Entertainment

There's no pigeonholing Shakira. Just try and peg her as one type of artist, she'll then turn around, do something out of left field and blow your theory to smithereens. And we're talking within the space of a concert. The Colombian singer-songwriter's show Saturday night at American Airlines Center, the Dallas stop on the "Oral Fixation Tour," touched on her many muses mostly through the sheer force of her personality.

Shakira worked for every roar of applause from the 15,775 fans in attendance. The allure of the performance was solely hers. The stage wasn't much in the way of decor, simply four video screens hanging above and a back wall that was occasionally used to reflect images. The platform was full of musicians including a percussionist with a gong, a pianist.

Yet she commanded all the attention. Not because the vampy-quirky star is particularly statuesque or emanating bombshell sparkle. If anything, Shakira still has a pixie quality.

But she radiates power and originality. While the latter third of her set ran too late for our deadlines, that first hour came inundated with signature Shakira-isms. For one, she opened with the frenetic, alt-pop staple "Estoy Aquí" from her debut album, 1996's Pies Descalzos. An odd choice since she's promoting Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and its English-language counterpart Oral Fixation Vol. 2 .

Later, she unleashed "Hey You," her Broadway-beat ditty from Oral Fixation Vol. 2 that showcased her hip shaking. Dressed in a belly dancer costume, a nod to her Middle Eastern heritage, Shakira swiveled and sauntered during "Whenever, Wherever."

And wow! She emerged in a stunning red dress with bell-like sleeves and a long train to sing the lovely, dramatic ballad "No." The train was draped over rods that she held so she could gracefully twirl the fabric as she spun. She looked like a dancing rose that unfurled, then recoiled.

For "La Tortura," her huge Latin hit from Fijación Oral Vol. 1, she shook her abs and bust so in tune with the percussive rhythm that the song and her body became one. She also strapped on a glittery electric guitar and delivered a couple of rockers.

It's no wonder she's had mainstream pop success. Five years ago, Laundry Service struck a chord to the tune of 3 million copies. Her recent pop chart-topper, the insanely catchy "Hips Don't Lie," featured rapper Wyclef Jean, who served as her opening act. His set offered unexpected musical excursions such as his hip-hop take on "Guantanamera."

If you're gonna play with Shakira, you gotta make some noise that's outside the box.

E-mail mtarradell@dallasnews.com