Alex, the dancing girl with big dreams from Pittsburgh, is coming back to Houston in Flashdance, the Musical, the play derived from the 1983 hit movie (starring Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri) defined as much by its infectious beats as its one shoulder exposed shirt style. Oh and the athleticism.

Also headed back is DeQuina Moore, a '98 graduate of Houston's own High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and a Broadway performer in Legally Blonde (the original Pilar) and Little Shop of Horrors (the original Chiffon), courtesy of Theatre Under the Stars to play Kiki, one of the waitresses by day and flashdancers by night.

Kiki, Gloria and Tess are Alex's best friends, Moore says. "We want more for her. We want her to become a professional dancer and go to the ballet academy."

Moore says Flashdance continues to appeal because of its music and the message it sends. "I think it is a storyof rejection and overcoming 'no' We've all kind of been told 'no' in a certain way and we have to overcome that."

Moore says the show was tough to cast since it requires triple threats, actors who can also sing and dance. And unlike the movie version, there are no doubles. Besides the songs that everyone knows from the movie (Maniac, Flashdance ... What a Feeling, and Lady, Lady, Lady) there are 16 other songs written for the musical.

"It's quite amazing to watch live," she says, adding that they are getting standing ovations every night on the tour which started (of course) in Puittsburgh.

The stage production makes clear the distinction between the 1980s phenom of flashdancing and historic stripping, she says. "It really was an art. Unlike stripping it was really about the art form. Unfortunately these girls couldn't do it in larger venues."

Flashdance, the Musical runs June 4-16. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at the Hobby Center, 800 Bagby. For information call 713-558-8887 or visit tuts.com. $24 to $109.