.5 Star Shows (Highly Recommended). Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival. And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival.
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