'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. 

Tap Dogs: Still Stomping up a Storm!

TAP DOGS Returns! Stronger, Faster, Louder and more outrageous than ever before, it’s the same hard stomping, tough, pulsating dance machine but it’s re-energised, re-vitalised and bursting with the sexy, rough and ready appeal exclusive to the “Dogs”. 

They are still the Hottest Male Tap Dancers found South of the equator and there’s the added ingredient of a few stunning female forms alongside the energetic male tappers ...

This unique tap dance show played to sell-out crowds in South Africa in 2009 and is set take the country by storm again in 2013 with its ever popular explosion of 80 minutes of non-stop dance that combines the strength and power of workmen with the precision and talent of tap dancing and with gorgeous female drummers on either side of the set! 

Presented by Showtime Management in association with DSTV and JacarandaFM, TAP DOGS opens at the Teatro at Montecasino, on 12 February 2013 for a strictly limited return season ending on 10 March 2013 followed by sixteen shows only at Artscape, Cape Town from 13 March to 24 March 2013. Tickets on sale now at Computicket. 

TAP DOGS is set on a construction site in the “steel” town of Newcastle, just north of Sydney, Australia. The adrenalin pumped cast injects raw power and passion to present the ultimate visual dance spectacular, as they jump through scaffolding to the beat of their own drum. Upside down or even on water the TAP DOGS bring the entire space alive with their awe-inspiring mix of dance, music and performance! It’s a show that absolutely everyone will enjoy! 

The tapping feet of this internationally acclaimed dance sensation has reverberated around the world in 330 cities; in 37 countries and has been seen by more than 11 million people!

The adrenalin pumped touring cast includes the best tap dancers from around the world. Leading the pack is Sheldon Perry (brother of Tap Dogs, creator Dein Perry) along with fellow Australians Matthew Papa, Nathaniel Hancock, Jesse Rasmussen and from the US Anthony Russo and Richard Miller. In addition to the macho line-up, TAP DOGS now has two beautiful female percussionists, Cat Hunter and Lyndsay Evans joining the testosterone fuelled action on stage.

Created by Olivier Award winning choreographer Dein Perry, this internationally acclaimed dance sensation has stomped, beaten, tapped and blown audiences away across the globe since its Sydney Festival debut in 1995. Appearances at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and a feature movie entitled “Bootmen” has lead to enormous fame and popularity the world over resulting in continuous global touring. There’s no doubt, TAP DOGS is a “howling” success.

Combining high-energy dance, theatrical performance and live music, TAP DOGS is a show not to be missed so kick-start 2013 with an 80-minute adrenaline rush! This is definitely one show that I wouldn't want to miss.

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

If you are still Q-rious to find out more info, visit www.tapdogs.com

All Photos compliments of the Tap Dogs Website