Are you a government school student with a talent for dance? There’s never been a better time to join the Victorian State Schools Spectacular, as Kelley Abbey has today been announced as Dance Director for 2012.

Kelley brings a wealth of experience to the show, having worked on So You Think You Can Dance (Australia and the US) and Oscar winning film Happy Feet, as well as choreographing stage shows such as the Boy from Oz Arena Spectacular, Fame and Footloose the Musical.

Government school students from around Victoria can get involved, and dancers from Years 4-12 are invited to audition for this unique opportunity to join one of the Dance Ensembles. Students selected will be showcased amongst almost 3,000 performers from primary and secondary government schools around the state in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular, one of the largest recurring performances in Australia.

Auditions will be held at the following locations by appointment:

Geelong

Mon 20 Feb from 5pm

Mon 27 Feb from 5pm

GPAC Alcoa Studio 50 Little Malop St, Geelong

Warragul

Wed 22 Feb from 5pm

Wed 29 Feb from 5pm

Standing Ovation Studios, 69 Sutton St, Warragul

Melbourne

Thurs 23 Feb from 5pm

Thurs 1 Mar from 5pm

Performing Arts Unit studios, 102 Rupert St, Collingwood

Dance ensembles rehearse weekly in Geelong, Warragul and Melbourne, culminating in two performances at Hisense Arena, Melbourne Park, in September in front of 18,000 people, which will also be screened on Channel 7. Previous Spectacular participants have gone on to professional careers including Vanessa Amorosi and Hairspray lead Jaz Flowers, others have landed record deals, starred in TV talent quests X Factor and Australia’s Got Talent, and taken up coveted positions studying performing arts.

All styles of dance are very welcome – ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, funk, breaking, krumping, etc. Students do not need to prepare a piece for the audition.

For further information, or to make an audition appointment, please contact the DEECD Performing Arts Unit on (03) 9415 1700 or performing.arts@edumail.vic.gov.au

Disney’s

President of Disney Theatrical Production, Thomas Schumacer, announced last week it will re-open at the Capitol Theatre in December 2013. He said although the musical premiered in 1997, enormous demand for it continues worldwide.

“It’s still going to be new to the audience that see it for the first time,” Mr Schumacher said.

Based on the 1994 animated movie, The Lion King features music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, musical score by Hans Zimmer’s and choral arrangements by Lebo M.

Julie Taymor’s stunning original production features use of large puppets on the musical theatre stage. The Lion King has won six Tony Awards including Best Musical, with Taymor receiving the award for Best Direction of a Musical, and sharing the Tony for Best Costume Design. Taymor will also supervise the new production undoubtedly continuing her expert blending of African art and Broadway showmancship.

There are high expectations from the NSW Government’s Minister for Tourism, Events & the Arts, George Souris that the production will attract more than 500,000 interstate and international visitors generating over $36 million for NSW.  He says a new generation of young families is ready to enjoy the musical.

“It’s the most successful musical in the world and it exceeded all expectation in 2003,” he said.

The original Australian production of The Lion King played at the Capitol from October 16 2003 until June 26, 2005, playing to 1.35 million people. During that original 21-month Sydney season, the show played to 90% capacity. A Melbourne season at the Regent Theatre followed from July 18, 2005 until June 4, 2006.

Mr Schumacer said, “We get many more requests around the world for productions of The Lion King that we can’t accommodate…”

Since opening in America in 1997, there have been 19 productions of the musical around the world.It is estimated to have been seen by 63 million people and grossed more than $4.7 billion. The Sydney production is predicted to run for about eight months.

Opening with an Australian cast in December 2013, the show will be competing for audiences with big-stage local productions King Kong and Strictly Ballroom, both produced by Australian-owned Global Creatures.

And veteran producer John Frost is preparing for the world premiere in Sydney in May of a new stage musical based on the Hollywood movie An Officer and a Gentleman.

Disney Australia’s managing director, James Thane, said competition is healthy for business.

