Dancing with the Stars Carnarvon style
By Jennifer Peat from Western Australia’s Gascoyne Development Commission
There’s an old tradition in the performing arts, whether its music, theatre or music theatre. You take a new show, a new cast, a new band to tour the regions. Audiences aren’t as critical as in the city and you can work out the kinks in the production, bed the cast in together and prepare to hit the big time.
People living in the regions can take advantage of that same accepting audience. If you have ever wanted to ‘do something’ but weren’t sure of your own capacity to ‘bring it off’, rural towns are the perfect place to ‘give it a go’.
A team of Carnarvon women took a gamble along these lines earlier in the year and swept the townsfolk into a whirlwind of glamour and bright lights.Taking a city show and doing it in the country, the Gascoyne Showcase of Performing Arts produced “Dancing with the Stars Carnarvon Style”.
A group of ordinary people from the town trained with a world class Latin and Modern Ballroom dance performer and put on a show that was “out of this world”. The audience of the sold out show were astonished at the standard of production and performance that could come from the ranks of their own. All the professional elements were there and working together; lighting, sound, art direction, stage management, a scripted and choreographed show.
And it wasn’t just a cabaret show to get involved with. There were free basic dance lessons in cha cha, jive and modern waltz. There were classes in exotic Latin dances…salsa and tango, up close and personal with a stunning and accomplished dance teacher.
The three month, three stage program, supported by Country Arts WA, the Gascoyne Development Commission and Sky West took a lot of visioning, planning and commitment. But couple that with more than a dash of serendipity and something occurred that was greater than the sum of its parts.
What would I say to someone who wanted to ‘have a go’? Be prepared to give a lot for a period of time. Don’t say “that’ll do” too often. Have a vision in your mind of what you are working toward and only say “that’ll do” when you are in the vicinity. This doesn’t mean to be inflexible and demanding, but discuss stumbling blocks with others and learn to recognise (and acknowledge) the best solution for each challenge, no matter where it comes from. Always work hard, hop in and be hands on. Things will move along quicker. You also get inside the project and see new angles, new possibilities.
And when it all comes together…the magic, the magic, the magic!
Theatre and performance work are so ephemeral. You work hard and sweat for months. It is all there one moment and then it is over, the band goes home and everything is cleared away. It is as if it had never happened. But you, your family, friends and colleagues know better. You were there, you did it and it was glorious.
