Australia’s own can can cabaret can do.

By Paul Ransom.

Take thirty one dancers, singers and acrobats, wed them to a ten year dream and … voila!

Welcome to the red velvet world of Ooh La La, where Australia’s best cabaret show girls return from wowing the world stage to strut their stuff alongside the likes of Rhys Bobridge (of SYTYCD fame) in Todd Patrick’s latest high octane extravaganza.

According to one of the show’s stars, former Moulin Rouge and Lido dancer Alexandra Gray, Ooh La La takes the classic Paris/Vegas show girl cabaret template and redresses it. “It’s a modernised version,” she begins enthusiastically. “Sometimes that stuff can be a bit dated but Todd’s given it more energy and pizzazz. It’s loosely Moulin Rouge inspired but with Todd’s flavour.”

More than that, Ooh La La has given home grown talent the chance to show local audiences why they are so highly regarded overseas. “It’s really great for us,” Gray adds, “because there’s a few of us who’ve been in the Moulin Rouge and to come back here and not be able to do that kind of specialised thing is a bit frustrating sometimes. But this show really gives us the chance to work at home, which is fantastic.”

Come March 24, the curtain will finally rise on Todd Patrick’s splendid vision. Featuring classic show tunes like Rain On My Parade, Piaf anthems like Je Ne Regrette Rien and pop quirks like Mad World, Ooh La La is clearly designed to dazzle.

But is it technically challenging for the dancers? “Not to the point of ballet,” Gray replies frankly, reflecting on her former career. “Quite often these kinds of shows are about the costumes and the grandness of it but I wouldn’t say the same goes for Todd’s show. It is definitely technical but more erring on the side of commercial. It’s like a family friendly show-girl show.”

Given the saucy tradition of the Moulin Rouge, Gray is quick to expand the point. “I would say it’s post-burlesque because there’s a lot of men in the show, which is very powerful, and there’s none of that French topless stuff. It’s definitely sexy; but not in a no children way.”

Although the cabaret revue concept is imported, Todd Patrick has been careful to cast Aussies. “Except for a couple of Kiwis that weaselled their way in,” Gray jokes. ”But hey, we claim them anyway.”

It’s all part of the show’s desire to revamp the style and add an antipodean flavour to the mix.

Beyond that, of course, there’s the dream of taking the concept beyond its premiere run in Melbourne and Victorian regional centres. “This is just the starting point,” Alexandra Gray assures. “There’s discussions all over the place about bigger things. Once everything is put into place and the show is up and running we can definitely see it taking off.”

At which point admirous audiences will doubtless coo, “Ooh la la.”

Ooh La La – Kissing Bee Productions
Australia’s hottest new cabaret show
Limited shows only!
Click here for dates and venues www.kissingbeeproductions.com.au/showdatesticketi.html

For more information visit www.kissingbeeproductions.com.au

The answer is simple: They’ve been there. They know firsthand exactly how much effort it takes to get dancers ready for competitions and concerts.

They are Barb Johnson and Kris Barkow, two dance mums who founded Dancers Dream in 2008. Barb’s oldest daughter danced for 10 years and now teaches dance part-time. Their preteen daughters performed together for years. Which means that for years, they each struggled to carry garment bags, a rolling suitcase, a chair, makeup organiser and a yoga mat — all tied together with bungee cords — to and from dance competitions. Ridiculous! And they’d cringe every time they’d see the mothers with two or three dancers try to navigate hallways without losing the wheels from their flimsy rolling garment racks. Until one day they said, “There’s got to be a better way.”

With a growing wish list they took the best of the “make-do” solutions, added their own ingenuity and came up with The Dream Duffel. The Dream Duffel has everything you need, plus a design that’s so simple, even a young child can get set up on their own. It’s time to eliminate the unnecessary stress, strain and tears from dance performances and competitions.

With The Dream Duffle you can get ready to relax, support your dancer and enjoy the show!

The Dream Duffle is a rolling dance bag with everything from a Patent Pending one-touch telescoping costume rack, garment bag and accessory box, to a folding stool. You get smart, convenient storage and a handy competition garment rack all in one.

