August 15, 2006
By Lucille Davie
HIP-HOP, salsa, flamenco, ballet, belly-dancing, tap, rap . . . all come together in glorious colour and costumes in Red, the Indian Dance Spectacular.
The show, currently on at the Nelson Mandela Theatre, is the creation of Raza Jaffrey, a graduate of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Manchester University, and the star of Andrew Lloyd Webber's original 2002 production of Bombay Dreams, and Mamma Mia!.
"I am thrilled that the show premiered here in South Africa and that some of South Africa's most exciting and talented dancers are making it happen," he says.
The show is a fabulous fusion of different dance styles, influenced by the explosion of Bollywood movies.
Jaffrey explains that the idea for Red came about while working in Bombay Dreams. "Night after night all of us involved were taken aback by how much the movement in the show was capturing our audiences' imagination. This fascination with Indian movement and dance extended far beyond our theatre."
He says the UK experienced a huge interest in everything Indian, so much so that on TV everyone from "car companies to banks [were] using Indian moves to sell us their products". And, in the process "charming a whole new audience with its portrayal of Indian customs and culture".
But it went beyond this, says Jaffrey. A whole new form of music was being created.
"On the dance floor, there was no aping of Bollywood heroines or heroes; people were dancing in their own mixed-up, hip-hop meets bhangra [modern Indian pop music] meets everything-in-between style, while throwing in a bit of salsa [a fusion of African and Cuban rhythms] and Latin along the way," he explains.
Dances from around the world will be seen in Red
This inspired him to think about a show that would "celebrate the meeting of these east-west styles, as well as the traditional, and the modern".
And Red, the Indian Dance Spectacular was born.
While putting the show together, Jaffrey realised how similar dance styles around the world are. More and more styles were incorporated into the show, but the "one thing that tied them all together was their influences on, as well as from, India".
The result is an intriguing show, enhanced by beautiful costumes and clever lighting, and minimal stage setting. Some of the dancing, like the ballet, could have been omitted - the dancers were clearly ill at ease with it, and it didn't fit the mix. Over time, however, several rough edges will be smoothed over.
The first half of the show consists of more traditional, ceremonial dances, and snippets from popular Bollywood movies. After interval you'll see the same kind of moves but with a more western and cross-cultural flavour.
The beat never lets up, aided by two very able percussionists, Ameet Jugnauth and GianLuca Bonacci. They are part of the international cast, together with six dancers, plus 12 local dancers. The international dancers include performers from Europe, China, Sri-Lanka, Malaysia, and of course, India.
The show is directed and choreographed by Alan Harding, whose productions Spirit of the Dance, Simply Ballroom and Boogie Nights are touring the world.
Jaffrey concludes: "Red is a celebration. So we invite you to enjoy the spectacle. And we hope you will be wowed by the skills on display."
Red, the Indian Dance Spectacular is on at the Nelson Mandela Theatre until 3 September. Tickets are available at Computicket.
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