I have just started a “Ladies who Latin” class on Wednesdays 7.00pm – 8 pm at the Matua Primary School Hall. The classes have a technical aspect and then I teach a little routine. Each week is a new experience – so while they do build on each other you can just come along to class when you can. There is a great group of women of all ages, some with experience and some who have none. If you need more information call me or email Elly (027 215 1430) or hi@dancecompany.co.nz
West Side Story
I’m also choreographing West Side Story for Tauranga Musical Theatre. Inspired by Shakespeare’s tumultuous love story ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and set amidst the vicious rivalry of teenage gangs in 1950s New York, West Side Story’s ground-breaking choreography and unforgettable score changed the face of musical theatre forever when it burst onto the Broadway stage in 1957. We are all honoured to be involved in the production of a timeless classic and celebrate 60 years since the release of the movie adaption!
Tickets are now on sale!
BOOK NOW! https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2021/apr/west-side-story
Earlybird tickets are available until March 14
The following video was created by Matt Henderson – Third Party Media
If you want to help with the production in any way contact the Production Manager on wss.production@outlook.com
Often I receive the nicest comments from the wedding couples I work with:
“Just wanted to let you know we pulled our dance off brilliantly! The guests were incredibly impressed that we’d been to dance lessons and couldn’t believe my husband picked it up so easily! We had a lot of fun and were so proud we nailed it! Thanks so much for your choreography and positive teaching.” L&C
“The wedding was amazing and we surprised everyone with our dance. They all absolutely loved it and were so impressed! 🙂 Thank you for your patience and crafting a dance that suited us, you really made learning easy and fun. Definitely a memorable experience and I’m so glad we did it.” K&N
If you want some help with your wedding dance do call or email. Remember you may not need a complex dance, just a few moves might be all that is necessary.
Dance Company is now closed for the holiday break and will be back teaching from the 13th of January.
In February I will be starting a “Ladies who Latin” class on Wednesdays 6.45pm – 8 pm in Matua. If you think this might be just what you need to look forward to in 2021 send me an email. I promise a fun class with a good dollop of technique.
2020 Aotearoa New Zealand Ballroom Dancing Championships
On the weekend of Saturday 21st of November I had the privilege to both judge and compete as a professional in Auckland at the 2020 Aotearoa Championships. My partner Mike Bernie lives in Dunedin, while I live here in Tauranga, so getting enough training in for our principal event “Classical Sequence” was complicated. However we managed to work it out.
So yes we won our event and now hold the NZ Professional Title in Classical Sequence.
If you have never seen Classical Sequence I have loaded two videos. Firstly the Britannia Saunter, which is like a foxtrot
Then the Fylde waltz, where you can see the ballet influence in the use of 5ths and 3rds.
If you are looking for lessons in all the ballroom styles, not just Classical Sequence, I can help.
This year I decided to return to my Musical Theatre roots. I was not always a Ballroom/ Dancesport/ Wedding couple/ Showcase/ Formation team dance coach. For many years I was a ballet/ jazz/ contemporary/ national character dance coach AND a dancer, dance captain etcetc in musicals.
In 2019 Tauranga Musical Theatre accepted my Expression of Interest to be the choreographer for 2020 performance of “The Blues Brothers; First Contact”, a world wide premier show. It was a blast which you would remember if you came to see it.
I loved the return to my performance roots, so I when I saw that TMT was going to do West Side Story in 2021, I prepared another Expression of Interest.
I’m delighted to be able to inform you that I will be working for TMT again as the choreographer of this amazing dance centric show. West Side Story became a global sensation when it hit Broadway in 1957, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The show was dazzling and gritty, layering a Romeo and Juliet romance between Tony and Maria over a contemporary story of street gangs, racism, and violence in the shadows of rising skyscrapers. When director Robert Wise and choreographer Jerome Robbins adapted it into a film in 1961, West Side Story broke the box office record for musicals and dominated the Oscars, winning 10 awards, including best picture.
There will be an opportunity in December to learn about the vision the Director Darrel Nitschke has for the show and the expectations of the Musical Director Ashleen Fahy. Auditions will be held in February and I will keep my web site updated with dates.
Of course, not everyone wants to sing and dance, and musical theatre provides lots of opportunities for involved in other fields, set construction, wardrobe, etcetc. And if none of that interests you get your friends together and come and watch. The show runs at the West Side Theatre 17th Avenue from April 23 to May 8.
I am so delighted to have found alternative spaces so I can return to teaching. Its complicated when my preferred hall needs renovations.
If you are interested in lessons in ballroom, latin, new vogue and even classical sequence dances do call/email and lets have a chat. I am happy to dance lead and follow so all aspects of the dances are covered.
On Wednesdays I teach a ladies/follows group class. There is new choreography almost every fortnight which keeps us all on our toes.
Or if you are now finally able to arrange your wedding and want a little something to wow and amaze your guests do call/email. Not all wedding dances need lots of lessons. Some couples just need a few steps and some confidence.
For all wedding dances your music choice determines what style of dance is best and in some cases it also means a little more effort is needed to learn some specific moves/variations. Not all moves suit every song, every wedding dress or even the floor you will be dancing on. Its always best to dance to a song that means something to you both and leave the choreography to me. I will always ask if you have any moves/variations that you do want to do and if possible incorporate them into something special for you.
I have lesson times available on Wednesday out in Gate Pa and Thursday evenings in Tauranga city.
