DanceLife Blog

We have just posted the audition information for Hairspray!!

Click on Classifieds - Auditions - Musical Theatre. You must be a member of DanceLife to see the details.

Please don't follow up. You will be contacted by the casting agents if they are interested in seeing you.

GOOD LUCK!

VERITY Hunt-Ballard is literally a woman in a thousand. She was among more than 1000 performers who auditioned for the leading role in the $16 million production of Mary Poppins, which opens in Melbourne in July.

She has just been offered the career-defining role by legendary producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh and director Richard Eyre in Amsterdam, where she had gone with a handful of other candidates for a final audition last week, ahead of the opening of the show's Dutch production.

''They asked if I would like to play her and I couldn't help myself stopping the tears from welling up,'' she said yesterday after arriving back in Australia on Monday.

One of the reasons the Australian hunt took nearly six months is that Hunt-Ballard did not apply in the first round of auditions last October, in which more than 650 performers took part. She was playing Frankie Valli's lover in the hit musical Jersey Boys at Melbourne's Princess Theatre.

''I wanted to audition but I felt I couldn't because the show had just opened,'' she said.

So the search continued in Australia, New Zealand and London for Australians working in the West End. This time Hunt-Ballard was among the 400 candidates.

''I knew when they didn't find anyone the first time that the criteria might fit me.''

She described the character as ''a triple threat'', demanding a huge vocal range as well as dancing and acting abilities.

''It's very challenging vocally - you have to hit high C and at other times you are quite low,'' she said. ''All the time you are dancing, flying and jumping out of chimneys. You need a good level of fitness.''

She will join the rest of the cast, including Philip Quast, Marina Prior, Judi Connelli and Debra Byrne when rehearsals begin at Her Majesty's Theatre in May.

Hunt-Ballard graduated from the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts in 2003 and has performed in The Rocky Horror Show and smaller productions of South Pacific and Oklahoma!, but this will be her biggest role by far.

''I was a big fan of Julie Andrews as a child and wanted her to visit my house, although we were a very happy family.''

Hunt-Ballard is 28, the same age that Andrews was when she made the film.

''I think that is really auspicious,'' she said.

Source: The Age

This Is The Michael Jackson Aussie Hip Hop Tour! Limited Spaces !

Nick Bass and Devin Jamieson Are Coming To You This March.

Rockhampton - 10th, Gold Coast - 12th, Perth - 13th, Adelaide - 14th, Sydney - 21st (Morning), Canberra - 21st (Afternoon).

Nick And Devin Have Danced For Artists Such As Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Christina A, Usher, Britney Spears, and Hillary Duff.... And More.

- 1 Massive Workshop Per City ( 1 Venue - All Schools Welcome )
- This Year There Is Two Different Age Groups Juniors 10 - 14 Years And Seniors 14 Years - Open Age/ Advanced Level.
- 2 Classes Per Age Group With Each Choreographer (Juniors - 1 Hour Classes , Seniors 1 Hour 15 M Classes )
- This Year There Will Be Scholarship Giveaways
- There Will Be T Shirts And Merchandise On Sale

Workshop Package Rates:
There Are Workshop Package Deals If You Want To Book With Your Dance School Or A Large Group. This Will Save You Money.

Tickets Sold At The Door - $80 (For 2 Classes) But Get In Quick. Limit Spaces!!!!

For location details please contact Jesse Rasmussen on jesse@jtown.com.au or 0402 615 965.

Kelly Rowland is at Carriage Works today filming a performance for Thursday's SYTYCD Results show. The performance will showcase a huge amount of dance students from great schools across Sydney. Talent Consultant was PJ Clarke from Jeep Management with choreography by Simon Lind from Project Moda. Keep your eyes out for it on Thursday.

As we mentioned earlier hairspray is coming to Australia this year! This great musical will kick off auditions in April and May where the creative team will travel to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland and Wellington. They are searching high and low for this one especially due to the amount of African Americans needed.

