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Women’s Day dance showcase highlights the power of women – MyPR.co.za

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Women’s Day dance showcase highlights the power of women:

Louise Daniel and Neil Brand
Senior dancers Louise Daniel and Neil Brand perform a haunting duet in ‘Run’, a mini-ballet production telling a story about the plight of refugees. The piece opens and lends its name to the Walmer School of Dance annual showcase of ballet, contemporary and jazz dance, at the PE Opera House on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August, at 19.00. Photo: Karl Schoemaker

PORT ELIZABETH – WOMEN as warriors, mothers, heroines and queens take centre stage in ‘RUN’, the Walmer School of Dance production featuring ballet, jazz and contemporary dance that fittingly opens on Women’s Day, 9 August.

Lovers of dance are in for a treat encompassing diverse dance styles and powerful choreography in the show celebrating dance teacher Troy Coffey’s 10th anniversary as principal owner of Walmer School of Dance on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August, at 19:00, at the PE Opera House.

The show takes its name from the mini-ballet ‘Run’ which opens the programme, telling the story of a group of refugees who have been forced to flee their country because of persecution and war. Louise Daniel portrays a young mother who loses her child (played by Emma Price) in the conflict and finds love and solace with a soldier played by Neil Brand.

“It’s a very powerful and beautiful piece which highlights the plight of refugees – a topical issue for South Africa and globally,” Coffey said.
She said many of the other pieces in the show also highlight the power of women and their role in society, “from mothers to warriors to queens”, with Daniel and Brand portraying the White Queen and Black King fighting to the death in the striking “Checkmate” duet.

The show is also the first time that Coffey’s daughter Ella Coffey, 14, will demonstrate her choreography skills, in a fun, jazzy group for the juniors with a hippie theme to the song “Feel it Still” by Portugal The Man.

The programme features a range of classical ballet, sassy jazz and contemporary dance pieces, including the sweetie-themed colourful group dance “Liquorice All Sorts”, and junior pupils as adorable Winnie the Pooh’s and a bevy of little Swans.

Elegant group dances “Spring tide” and “Air” round out the show, which also showcases the costume design talents of Ronel Reid and Little Cherub Dancewear.

Bookings for “Run” open on 22 July at Computicket. The show takes place at the PE Opera House at 19.00 on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August. Tickets are R120 adults and R100 for scholars and pensioners.

A ballet teacher for 27 years, Coffey presents classes in ballet and contemporary dance at the Walmer School of Dance. After studying at the UCT Ballet School, she taught at Herschel in Cape Town and then at the Harringay Club in London, where she completed her Royal Academy of Dance teacher’s exam and entered her pupils into the Royal Ballet Associate programme at the renowned Royal Ballet School. She is also an accredited modern dance teacher.

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Source: MyPR.

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