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| "What The World Needs Now" the opening number of "Willie Wonka and the Themed Lands". |
Concept, Design, Scripting and Direction” Michelle Heine –
Sound Editing: Kevin Heine
Costume Manager: Lynda Alchin – Ballet Mistress: Julie
Rummukainen
Erindale Theatre November 9th 2024.
Matinee performance on November 9th reviewed by BILL STEPHENS.
The Canberra region is rich in excellent dance schools, and
this is the time of the year when these schools display the fruits of their
year’s work through their annual displays.
One of those schools is “Legs” Performing Arts, which was
established in Canberra 35 years ago by Michelle Heine who, after retiring to
Canberra following a successful career as a professional dancer, decided to
create “Legs” Performing Arts as a way of sharing with young dancers the skills
and knowledge she had learned during her career dancing in multi-million-dollar
extravaganzas in South Africa.
In that 35 years “Legs” has established a solid reputation for turning
out dancers equipped for a career as commercial dancers proficient across all
forms of dance including ballet, tap, acrobatics and contemporary styles.
Many of its graduates have gone on to carve out successful
dance careers in international venues such as The Lido and The Moulin Rouge,
but also in Australia in Jupiter’s Casino, professional musicals, film,
television and cruise liners. Some returning to pass on their skills to current
students.
To celebrate this 35 year landmark Heine conceived,
designed, scripted and directed her own extravaganza, “Willy Wonka and The Themed Land” to showcase
the work of more than 250 young dancers who performed some 52 individually
choreographed dance sequences during the show.
Opening with a glittering Las Vegas style presentation, “What the World Needs Now”, performed by the Senior Team, the show quickly moved into Willy Wonka mode, led by Sian Gray, a standout as Willy Wonka, expertly lip-synching “The Candy Man” and the explanatory dialogue which connected the various dance sequences.
Routine after routine followed in quick succession, each
seemingly more dazzling than the last, each featuring impeccably groomed dancers
in a jaw-dropping variety of costumes, who impressed with their well-drilled
routines and delightful portrayals of the Willy Wonka characters.
The second half of the program was devoted to routines with
which “Legs” had achieved significant success at events during the year. Among
them the Tianjn International Children’s Festival, the Brindabella Dance Festival
and the Australian Dance Festival in Sydney, mingled with other imaginatively
choreographed works which allowed students at various levels of achievement to
demonstrate their talent. These included the Dream Team and even some mums and
dads intent on embarrassing their offspring.
Particularly impressive was the ingenuity of the choreography, the stunning video backdrops and the efficiency with which the huge program was achieved without any hint of fuss or confusion, concluding the program with a nod to the Paris Olympics with a white hot routine entitled “Parlez Vous Francais”.
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| "Legs" Dancers perform "Parlez Vous Francais" Photos by Paul Knight - Smashing Panda Photography. |
