Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Ballare’s 2017 New York, New York show celebrating the studio’s fifth anniversary was an absolute delight from beginning to end.
Not only did it start on time last Friday evening at the Cultural Hall, always a pleaser with me, but it was professionally put together and proved to be a true reflection of all the collective hard work of the teachers and students.
Divided into 32 mini-performances ranging from the sweetest ever Stuffed Toys dance by Tiny and Twinkle Toes to the Street Art of the older dancers, every scene had the audience clapping and whistling in appreciation.
OK, so most of the audience was mainly from the Band of Mum and Dad but this critic wasn’t and I was clapping hard with the best of them.
Sadly, there was only one male student dancer, but he made up for that by excelling at his craft. Adam Harcourt should be very proud of himself. We, the audience, loved him.
There were routines added in by teacher Marc Glorioso’s troupe Enigma and Philippine Dance Crew that added a different dimension to the show but in no way detracted from the work of the young dancers.
Full marks have to go to the choreographers and dance teachers Aira Katrina Isleta, Ina Harbatsiuk and Mark who created routines that allowed the students to shine, yet were entertaining in their own right.
Ballare’s pupils Kelsey Kincaid, Sophia Smith and Alejandra Del Rio who along with Sofie Pedersen all shone like the proverbial diamonds.
From Ballet to Hip Hop, Tap to Jazz, we were treated to it all and the costumes were simply dazzling. Congratulations to Hala Al Zayani, Ballare’s director, and all those involved in the production.
Here’s hoping the next five years will be just as successful, if not more so!