“It is possible to have hit shows running at the same time that appeal to different parts of the same markets,” Mr Thane said.

Stay tuned to DanceLife for more Musical Theatre updates!

JAZZ DANCE WORLD CONGRESS

A distinguished jury will choose the winners of the three awards.

KIESHA LALAMA Jury Chair, Choreographer & Associate Professor at Point Park University

RANDY DUNCAN Teacher & Choreographer

LIZ IMPERIO Choreographer to the Stars

RAY LEEPER Director of NUVO & Choreographer

WENDY PERRON Editor in Chief, Dance Magazine

All entries must be jazz, which can include any of the following diverse styles such as lyrical, African, musical theater, classic, contemporary, and jazz tap, or any combination of these jazz styles. Choreography will be evaluated on creativity and imagination and of effectively combining movement vocabulary (steps and style), time/rhythm/musical quality, use of space, staging and performance. Length of entry is not to exceed 7 minutes. Only group works with 6 or more dancers are eligible. ALL DANCERS (MINIMUM AGE 13) MUST BE REGISTERED FOR JDWC 2012. Choreographer and dancers may be professional, amateur, or a combination. Work may be entered by the choreographer or by a dance group that has hired the choreographer to set the work. Works will be presented with general stage lighting with no sets. All performance music must be on CD.

More information, click here

Entry form, click here

On The Twentieth Century is the next musical presentation on Monday 5 March at 2pm and 8pm at the Darlinghurst Theatre.

Directed by Stuart Maunder – Musical Director Luke Byrne – Book and Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Music by Cy Coleman

Musical theatre legend John Diedrich will star as Oscar Jaffee the flamboyant producer who will stop at nothing to have a hit. Katrina Retallick returns to Neglected Musicals as Lily, star of the silver screen. Rock of Ages star Michael Falzon will play matinee idol Bruce Granit who is determined to cling to Lily’s star. Lara Mulcahy will play the role made famous by Imogene Coca. Rounding out the cast are Blake Ericson, Mark Simpson, Jay James Moody and Elise McCann who will be supported by a small ensemble; Erica Byrne, Jocelyn O’Brien, Tim Dal Cortivo, Richard Woodhouse.

Based on plays by Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur, and Bruce Millholland. By arrangement with Origin Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French Inc.

On The Twentieth Century opened on Broadway in 1978 directed by Harold Prince and starred John Cullum, Madeline Kahn, Imogene Coca and Kevin Kline. It ran for 11 previews and 449 performances and had a production on the West End in 1980 which ran for 165 performances.

Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s 1932 showbusiness farce, Twentieth Century was turned into a musical where most of the action takes place aboard a train – the Twentieth Century Limited, as it speeds from Chicago to New York. Producer Director Oscar Jaffee, the flamboyant high priest of Broadway is now in desperate straights and makes a last ditch effort to rise again by signing tempestuous movie star Lily Garland to act in his next epic.

Songs include On The Twentieth Century, I Rise Again, Veronique, Never and Babbette.

Monday 5 March at 2pm $35 general admission

Monday 5 March at 8pm $35 allocated seating

NEGLECTED MUSICALS is a theatre initiative dedicated to presenting musical theatre that has never (or rarely) been seen in Australia, whether it be that the musicals were not considered commercial enough for an Australian season or they just didn’t get picked up by an Australian producer.

A musical chosen to be presented by NEGLECTED MUSICALS may have had a long run on Broadway and the West End but never made it to Australia or may have had a short run off Broadway to critical acclaim but didn’t go any further for one of a hundred reasons. It may even have been a financial flop overseas but have artistic merit and worth a look.

Neglected Musicals is not for profit, where the participants are volunteers. All proceeds from ticket sales fund the next Neglected Musical.

Phone bookings can be made by calling 0487 436 709 or click here for online bookings.

