Marcelo Pacleb is an equal opportunity choreographer-director.

"If the kids are willing to have the discipline to sign up, we welcome them," says Pacleb, the creative resource behind "Deja Vu 2," a dance concert opening a three-day run tonight at the Ronald E. Bright Theatre at Castle High School.

"You never know who has talent; that's how I was discovered — I was given the chance to prove myself," he says, recalling his entry into dance more than two decades ago. "So I believe every child should have that opportunity, too."

So 100 dancers, age 6 to young adults, have been enlisted for an extravaganza that embraces 19 numbers — some fresh, some retro — over three acts. Such movement of so many dancers is akin to maneuvering a small army, says Pacleb, who is the general directing the 24-VII Danceforce troupe, the hip-and-hot movers and shakers of lyrical, hip-hop and other modern dances.

The larger production numbers will feature 45 dancers — there's one huge segment in each of the three acts — and when you add costumes, you're talking heavy-duty prep and production manpower.

"Some will be dancing in a concert for the first time; others are naturally born dancers, who have experience, the passion and the fire," says Pacleb. The veterans in his stable are the agile workaholics from the 24-VII Danceforce ensemble, the award-winning regulars in the Miss Hawai'i pageant finals.

Other gyrating youngsters are from the Castle-based Danceforce high school crew; and several young adults, including troupers from the recent "A Chorus Line" revival at the Bright Theatre this summer. And the minors, who comprise the junior corps, are students at Pacleb's studio in the Windward Mall.

At a rehearsal last week, there was perpetual motion as dancers of all ages — some being dropped off by parents, others car-pooling to the late afternoon practice session that would extend through the night — displayed the kind of commitment and stamina associated with Pacleb.

"It does take some time to coordinate," says Pacleb, himself an energetic 46 (he turns 47 in December), who has been dancing since he was 20.

Clad in a black polo shirt, brown cargo pants and black sneakers, he looks more like a big brother than a seasoned mentor as he whisks on and off stage, taking different vantage points to eyeball the routines and formations.

'SWEET' MOVES

The performers turn, spin, kick — one even somersaults — to tracks of several versions of "Sweet Dreams," the Eurythmics' hit.

"What do you do with your arms?" Pacleb shouts from the seating area, flagging a faux pas. "It wasn't me!" a voice shouts back.

"5, 6, 7, 8 and back ... arms down," the director commands.

In the house, girls wait their turns; a few read, to catch up on homework. One or two tinker with feathered headdresses for the juniors' "Witch Doctor" number.

Daniel "Woody" Wood, 25, a drummer by trade, is making his first appearance as a dancer in two numbers. It's a struggle.

"Kinda hard," he says. "The moves are foreign to me, but I do know rhythm and syncopation. Drumming's way easier."

His confidence level has escalated since signing on, however. A Kamehameha Schools graduate, Wood says he's glad to glide into dance, despite the trepidation.

"I never danced hula in school; I used to sit on the sideline at school dances," he says.

"Because I'm a two-left-feet kind of a guy, I needed to stretch out of my comfort zone. But drumming helped with the rhythm; now I practice my dance in front of a mirror. I'm just doing it for fun — to prove that I can do it — but I still teach drumming at Kamehameha and at Castle, and arrange drum-line music for both schools and Moanalua."

TELLING A STORY

Tamara Rapp, 10, is part of the junior cast, but she's been training half her life.

"It feels good to perform," says Tamara, who's home-schooled. "Every number tells a story, and Marcelo's funny, telling jokes and making us laugh when we rehearse. We get to put on makeup, too, for the concert — and that's cool."

Her dad (Joe Rapp) sees every concert; her mom (Tani Rapp) helps with costume changes backstage.

Whyley Yoshimura, 16, a soft-spoken Kamehameha junior from Mililani, represented Danceforce — and won — in the Summer Jamm competition in July at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. In the lyrical solo mirror-image division, he amassed a perfect 300 score in the preliminaries and 299 in the finals.

Dance gives him strength, dignity and individuality. "I feel unique when I'm performing," Yoshimura says, eyes glowing. "I tend to be very competitive, and maybe it's because I have a twin brother, Lowen, who attends Mililani High; when we were young, we used to be dressed alike in the same clothes, but he doesn't dance — he's into baseball."

Yoshimura says dance also keeps him fit, happy and honest. "Technique is something you have to work hard at, and you can't fake it," he says. "It's also a cliche if you say that you dance to express yourself; it's a lot more. And if you can win gracefully, you have to learn to lose gracefully, too."

TWO FOR THE SHOW

Niki Passas and Jay Jay Queja, who played young marrieds in "A Chorus Line," find it appealing to work alongside each other. And yes, they met through dance — and are members of Pacleb's 24-VII troupe.

"We were always partnering," says Passas, 18, who just graduated from Kamehameha. "It's hard to meet others outside of dance."

"We were always together," says Queja, 20, who attends Kapi'olani Community College. "We will have been together two years come September."

Both credit Pacleb for his ability to motivate them. "Emotionally, he helped me a lot — always challenging me to strive, do more," says Passas.

"What I appreciate most is that he's taught me how to be a mentor to others," says Queja, who teaches at Punahou.

A MUSICAL FORCE

Cole Horibe, who turns 20 today, has been with 24-VII off and on for six years. "When I first started with the group, my lungs were burning and hurting," he says about the rigors of dance as he wipes off perspiration from his brow.

A KCC student who combines martial arts with his acting, singing and dancing in musical theater, Horibe says he’s found a parallel universe: "Marcelo's beliefs and morals are like my own, and working with him, he reinforces what I feel."

Horibe adores "becoming someone different in a play. I personally like singing and being embodied by music," he says, though this outing is only about dance. Horibe already his distinguished himself in such roles as Tulsa in "Gypsy," Luciento in "Kiss Me Kate," and Bernardo in "West Side Story," all at Army Community Theatre.

BUSY DAYS AHEAD

The Danceforce 'ohana will collaborate again, in "DanceExperience 20," Nov. 25 through Dec. 5, and in "DanceExperience21," April 28 through May 4, at the Bright theater. Pacleb also will choreograph the campus "Music Man Jr.," Feb. 24-26.

"I'll also be doing new shows for Norwegian Cruise Lines ships — the Pride of America, where we launch new productions every six months, and the new Pride of Hawai'i," he says.

"It's been sort of busy," Pacleb sighs.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.