Important Dates:
Rehearsals begin August 2010
Production to open October 2010 - Melbourne
Submissions due in By Friday, March 12th, 2010.

There are too many roles to list but if you're going for an ensemble role make sure you have a strong pop voice!

Speak with your Agent for submission details!!

THERE ARE NO DETAILS ON THE OPEN AUDITIONS YET. PLEASE WATCH THIS SPACE!

The hit stage musical Hairspray is coming to Australia - with choreographer Jason Coleman planning to apply his magic touch to the show.

The multiple Tony Award-winning dance musical about an overweight teenager growing up in 1960s Baltimore will start at Melbourne's Princess Theatre from October, with Coleman to choreograph and David Atkins to direct.

Coleman, a judge of television's So You Think You Can Dance, says he plans to take the musical to a higher level.

The show ran on Broadway in New York for six-and-a-half years and will finish its run in London's West End later this month.

"I think we are going to do a recreation of the show that is definitely due now," Coleman told AAP.

"We're doing a cutting-edge, technologically advanced version of it, and certainly have the intention of taking the choreography to a whole other level than what's currently being shown on the West End."

Hairspray is based on the 1998 film written and directed by John Waters.

Set in 1962, it is centred around young Tracy Turnblad, a plus-size dancer who wins a spot on a local TV dance program and is transformed into a teenage celebrity.

In 2007, the movie starring John Travolta, Zac Efron and Nikki Blonsky attracted huge audiences.

Just as Blonsky, a former ice-cream shop worker, was picked from obscurity to play the role of Turnblad, Coleman says they will be casting the net far and wide for the Australian stage production.

"We're about to go into one of the most gruelling audition processes that Australia and New Zealand has ever seen," Coleman said.

"We're literally going right back to the basics of it.

"We're giving everyone the opportunity to come and audition.

"Open call auditions are something that David I and very much believe in."

Auditions will start next month.

SOURCE: NINE MSN

My second favourite singer from American Idol ever Adam Lambert will touch down in Sydney this morning ready for his performance on the elimination show of dance tonight. Not sure what Adam is performing but most probably For Your Entertainment as he has fabulous Aussie Dancers Michael, Ame, Michelle and Antony dancing with him. After last night's performance show two dancers will be sent packing tonight. Crazy Mary Murphy was in fine form last night. She always loves coming out here especially around Mardi Gras time... Bit of a party girl hey Mary?

If you love Adam Lambert as much as us Sydney fans can catch him signing copies of his album ‘For Your Entertainment' at HUM on Oxford, Sydney, on Saturday, March 6th from 12pm.

By Kane Bonke

Melbourne based commercial dancer Troy Phillips is currently working with actors from Australian soap Neighbours. There is huge dance based story line in the works.

Happy Feet 2 was launched this week at Sydney's Fox Studio's. Dancers Tracey Morley, Penny Martin, Simon Lind, Kane Bonke, Jacki Hanson Seymour, Kate Wormald Leopold, Michelle Hopper Doyle, Mitchell Hicks, Lee Anne Cherny and Jesse Rasmussen were on hand to lend their Happy Feet.

Dancer Leighton Sharpe is the featured in the latest TVC campaign for Berocca. He is supported by SYTYCD Top 20, the TVC feature heavily during the shows air time.

Will Sabin is currently in Singapore. Launching a new Casino, with Singer Prinnie Stevens backed by Chantel Curmi and Mary Luangkhoth. You can also catch Will Sabin productions at Nevermind on Oxford Street every Friday Night featuring hot Sydney commercial dancers.

If you're watching the film Nine, keep your eyes out for Aussie dancer Shannon Belcastro.

Squared Division are blazing a head of the pack with every gig they touch turning to gold. If your dancer just starting out be nice to these boys!!!

Kate Wormald and Demi Soron are the faces for Norsca deodorant; you can see the girls dancing up a storm in the latest TVC campaign.