Michael Schwandt

“We loved having you here and so did our students. They were buzzing for the next week It was such an amazing workshop and you were a real inspiration to them and us! … what you bring to Australian dancers is AMAZING. You are AMAZING!”

-Kristin Agnoli, Jason Colemanʼs Ministry of Dance – Melbourne

“Thanks for teaching our UDC full-timers today, they loved it!!!”

-Juliette Verne, Urban Dance Center – Sydney

“I just wanted to let you know how truly privileged we are to have you visit us year in and year out! Yet again and as expected, your classes were PHENOMENAL and my Students cannot speak more highly of you and I cannot THANK YOU enough for your time, expertise,
encouragement, dedication, motivation, inspiration…”

-Raquel Muia, The Performance Co. – Perth

“The kids just love him…heʼs inspiring. Heʼs so much fun to be around in class! The kids can really relate to him…his stuffʼs really current and fresh.”

-Maria Slape, MJ Dance – Mt. Gambier

Michael is one of the most dynamic contributors to choreography and movement in Los Angeles and is passionate about sharing his expertise and experience with Aussie Dancers. His extensive body of work can be seen across the board in television, commercials, corporate industrials, music videos and live special events, while crossing all genres of dance.

Some of Michael’s career highlights include staging Lady’s GaGa’s first ever television performance to the #1 hit “Just Dance” ultimately seen by millions around the globe. Since then, Michael has gone on to direct Miss Universe and Miss America pageants and choreograph performances by Katie Perry, Kelly Rowland and David Guetta, The Veronicas, Flo Rida, John Legend, Trace Adkins, Kevin Rudolph, Avril Lavigne and Boys Like Girls  to name a few.

Michael was the first guest judge invited to be on So You Think You Can Dance Europe (Ukraine Series) and was also a guest choreographer on the show, creating both group and duet routines for the series. He has choreographed numerous live corporate industrials for DirecTV, PUMA, Skechers, Jafra
Cosmetics, Charles Schwab and has worked on commercials for AT&T, MGM Mirage, Palm Treo, Land Rover and Mitsubishi. His additionalmusic video work includes FOX feature film theme songs for Garfield 2, Fantastic 4- Silver Surfer, Dragonball: Evolution and a host of dance artists like Che’Nelle, Brian Anthony, Uniting Nations and Taxi Doll.

A graduate of the University of Texas Radio-TV-Film Dept, education is very important to Michael. He continues to give back to the dance community by nurturing and educating aspiring dancers via guest master classes all over the world. He was on faculty at the world-renown EDGE Performing Arts Ctr. in Hollywood for three years and is a guest faculty on the Tremaine Dance Convention and Hollywood Vibe tours where he connects with young dancers across the US, mentoring about realistic expectations in professional dance. Other guest faculty credits include: Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Broadway Dance Center Japan, Sydney Dance Company, Melbourne Ministry of Dance, Manila School of Film & TV, Western Australian University of Performing Arts, Pineapple Studios London, Harbour Dance Vancouver, MBS Toronto and Manhattan Dance Project.

“Michael you have such an amazing energy and enthusiasm for dance that it enlivens everyone that is a part of the class! Thank you for another wonderful workshop…..LOVED IT!!!!!”

-Renee Hallahan, Canberra Dance Development Centre – Canberra

“Workshops were just amazing. He has left a beautiful impression on our dancers and in our studio!”

-Charisse Parnell, The Dance Collective – Perth

“Thank you so much for your outstanding work xxx”

-Jo Cotterill, Lee Academy – Central Coast

“Thanks for coming to The Star Factory today everyone had a ball and your dances were brilliant xxx”

-Emma Nickoll, Star Factory – Perth

Michael’s Tour schedule is as follows:

Sydney • MAR 10-14
Canberra • MAR 15
Melbourne • MAR 16-17
Perth • MAR 18-20
Adelaide • MAR 21-22
Mt. Gambier • MAR 23
Perth • MAR 24-27
Gold Coast • MAR 28
Brisbane • MAR 29
Auckland • MAR 31

For bookings and enquiries contact mail@triplethreatdancer.com.au

Presented by Packemin Productions, a pro-am company who formed last year in conjunction with Parramatta Riverside Theatres and produced a successful season of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in its founding year.  This year, a production team headed up by director Neil Gooding, musical director Peter Hayward and choreographer Camilla Jakimowicz, are working closely with industry professionals and amateurs alike to revive this famous musical. Opportunities such as these musicals give up and coming performers the chance to learn from professionals already in the industry as they train.