You can’t beat this sturdy rolling luggage with pop-out wardrobe for:
Traveling to and from competitions and concerts with ease
Protecting the appearance of costumes and accessories
Ensuring comfortable, stress-free wardrobe changes during shows
Keeping dance gear organised at home
Avoiding the heartbreak of forgotten items
Providing an insulated place for snacks

The Dream Duffel is sold exclusively in Australia by Dance Store.

Visit www.dancestore.com.au or call 0401 533 337.

Dance Store is a massive online dance store that delivers all over Australia.
Dance Store specialises in selling all of their products direct to dance studios at wholesale prices.

Fox Theater, Atlanta
February 19th

By Emily Yewell Volin

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater brought their 2010 North American Tour to Atlanta’s Fox Theater from the 18^th to 21^st of February.  Friday night’s program highlighted the best of 20 years of Judith Jamison’s artistic direction.  The three act performance indulged the audience with hallmark images honoring the Company’s overarching philosophy “to promote the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage.”  Jamison was appointed Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in December 1989 at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey, who personally chose her to succeed him before his untimely death.  Her steadfast commitment to maintain Ailey’s philosophy was paramount throughout the evening.

The ballets of the first two acts (not including In/Side) were excerpts restaged by Masazumi Chaya, with the exception of North Star which was restaged by Ronni Favors. The surprisingly seamless format honorably captured the essence of the complete works.  The quick pace of the program lent a palpable anticipation to an evening that despite its dabbling in so many eclectic performances from Jamison’s 20 years of direction justified Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s reputation for virtuosity in concert modern dance.

Linda Celeste Sims and Glenn Allen Sims in Revelations. Photo Andrew Eccles

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s repertoire is pure, soulful and precise.  Riveting examples of these qualities were found in Rosalyn Deshauteurs’ gritty performance of Ronald K. Brown’s GRACE (1999) and Linda Celeste Sims’ feather light rendition of the Sweetheart/Mother/Wife in Donald McKayle’s Rainbow Round My Shoulder (1959).  North Star (1978), created by Lar Lubovitch, presented a morphing quartet acting as a single entity.  Individual tossing qualities juxtaposed with meticulous group work fed the overall sense of unison despite adversity. The performances of complicated characters found in Frames (Dwight Rhoden, 1992) and Bad Blood (Ulysses Dove, 1984) were candidly kinetic and Samuel Lee Roberts’ performance in Robert Battle’s IN/SIDE(2008) expressed anguish through exquisitely executed lightning fast transitions and breathtaking suspensions.

The second act’s most captivating performances were Jukebox for Alvin (Garth Fagan, 1993) and Polish Pieces (Hans van Manen, 1995).  Matthew Rushing’s performance in Jukebox for Alvin was intimate and technically thrilling; whereas Rachel McLaren and Jamar Roberts were marvelously statuesque and intriguingly paired in Polish Pieces.

 Revelations was performed in its entirety as the evening’s third act.  This familiar journey was a wonderful tribute to the company’s roots.  The dancers’ authenticity of emotion, reverence, and raw skill are showcased in this work created by a 29 year old Ailey in 1960.  The “Blood Memories” he drew upon to create this popular and critically acclaimed work strike contemporary resonance, making Revelations the cornerstone of this company and as poignant as ever.

The 2010 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater North American Tour showcases the past while setting the stage for the future.  What a thrilling way to honor Jamison’s 20 years of Artistic Direction.

For tour dates and schedules visit www.alvinailey.org/page.php?p=tour&v=9&sec=schedule

After wowing crowds at Perth Festival,  French contemporary dance company, Compagnie Montalvo-Hervieu, is now touring to Adelaide and Sydney to perform their exhilarating dance work, Good Morning, Mr Gershwin.

Through live music, spoken word, hip-hop, slamming, tap and contemporary dance, the company led by visionary French choreographer, José Montalvo and dancer, Dominique Hervieu, celebrates and pays homage to the sheer inventiveness of American composer, George Gershwin and his musical repertoire.

Regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting contemporary dance companies and a leader in the integration of live performance with video technology, Compagnie Montalvo-Hervieu are based in one of the most down-trodden areas of Paris, Creteil. A suburb synonymous with high unemployment, race-provoked violence and crime, Creteil is also the home of the hip, back to front lingo of the underclass, Verlan.

The cultural diversity within the Creteil community suited and interested choreographers, Dominique Hervieu and José Montalvo. The mix of youth and age, different religions, amateur and professional dancers have provided the incredible raw talent on display within the company. The company’s resonance within the community impressed the local government and funding has been generous.

With choreography by Montalvo and Hervieu, Good Morning, Mr Gershwin, interpreted by 15 artists, is set against a backdrop of immense and emotive scenery – featuring Broadway musicals and Hollywood movies of the 1930s. The dancers interact with their video counterparts, bringing to life the irresistible glamour of the time with some of Gershwin’s best known Broadway classics.

The second part of the evening draws upon the stirring music of Gershwin’s controversial opera, Porgy and Bess. Set in the African-American enclave of Catfish Row in South Carolina, this modern opera-ballet contains some of Gershwin’s most popular hits such as Summertime and It Ain’t Necessarily So.

During his brief but extraordinary life, George Gershwin crafted some of America’s most defining and memorable music. Drawing on influences from jazz, blues, Russian-Jewish folk harmonies and classical music, his style defied tradition and challenged the social conventions of the time.

Gershwin’s work is complemented perfectly by the innovation of choreographers Montalvo and Hervieu, who effortlessly blend cultures and dance genres with unrivalled integrity, humour and expertise.

In June 2008, Montalvo and Hervieu were appointed Directors of the renowned contemporary dance centre, Théâtre National du Chaillot.  

Adelaide Season
Dates: March 10^th-13th
Venue: Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
Contact: BASS 131 246 www.bass.net.au

Sydney Season
Date: April 8^th-10th                                                                       
Venue: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Tickets: from $39                                                         
Contact: 02 9250 7777 or www.sydneyoperahouse.com 
For further information visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/good_morning_mr_gershwin.aspx                                 

Please note: Video footage contains nudity

WIN a Double Pass to the Opening Night of Good Morning, Mr Gershwin at the Sydney Opera House
Email info@danceinforma.com.au with your name, age and address to go in the draw.
Enter today!

Peridance Center, in partnership with Capezio/Ballet Makers Inc. is proud to announce it’s new location in the historic Beaux Arts-style building at 126 East 13th Street, near 4th Avenue at the beautiful Union Square area, New York City.  The Centre, officially known as Peridance Capezio Center has opened its doors.

This beautiful 3-story dance facility marks a new era for Peridance with an exciting new profile.

The Center houses six large, climate controlled, State-of-the-Art studios with professional sound systems and sprung floors, an in house Studio Theater, café 126 and a Capezio dance clothing boutique. All studios are completely column free, a unique characteristic in the New York urban landscape.

Peridance’s faculty is expanding and Australia’s own Jack Chambers of SYTYCD is now an esteemed instructor at the facility! Over 30 new, exciting and distinguished teachers are joining the world renowned roster of instructors, offering over 250 open weekly classes for all levels in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Theater, Jazz, Hip-Hop, House, Tap, Salsa, Flamenco, African, Pilates, Stretch, GYROKENESIS®, Taichi and much more.

Peridance Capezio Center proudly offers all major, traditional Modern disciplines including Graham, Limon, Horton and Taylor-Based.

The new in house Studio Theater, will provide a venue for established and up-and-coming artists to perform, and will serve as a home for the Peridance Contemporary Dance Company.

 “We were fortunate to be able to stay in the neighborhood,” says Artistic Director Igal Perry. “…though our dancers and students come from around the globe, it’s vital for us to maintain our roots at Union Square and stay close to the local and vibrant dance community.”

The building was originally constructed as the Van Tassall & Kearney Horse Auction Mart at the turn of the 20th century, and was the studio of painter, printmaker and sculptor Frank Stella from 1978 to 2005.

For more information visit www.peridance.com or www.capeziodance.com

From belly dancing through to jazz, yoga, hip-hop and flamenco, tertiary dancers from all corners of Australia and New Zealand will descend upon TAFE SA Adelaide College of the Arts (AC Arts) for the 2010 Options Tertiary Dance Festival from 7 to 12 March.

