St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre inspires SunCares Arts Academy pupils

SunCares Arts Academy students with the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre cast

There are few things in life that can take an individual’s aspirations to greater heights than meeting ones icon. This is exactly the opportunity that Tsogo Sun and Montecasino gave to 20 Tsogo Sun SunCares Arts Academy students ...

The students, some as young as 10, were invited to a captivating viewing of parts of the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre’s production of Swan Lake at the Teatro at Montecasino. Not only did they meet their dance icons, they were also treated to an exclusive Q&A section with the dancers, where they were able to ask all their burning questions about what it takes to be a world-class ballet dancer. The most recurrent question on the lips of every child was, ‘Why did you choose to become a Ballerina?’, delighting the dancers, who encouragingly answered the students.

Bryan Hill, General Manager of the the Teatro at Montecasino says, “We are thrilled that the world renowned St Petersburg Ballet has chosen the Teatro at Montecasino as their venue of choice for their return to South Africa. That we are able to expose some of our SunCares students to this brilliant company is such an honour, and we know that they will be inspired by this superb version of Swan Lake, one of the all-time ballet classics.”

St Petersburg Ballet Theatre ballerina and Nkosikhona Ndebele from the SunCares Arts Academy

Anne DaSilva, a SunCares Arts Academy student was very excited to see the ballet as it was her first live show. “It opened up my mind to how technical it was and how much work it took to produce a whole production. The SunCares Arts Academy has opened up my world and shown me how to express myself through the arts,” she says.

The SunCares Arts Academy enhances the lives and opportunities of 480 charismatic students through 12 schools in Mayfair and Diepsloots, and aims to use art as a catalyst for change in these communities by developing artistic talent and life skills, and supporting educational framework by providing extra-curricular activities.

St Petersburg Ballet Theatre ballerinas pictured with Pupils

Says Rob Collins, Chief Marketing Officer of Tsogo Sun, “Exposing the SunCares Arts Academy students to the possibilities of their future through professional productions and personal contact with the performers themselves, allows the children insight into the world of performance art and enhances their knowledge of the tools and characteristics needed to go on to a career they aspire to. This coincides with the comprehensive view of the SunCares programme – the belief that artistic training alone is not enough; only when coupled with enriching life skills can talent and ambition be honed and moulded into tangible goals.”

The St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre comprises some of the ballets world’s finest performers, hailing from the world-famous Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet and will be gracing the Teatro at Montecasino stage this month, from 10 to 20 July 2013, with their rendition of Swan Lake. Tickets are now on sale through Computicket.

'Tapper-ific' Tap Dogs

Last week Thursday I went to watch Tap Dogs at the Teatro at Montecasino and what starts out to be a 'normal' Tap Dancing Show turned out to be one of the most incredible and mind-blowing productions I had ever seen in my life! ...

The skills that the 6 Dancers display on stage is totally OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD and the synchronisation between them is so ridiculous you wonder wether the dancer's are human or machine's programmed to do moves at specific moments.

The use of the stage and the props were absolutely unique and the stage-transformations were all incorporated into the routine smoothly.

One of my (many) favourite moments in the show ♥

Without giving too much away, all I can is that this is definitely a show you don't want to miss out on! And Gents, don't think it's only for the ladies ... the show is rather 'macho', and can be easily enjoyed by anyone.

Some Facts about the Tap Dogs

Some History:

• Now more than 18 years since its conception, Dein Perry’s Tap Dogs is still taking the world by storm.  
• Australian-born creator and choreographer, Dein Perry, has come a long way from the garage behind his dance teacher’s house in Newcastle where, as a young boy, he and the “Dogs” learnt how to tap. 
• The Tap Dogs made their world premiere in January 1995 at the Sydney Theatre Festival where Back Row’s founders Peter Holmes à Court and Liz Koops first witnessed the revolutionary show. The success was infectious!
• The story of the Tap Dogs has even been immortalised by Hollywood in the movie BOOTMEN, directed by Dein Perry. 
• The show has since toured continuously throughout the world with performances in over 330 cities, across 37 countries, on 6 continents, with up to 4 companies touring at any one time, boasting an audience of 12 million people!!
• A worldwide television audience of 3.4 billion people saw 1,000 Tap Dog performers appear in the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. 

