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Rhythm n' Runners
Presented by:
Triple Threat Performing Arts
Venue:
Blakison Theatre, Geelong Performing Arts Centre
Reviewer:
Lisa George
Date
Reviewed:
Saturday 18th April 2009
Rhythm & Runners is a hard hitting, energetic Tap and Hip Hop styled
show which simply leaves you saying “WOW”. Conceived,
choreographed and directed
by trio - Michelle Slater, Kevin Coyne and Phillip Haddad have
created a unique blend of entertainment. Joined by, and performed by
local Melbourne dancers from Triple Threat Performing Arts, there
were 10 dancers in all, comprising of 5 hip hoppers (including
Phillip Haddad) and 5 Tappers. It is a West-Side Story style
confrontational dance performance.
Most routines were a mixture of the Tap and Hip-Hop styles, other
routines were solo style, emphasizing the strengths of the dancers
in their chosen genre. Several routines were highlighted with body
percussion enjoyed by both genres.
Not
only did the tappers perform excellent rhythm with street tap
sequences and routines, but they added body percussion to blend it
with the challenge handed to them in several dances by the
Hip-Hoppers. The hip-hop crew used their body slapping and clapping
to compete with tap. This added a new realm of body music to the
stage.
There were 10 talented dancers that I would like to give praise to:
Jayde Bickle, Jacqui Heeney, Hayley Kermonde, Sam Dariol, Nate
Swain, Troy Savic, Chloe Hurst, Natalie Halton, Jessica Brooks and
Phillip Haddad who is widely known in the dance industry.
All routines were energetic with a good use of acrobatic tricks. A
showcase of how highly skilled and technical all dancers were in
this production.
Phillip Haddad was a clear stand out; his experience made him shine.
His theatre credits include Shout, Oh What a Night, High Society,
Annie Get You Gun & Grease the Arena Spectacular.
Phillip ran the show well by standing out from the crowd and adding
humorous mutterings.
Energy and power were in abundance in all dancers. At no time could
you say they were looking tired, even though the routines were
longer than expected, they kept coming back routine after routine.
There was a great and original use of props including everything
from boxes, to chairs, to couches, park benches and even bean bags.
The storyline was humorous but could have been stronger. Its content
tended to blur and not flow as well as it could have. Maybe a
program would have helped here.
I found the change over black-outs to be slow and gobo’s were left
on. Seeing props being added and removed were the only letdowns to
the entire production.
Performing it in the cosy Blakiston Theatre at the Geelong
Performing Arts Centre brought a certain intimacy and really sucked
you in and made you feel the energy. Several routines involved
audience participation, which added to the vibe of the show; lively,
humorous, energetic and dynamic.
The use of both Tap and Hip-Hop in a single production, blurring
from one genre to the other made a pleasantly entertaining evening.
The addition of props, body percussion and exciting choreography,
Triple Threat Performing Arts is an emerging talent.
Lisa George (nee Hanneysee) has been a Dancer, Dance Teacher,
Examiner and Adjudicator for the greater part of her life.
Specialising in Jazz, Funk, Tap and Musical Theatre, she has taught
at some of the top schools in Melbourne. Lisa owns her own dance
school - That Dance Place. As a professional dancer she has
travelled the Asia and Australia dancing and entertaining for the
past 15 years.
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