| A novice finds his inner voice
IN 12 minutes you can eat a very quick meal, travel five city blocks on a good traffic day, or balance the cheque book, check your emails and maybe feed the dog at the same time. Twelve minutes goes by in a snap of the fingers and can mean just as little. But try to create 12 minutes of movement that will intrigue an audience, let them see your meaning and purpose, and express something that thousands haven't done before. That's when those minutes can stretch into eternity. Tonight at Sydney Theatre the audience will see the result of one dancer's efforts to fill that slice of time after a few weeks of rehearsal, months of research, and at least a year of listening to one piece of music. He is the novice choreographer Robert Curran, who, as a principal with the Australian Ballet, knows that dancers reveal their personality each time they step on stage.
Revolver dances along with Vida Ballet documentary
Revolver Entertainment has pre-bought the UK rights to feature documentary Vida Ballet from director Beadie Finzi, who previously co-directed and produced Unknown White Male. Giorgia Lo Savio produced the film, which is executive produced by Tigerlily's Nikki Parrott. Vida Ballet follows a year in the life of two teenagers, Irlan and Isabella, two black ballet dancers from the poverty of Rio who will travel to a competition in New York in 2008 "The subject matter lending itself to rich, vibrant story, saturated in colour and light. Capturing how it feels to be young and brilliant and ready to fly," says Finzi. Justin Marciano, MD at Revolver said: "Following our recent successes with Grizzly Man and Ballet Russes, it's wonderful to be working with Giorgia and Beadie on Vida Ballet, a film which we believe has all the essential elements for great documentary."Lo Savio said that the film-makers are in currently talks with several sales companies.
You're invited to witness `Dearly Beloved'
The last production of the season by the Little Theater of Gastonia, 238 Clay St., will be "Dearly Beloved." See what happens when a "Gone with the Wind"-themed wedding goes terribly off course: 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday. Admission is $12 adults and $10 seniors and students. Details: 704-865-0160; www.littletheatergastonia.org. Dance theater summer classes The School of Gaston Dance Theatre is offering summer classes. Beginning Monday, the school will hold "Taste of the Arts," a partnership with the Gaston School of the Arts. The five-day program will give children ages 3-5 a sampling of art, drama, music and dance. Cost is $85.Creative Dance and Movement classes will be for children ages 3-5 and 6-9. Students will learn a basic ballet warm-up, traveling steps and introductory ballet moves.
A new adventure in the emerald city
ONE year ago Darcey Bussell called Sydney her "dream city, especially now that I have children". In a travel feature naming celebrities' favourite cities, Bussell said she loved the opportunity to spend more time outdoors and being able to "go to the beach whenever you like". But in time the siren call of the beach fades away, the humid Sydney summer becomes less than compelling, and the mind yearns for stimulation. And if you have had a life on stage, the limelight beckons as well. Like Irina Baronova, a ballerina from a different generation who moved to Australia, Bussell is likely to be drawn into the Australian dance community, or the wider arts community, if only as a figurehead. Baronova is a vice-president of the Royal Academy of Dance and has coached the Australian Ballet.
Richards is an Exotic Dancer in Beautiful
Denise Richards will star in A Beautiful Life, a drama to be directed by Argentine filmmaker Alejandro Chomski in Los Angeles this summer, reports Variety. Chomski recently helmed Reggaeton for Sony BMG and Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican. Richards, who plays opposite Pamela Anderson in the upcoming Blonde and Blonder, will play an exotic dancer. The role is a first for Richards who moves from broader mainstream pics to an edgy indie film. She joins male lead Jesse Garcia (Quinceanera), Dana Delany, Debi Mazar and Michael Madsen in the cast. The film is written by Wendy Hammond and its producer Deborah Calla, based on an original play by Hammond. Budgeted at less than $5 million, this is the sixth film produced by sales distrib New Films Intl. NFI prexy Nesim Hason and indie producer Bob Holof serve as executive producers.
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