December 6, 2006
By Michael Tsingo
THE patter of little feet will be heard in Newtown this December when children as young as eight years old take part in a delightful show at the Dance Factory.
Simply called The Christmas Show, a group of 30 children ranging in age from eight years and older will perform short works to the music of saxophonist and music producer Kenny G.
Choreographers have taken into account that it never snows in South Africa over Christmas, so traditional Christmas songs like White Christmas will be replaced with Summertime. However, the spirit of Christmas will still be in the air, with carols like Jingle Bells Rock, Sleigh Ride and My Favourite Things interpreted as energetic and humorous pieces.
Boutumelo Phala, Shereen Mathebula, Tshepo Zasekhaya, Zenzele Letsoela rehearse a scene from The Christmas Show
(Photo by Suzy Bernstein)
"We are particularly paying attention to the fact that we are in the southern hemisphere and not in the northern hemisphere and we don't have snow during Christmas," explained The Dance Factory's Suzette le Sueur. "If we associate any colours with our Christmas then it is purple, orange and lime green.
"Parents like to bring kids to dances if they are going to see other kids, and kids like it too. The Christmas Show is a family thing that will entertain kids, grannies and parents."
She added that the show was set aside for young dancers because they had fewer performing opportunities than older dancers during the year.
Specially enlisted dancers and dance directors, including Bailey Snyman and Nicola Haskins of the recently disbanded First Physical Theatre Company, Andrew Gilder, Leigh Nudelman and Henri Noppe, made up the choreographing team.
Assistance for staging the show comes from the Newtown City Improvement District, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Arts and Culture Trust, the National Arts Council and the National Lottery Distribution Fund. Performances will take place at The Dance Factory on 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24 December. Friday shows begin at 6pm and all other shows begin at 2.30pm.
On 22, 23 and 24 December the programme changes slightly to accommodate performances by two dancers from Brussels. Dada Masilo and Nicholas Aphane, who trained with The Dance Factory when they were young, are studying on scholarships in Brussels, in Belgium. They will perform a specially created pas de deux to the song, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
Tickets are available at Computicket and are R40 for adults, R20 for students and pensioners and R10 for learners and children under 18. There might be slight increases because of Computicket charges.
The Dance Factory is at 10 Henry Nxumalo Street, between President and Jeppe streets, in Newtown. For more information, contact Suzette le Sueur on 011 833 1347 or 082 493 6968 or by e-mail on dancefactory2@tiscali.co.za.
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