DURBAN’S longest-running annual stage production, the glittering Shall We Dance, a showcase for amateur and professional ballroom and Latin American dance, as well as other dance forms, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
The production, once again co-directed by Neville Letard and Caryl Cusens, will be staged at Durban’s Opera Theatre at The Playhouse from September 13 to 15 – and good news is that SoSuterBill is offering a prize of four tickets to opening night. See the end of this post for details on how to enter the competition.
Appearing for the third time in Shall We Dance will be seven-times Professional Danish Champions, Nicolai Bouet (Denmark) and Anna Shagalina (Ukraine), who previously starred in 2015 and 2016.
The Danish ballroom champions, who will perform their version of sport dancing, will be joined by newcomers – Latin American specialists Egor Kondratenko (Russia) and Mie Funch (Denmark). This team has represented Denmark in the European and World Championships and was a semi-finalist in the 2023 Grand Slam.
The array of dance styles featured in Shall We Dance this year will include Ballroom, Latin, Modern, Ballet, Irish, Tap and Indian, with the music ranging from Michael Bublé to Abba. Durban’s Marion Loudon returns for the third time to compere and sing in the show.
The dozens of dancers who make up the cast, are all hobbyists and dance for the sheer enjoyment of it. They represent various dance studios in the greater Durban area.
The featured dancers come from all walks of life and include an accountant, teacher, beekeeper, homeopath, model-boss, cook, lawyer, doctor, administrator, chiropractor, drummer and a bunch of students.
Recalling their first ever show in 1991, co-director Caryl Cusens says: “The run of the first SWD in 1991 only had two performances, and with just a single rehearsal on stage, it was hair-raising. The majority of cast members had never been on stage before, so there was no experience of theatre discipline.
“When one group of dancers was cued by the stage manager to wait in the wings, they didn’t realise they had to respond immediately. Watching from the sound box, Neville and I heard the music start, saw the lights go up, and along with the packed house, we were treated to a completely bare stage.
“The music played on and one couple strolled into the spotlight, realised the rest of their group wasn’t there, so strolled off the other side. In the meantime, Neville took flight and made the distance from the back of the theatre to the wings in about two seconds flat!
“The air backstage turned blue, and the compère was pushed onto the stage and was told to improvise. We have come a long way since those early years!”
Performances of Shall We Dance are scheduled for 7pm on Friday, September 13; 1pm and 5pm on Saturday, September 14; and 11am and 3pm on Sunday, September 15. Ticket prices range from R120 to R180, but tickets for the Saturday morning show cost R120 throughout. Book at Webtickets.
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WIN SHOW TICKETS… WIN SHOW TICKETS… WIN SHOW TICKETS
Care to put yourself in line to win FOUR TICKETS to the 7pm, Friday, September 13 opening night performance of Shall We Dance at Durban’s Playhouse Opera theatre?
You simply have to be a follower of the SoSuterBill site to win. At no cost.
If you are not already a follower, click on the word ‘…..SoSuterBill…..’ that appears under Billy Suter’s face on the red curtain at the top of this post. Next, scroll down a little and leave your email address in the blank space alongside the ‘Subscribe Free’ banner. You will then be a follower, and receive email notification whenever a new story is filed on the site.
Once you have subscribed (there is no cost), send your NAME and PHONE NUMBER via email (NOT THIS SITE’S CONTACT FORM) to sosuterbill@gmail.com and place the words ‘SHALL WE DANCE COMPETITION’ in the subject field.
Note that the competition closes at 6pm on Monday, September 2, and the winner of the four tickets will be contacted soon after. His/her name will be posted in this spot thereafter. (The lucky winner of 4 tickets is Lisa Bobbert McIlroy).
Also note that tickets may not be exchanged for another performance and that the prize is for tickets only (not travel and/or accommodation should this prove necessary).
NOTE: PLEASE READ ENTRY DETAILS CAREFULLY AS SOME PEOPLE ARE ENTERING COMPETITIONS INCORRECTLY.
ALSO NOTE THAT ONLY ONE ENTRY PER SUBSCRIBER WILL BE CONSIDERED.
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.....SoSuterBill..... 