In keeping with the extremely high standards of past Options festivals, 2010 Options offers tertiary dance students workshops, classes, choreographic and career development sessions by world leaders in dance.

Christie Anthoney, TAFE SA AC Arts Artistic Director commented, “The networking opportunities of 2010 Options Tertiary Dance Festival are unique, and many exciting projects have grown out of these meetings. TAFE SA AC Arts is proud to support this amazing event”.

Leading members of the dance community from around the world will be heading to Adelaide to share their knowledge including Steven Heathcote (Melbourne), Montalvo-Hervieu Company (France), The Cholmondeleys & Featherstonehaughs (UK), Australian Dance Theatre and Restless.

For dancers looking to ace their auditions, Carol Wellman’s class may provide the answer. Her class ‘Extraordinary Auditions’ aims to prepare dancers for all the kooky things they may be asked to perform as part of an audition.

To find out more about the plethora of dance classes that are available visit www.acarts.edu.au and the news and events section.

Boasting a cast and crew of 53 including a live band, Cats will return triumphantly in an entrancing production that reconnects us with our favourite characters – Rum Tum Tugger, Mr. Mistoffelees, Jennyanydots, Old Deuteronomy, Grizabella and Skimbleshanks. Based on the book of poems “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” (1939) by T.S. Eliot, Cats tells the imaginative tale of a tribe of Jellicle Cats as theygather together for the annual Jellicle Ball, and one by one tell their stories for the amusement of Old Deuteronomy, who must choose one of the Cats to journey to the Heavyside Layer to be ‘reborn’ into a new life.

It has been 15 years since Cats wowed audiences here, and following sell out shows across Asia since 2006, Cats is returning home. Cats is presented in Australia by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and David Atkins Enterprises in association with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Really Useful Group.

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and David Atkins Enterprises have been responsible for numerous outstanding productions over the years including Miss Saigon, Singin’ In The Rain, The Phantom of the Opera (Singapore 2007 season, in association with The Really Useful Group), Stomp, Swan Lake On Ice, We Will Rock You and Abba Mania, to name but a few. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Really Useful Group is one of the world’s most recognized international entertainment companies, responsible for producing, co-producing, licensing and managing major theatrical production worldwide.

“The cat’s whiskers… A triumphant piece of musical theatre…” Sunday Times UK 

www.lunchbox-productions.com

WIN A DOUBLE PASS!
Win two tickets to see Cats in either Melbourne, Perth or Sydney. Click here…

MELBOURNE
Venue: Regent Theatre, Melbourne
Opens: Saturday 6 March 2010
Bookings: Ticketek 1300 795 012
www.ticketek.com.au

PERTH
Venue: Burswood Theatre
Opens: Tuesday 13 April 2010
Bookings: Ticketek 1300 795 012
www.ticketek.com.au

SYDNEY
Venue: Lyric Theatre, Star City
Opens: Tuesday 18 May 2010
Bookings: ticketmaster 1300 795 267
www.ticketmaster.com.au

Australian Bollywood Choreographer Farah Shah is a judge on India’s highest rating reality dance show!

North Sydney’s Farah Shah was fundamental in bringing Bollywood to Australia; launching Australia’s first Bollywood classes at Mango Dance Studio in 2002, long before Australia had even the slightest hint of the forthcoming sensations of Jai Ho and Slum dog Millionaire. Since then Mango Dance Studio has become Sydney’s leading Bollywood dance studio, with Mango trained dancers performing everywhere from Uncle Ben and SONY India Commercials, The Today Show and Australian Idol to Bollywood movies filmed in Australia.

Farah Shah is well known as a multi-talented choreographer, dancer, performer, instructor and now judge. Shah has traded her So You Think You Can Dance choreographer hat, to be a judge on India’s highest rating dance show Dance India Dance.