Oliver! stars Wayne Scott Kermond (Smoke and Mirrors, Candy Man, Guys and Dolls) as Fagin, Todd Keys (Dr Zhivago, Phantom of the Opera) as Bill Sykes and Katie McKee (My Fair Lady, Floyd Collins) as Nancy. Oliver is set to present a first class experience for all.

There will be 15 shows from the 3rd till the 18th February and Prices start at $25, for more information or to book call Parramatta Riverside on 8839 3399 or www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Dates & Times:
11am, Friday 3 February 2012
7:30pm, Friday 3 February 2012
2pm, Saturday 4 February 2012
7:30pm, Saturday 4 February 2012
3pm, Sunday 5 February 2012
7:30pm, Wednesday 8 February 2012
7:30pm, Friday 10 February 2012
2pm, Saturaday 11 February 2012
7:30pm, Saturday 11 February 2012
3pm, Sunday 12 February 2012
7:30pm, 15 Wednesday 2012
7:30pm, 16 Thursday 2012
7:30pm, 17 Friday 2012
2pm, 18 Saturday 2012
7:30pm, 18 Saturday 2012

Stay tuned to DanceLife for an exclusive interview with Camilla Jakimowicz, coming soon!

THE GORDON FROST ORGANISATION ANNOUNCES…..

MELBOURNE CHILDREN’S AUDITION NOTICE

The Producers of this new production of ANNIE, are looking for girls aged between 7 and 14 to undertake the roles of the “ORPHANS and ANNIE” for the Melbourne Season to be played at the Regent Theatre.

Rehearsals will commence in Melbourne on or about Monday, 30th April 2012 before opening in Melbourne in May 2012 for a 10 week season.

The vocal range required is Low B to High F#
Sheet music will not be required, as all Auditionees will be taught a small section from the production.
HEIGHT LIMIT: Strictly 148CM and under.

AGE RANGE: 7 TO 14

MUST BE A RESIDENT OF VICTORIA

Dance and Singing training is essential!

Auditions are by appointment only

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Auditions will be held late February in Melbourne

PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION FOR THESE AUDITIONS CLOSE AT 5:00 PM FRIDAY 10th FEBRUARY 2012.

HURRY! THIS IS THE FINAL ROUND OF WORKSHOPS

AND THEY WILL SELL OUT

Two workshops only:
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th Feb

Venue: Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, North Melbourne

5 of the 24 girls cast in the Sydney season of the show had done Queenie’s Sydney workshop.

Will YOU be one of the lucky ones to star in the Melbourne production?

For more information and to enrol go to:

www.queenievandezandt.org

“Zoe will be playing the role of ‘Pepper’… We found the workshop invaluable…a must for anyone who has an upcoming audition” – G.Nestor, Parent of Children’s Annie Workshop Participant Zoe, who was cast as an Orphan in Annie (Sydney Season)

“Natasha made it through as one of the orphans…Thank you for all your help. As you said preparation was the key…Not only was she well prepared for the audition but she also thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth the effort.”
K. Mills, Parent of Children’s Annie Workshop Participant Natasha, who was cast as an Orphan in Annie (Sydney Season)

Agoraphobic jingle-writing geniuses Leigh and Loman live and work together in a state of dysfunction, and have not left their apartment in 30 years. Though barely on nodding terms with reality, they find comfort and meaning in their work, crafting brain-searing melodies for products they know little about. Their lives are thrown into turmoil, however, when they glimpse the girl of their dreams through the mail-hole. Can love redeem these two lovable misfits, or will they pummel each other into the abyss of madness?