Director and Choreographer Joey McKneely has announced the dynamic young cast who will star in the Australian national tour of the show that is credited with changing the face of musical theatre. Joey McKneely was personally chosen by Jerome Robbins to reproduce his original choreography and has now toured the show to wild acclaim and sell-out seasons in London, Tokyo, Paris and Beijing.

"I believe this Australian cast will be the best cast I have assembled in 10 years of doing West Side Story. Their talent has impressed me. Really, Broadway calibre!" - Joey McKneely.

This vibrant new stage production plays at the Lyric Theatre from Thursday 1 July for a strictly limited six week season. It will then tour to Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.

The lead male role of Jets leader turned good-guy Tony, is to be played by Josh Piterman whose voice has become well known across the world thanks to his time with the smash hit singing group The Ten Tenors. A graduate of the Ballarat College of the Arts, Josh has toured with the Melbourne Opera Company, lived and performed in Japan, and has just finished currently sharing a stage with Geoffrey Rush in The Drowsy Chaperone at Melbourne Theatre Company.

The innocent romantic dreamer Maria will be brought to life by Sydney Conservatorium Scholarship winner Julie Goodwin, who has recently completed 200 performances in the lead role of Christine in Australian tour of Phantom of the Opera. Julie is a graduate of both the Sydney Conservatorium High School, and the prestigious Talent Development Project. Having toured in Asia and across Australia Julie is tremendously excited to have won the coveted role of Maria.

The bad boys of West Side Story are the swarthy, hot tempered Bernardo and the all-American troublemaker Riff. Bernardo will be brought to life by the highly experienced NIDA graduate Nigel Turner-Caroll. With roles in hit musicals such as Hot Shoe Shuffle and Jesus Christ Superstar, and the highly dramatic Gallipoli for the Sydney Theatre Company, Nigel brings a defining edge to the character of Bernardo.

The role of Riff will be played by Rohan Browne, whose credits stretch from performing in Happy Feet for George Miller, to The Drowsy Chaperone for Melbourne Theatre Company. With a background including Cats, Chicago and Jesus Christ Superstar Rohan comes well prepared for this demanding role.

The seamstress with the biting humour and quick wit is Anita, to be played by Green Room Award winner Alinta Chidzey. Having just returned from an overseas tour with Dirty Dancing, and a tour with the premiere cast of Dusty: the original Pop Diva, Alinta is looking forward to an exciting tour as the fiery Anita.

Packed with unforgettable songs, including Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty, West Side Story remains a theatrical landmark. These songs are as popular now as when first written having been recorded by countless famous artists.

Based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, in West Side Story two young people meet, fall in love and pledge their eternal loyalty to one another. Their different backgrounds ensure they are denied a happy future because of the intolerance and hatred of two antagonistic cultures. Fate leads the star-crossed lovers into a tragedy of heartbreaking proportions. West Side Story is as relevant today as when it first burst onto the international theatre scene over 50 years ago - and in every way a ground breaking musical. "Full of Power and Energy! The Must See Musical"- Asahi Newspaper (Tokyo Japan).

www.westsidestorythemusical.com.au

Matty is injured and won't be able to dance in the group routine tonight. Rhys from season one will be stepping in to take his place which will be exciting!! Who knows what will happen if he ends up in the bottom three, how will Matt be able to dance for his life? The SYTYCD website will have details up shortly.

In other SYT news not only will Australia's favourite dancer walk away with a massive two hundred thousand dollars. The winner will also have the opportunity to choose from three exclusive dance contracts to perform throughout Australia and overseas.

The first option is with Internationally acclaimed contemporary company Australian Dance Theatre who are offering a contract to perform in "Ignition" 2010, ADT's annual choreographic season by Artistic Director, Garry Stewart and his outstanding choreographers. The prize includes four weeks of rehearsal and performances at the Adelaide Festival Centre. What a stunning opportunity for Australia's favourite dancer for 2010. Obviously they would need to be a strong contemporary dancer to take up this option.

Look forward to seeing the other two company options.

Photo: ten.com.au/dance