Shah has always seen the potential of Indian dance in Australia and gave up a 12 year career in IT to become a full time Bollywood Choreographer. Since then she has never looked back and has spent much of her time in the spotlight for her choreography and performance internationally. Shah was the official choreographer for the 2008 Australian MTV awards and the choreographic consultant for Dancing with the Stars in India.

www.mangodance.com.au

2 new works in 1 show!

In a night of two halves, the 2nd Toe Collective (Adam Wheeler, Benjamin Hancock, Madeleine Krenek, Tyler Hawkins, Frankie Snowdon, Jo Vriensendorp and James Andrews) choreograph Project Y’s latest work featuring 30 dancers aged 12 – 22 years of age. Project Y is a fresh youth dance company taking Melbourne by storm.

“The events of our childhood make us who we are today, we would like to share them with you.”

Following this is Collaboration The Project’s new Parkland Avenue. Written and Choreographed by Paul Malek, Parkland Avenue is a tale of companionship, lust, love, jealousy and sorrow as three friends watch their perfect relationship unravel violently around them. 

Dates: April 14th (preview), 15^th -16th, 18th, 20^th-24^th, 7:30pm
Venue: Theatre Works, St Kilda
For bookings visit www.theatreworks.org.au or phone 03 9534 3388

Hailing from Queens, New York, renowned Hip Hop artist Sho-Tyme has choreographed for many of the leaders in the industry and is the genius behind Gwen Stefani and her Harajuku girls. Sho-Tyme has choreographed all of Gwen’s tours, stage performances, TV appearances and video clips. Sho-Tyme has also worked on TV Shows such as Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. His movies include You Got Served, Stomp The Yard and Dance Flick. He is also Choreographer and Co-Star of the upcoming movie Beat the World due out in cinemas this year.

Melanie Hitchcock of Caramell Dance Studios, Sydney, asked Sho-Tyme a few questions on the eve of his Australia visit. Sho-Tyme will be coming to Australia with Electric Boogaloos’ genius Popin’ Pete for Street Dance Summit 2010.

Street Dance Summit 2010 is for everyone interested in learning real Hip Hop, House, Bboying, Popping and Locking from the pioneers of these amazing and popular dance styles. The calibre of these artists is phenomenal. They have not only taught and moulded many dancers working in the industry, but they have made a sizeable contribution to the development of the dance styles we do today. 

What do you love most about your job?
What I love most is the dance and the creation of my vision as it’s brought to life through each artist and dancer. It’s an amazing feeling to do what you love from the heart and have a career with it. I thank each and every artist and the dancers for helping to make my creativity come to life.

What artists have you had the privilege of working with and choreographing for?
Wow,  I have had the privilege to work with so many artists and from different music genres.
Mya, Aaliyah, Salt n Pepa, TLC, Mary J.Blige, Gwen Stefani, Sugar Hill Gang, Jay Z, Shakira, Busta Rhymes, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, P Diddy, Mariah Carey, Gnarles Barkley, Christina Millian and Usher. There are too many to name everyone but I thank everyone for giving me the chance, for the experiences and for what I have learnt from each one.

What advice would you give to aspiring dancers?
My advice is to never doubt yourself, always dance from the heart, stay humble, stay learning, stay practising, stay believing in yourself and dance hard for the love and true essence of dance – not the broken promises and glitz and glamour of industry goals. If you dance from the bottom of your heart then no one can ever take it from you, and you will soon see that this dance is ours not the industry’s or people controlling what happens in the industry.

What can Students/Teachers learn from your classes in Australia?
Everyone will learn more about themselves in dance and how to bring out their personality in it. I want people to realise that they can look like themselves and not like everyone else. I want everyone to see the love and fun in dance, and the true style of it. We are missing that these days, because dance has become a big business. What happened to getting down and having fun doing what you love? I’m bringing this back! I look forward to seeing, working with and meeting each and everyone in class. Love It, Live It, Grow with It! It’s ours to do so!

Street Dance Summit 2010 – Sydney & Central Coast
From March 14^th at two venues:
Caramell Dance Studio, 78 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Camperdown, Sydney and
The Hub Youth Centre, Erina Fair Shopping Centre, Karalta Rd, Erina, Central Coast
For dates, class information and to register visit www.caramelldancestudio.com or phone 0402 672 080