About the Tap Dogs Show:

• Tap Dogs is set on a construction site in the steel work’s town of Newcastle just north of Sydney. 
• There are 8 members of the Tap Dogs team: 6 dancers and 2 musicians. 
• The show is part theatre, part rock concert, part construction site and it combines the strength and power of workmen with the precision and talent of tap dancing. 
• Performing against all challenges – whether in water, upside-down or jumping through scaffolding – the Tap Dogs bring the steel works to life in a fast-paced, unstoppable spectacular that everybody will enjoy. 
• The show is fit for the whole family with an awe-inspiring mix of dance, music and performance in a full-scale stage show production. 
• The show is considered Australia’s most successful theatrical export. 
• Tap Dogs is an 80 minute show performed without an intermission. 

So, what are you waiting for? BOOK NOW at Computicket centers, visit www.computicket.com or call 0861 813 9000. Ticket prices range from R 100 to R300. 

All photos taken by Ralf-Brinkhoff

Dein Perry to visit SA!

[Via]

Dein Perry, the creator and choreographer of the worldwide dance sensation, TAP DOGS will accompany the show when it returns to South Africa next month opening at the Teatro at Montecasino on Tuesday, 12 February 2013 for 4 weeks, ending on 10 March 2013. Thereafter the show moves to Artscape, Cape Town for 16 shows only from 13 to 24 March 2013 ...

“We are so thrilled to be returning to South Africa. TAP DOGS resonates strongly with audiences here — they love the rhythmic tone of the work and I think appreciate that unique Australian spirit that comes through” says Dein Perry. In TAP DOGS he created a show business phenomenon built around the themes of his industrial experience while growing up in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. 

Dein Perry (centre)
[Via]

In the early 90's Dein Perry worked as an apprentice fitter and turner by day and continued to dance with his mates in the evenings. He then worked in musical theatre for 10 years, beginning his career with a stint in the Australian production of 42nd Street. 

An offer from the Sydney Theatre Company led to the collaboration of Dein Perry with designer and director Nigel Triffitt and composer Andrew Wilkie — the result was the creation of TAP DOGS which premiered to critical acclaim at the Sydney Theatre Festival in January 1995. TAP DOGS was catapulted to international acclaim at the 1995 Edinburgh Festival and a subsequent sell out season at London’s Sadler’s Wells. Back Row Productions saw the potential of the show and began what would become one of the most successful producing partnerships in Australian musical theatre history which led TAP DOGS to becoming a global phenomenon with critical and commercial success from Australia to America, Asia, Europe and Africa.

Perry won his first Olivier Award in 1995 for Best Choreographer for West End Musical Hot Shoe Shuffle (he also starred in this production) and his second Olivier Award in 1996 for Best Choreography for TAP DOGS, something he would replicate a year later when the show moved to New York for an off-Broadway season, earning him the prestigious Obie Award. He is the youngest person ever to receive a second Olivier Award back-to-back. Dein produced, directed and choreographed the 2000 feature film, Bootmen based on the early creation of TAP DOGS. The movie received 5 AFI Awards. Dein also worked as Choreographer on the Warner Bros animated motion picture, HAPPY FEET 2, directed by George Miller. 

[via]

Presented by Showtime Management in association with DSTV and JacarandaFM, TAP DOGS is the same highly acclaimed 80-minutes of non-stop dance combined with elements of a theatrical rock concert, uniquely set within a construction site but the tempo is faster, the effects are stronger, the sound is louder and the dance moves more outrageous than ever before, bursting with the sexy, rough and ready appeal exclusive to the hottest male tap dancers found South of the equator and there's the added appeal of a few stunning female forms alongside the energetic male tappers … !!! 

Dein Perry
[Via]

TAP DOGS remains one of the most successful Australian productions of all time, and has been universally acclaimed for taking dance in an entirely new direction. TAP DOGS has performed in 330 cities, 37 countries and dazzled audiences in excess of 12 million. 

Book now at Computicket service centers, visit www.computicket.com or call 0861 813 9000. Ticket prices range from R 100 to R300. 

Dancers Among Us ...

I Absolutely Love Dance — it brings my Soul such Happiness! 


By pure chance, I came across this Series of Photographs titled:

'Dancers Among Us'

It is a vast ongoing photography project  led by Jordan Matter, with no digital manipulation used to create the images ...

In the spring of 2009 he began featuring top professional Dancers in everyday situations throughout the United States. 

This Collection will be compiled in a book, which will be released nationally by Workman Publishing in Autumn 2012. All types of places and different enclaves witness the particular ode to this Moving Art, shrouded in the Magic of the Dancers.

Beautiful Juxtaposition ♥

  

 

This is exactly my move when I find the dress I wanted, that is in my size ... and it's on SALE!

My Personal Favourite Photo!

So Cute!

If you are Q-rious to see more photos from this series, click here.

source: Trendland
All photos compliments of Jordan Matter