Recipient of the 2008 Brian McCarthy Moosehead Award, The Jinglists was first performed at the 2008 Melbourne Comedy Festival. In 2010 it played at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and the Underbelly in the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, before featuring at the prestigious Soho Theatre in London’s West End.

Director Jo Turner returns to the Bondi Pavilion Theatre with The Jinglists having directed Fools Island earlier this year. Turner’s directorial credits include; Assistant Director on Waiting for Godot; Associate Director on The Graduate; and Director for Sydney Opera House’s Darlingwood Tales, Tamarama Rock Surfers’ Cubbyhouse and Critical Stages/ Darlinghurst Theatre’s The No Chance in Hell Hotel to name a few.

Warwick Allsopp ‘s credits include The Dead Man Brake for Sydney Theatre Company, Titanic- The Musical and South Pacific for Seabiscuit Productions and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change to name a few. His television credits include All Saints, Home & Away, Packed to the Rafters, the Australian telemovie Scorched, The Pacific (US), and Comedy Cuts (UK). Tamlyn Henderson’s credits include Sam Mendes’ Cabaret, Australian and Japanese tours of We Will Rock You and The Gruffalo AUS/UK tours to name a few. Henderson’s television and film credits include Careless Love, All Saints, L.A. Noire, Cedar Boys, Newton’s Dream, Love Letters, Dig and Man Love.

No-one can deny that its creators Warwick Allsopp and Tamlyn Henderson are powerful comic talents… It’s a very funny musical, an unsettling piece of physical theatre and an absurdist play, but more than this, it’s important to recognise just how much skilled character work underpins the parade of daft lyrics and psychological violence.

The Scotsman (2010)

Allsopp & Henderson compose brilliant verbal humour and memorable jingles… postmodern minstrels… their comedy is animated by a lightning intelligence.

The Age, 1 April 2008.

…midway between Beckett and the Boosh… This strong, unique sense of style is the stuff cults are made of… smart, distinctive and weirdly witty.

Chortle.com.uk, 3 April 2008

Co- Writers & Performers Warwick Allsopp & Tamlyn Henderson

Arrangements by &Sound Design James Collins

Original Direction Darren Gilshenan

Design Katherine Allsopp & Jemima Snars

The Jinglists

The Bondi Pavilion Theatre, Level 1, Bondi Pavilion Queen Elizabeth Drive Bondi Beach NSW 2026

DATES: January 31 – February 18 •

Opening Night Wednesday, 1 February 2012

TIMES: Tuesday – Saturday at 8pm; Sun 5 Feb at 5pm

TICKETS: Adult $33*; Conc $25*; Cheap Tuesdays & Previews $21*

BOOKINGS: Tamarama Rock Surfers www.rocksurfers.org.au or 8019 0282

Marko Panzic presents

TANNOS+CHOICE

The new generation of choreographers !

Tannos+Choice are Stephen Tannos and Morgan Choice– young, vibrant, exciting and pushing the boundaries of choreography and dance in Australia.

In February 2012, Tannos+Choice will present their first stage show – a high octane, one hour dance spectacular also featuring 10 of Australia’s most exciting dancers.

Produced by Marko Panzic a well-known and respected choreographer in Australia. Marko Panzic will be co-directing the show with Stephen Tannos & Morgan Choice.

DATES & TIMES:
Wednesday 22 February, 2012 7pm
Thursday 23 February, 2012 2pm & 7pm
Friday 24 February, 2012 2pm & 7pm

VENUE:
Parade Playhouse, Sydney

TICKET PRICES:
All tickets $35.00

BOOKINGS:
Ticketek – 13 2849 http://ticketek.com.au/

How intense is rehearsal?

ENTER NOW at win@dancelife.com.au to be in the running for a FREE TICKET to this AMAZING SHOW!