eVent Magazine, Wednesday, Nov.1 2006, pg.7
Diverse dance extravaganza
by Lori-Anne Charlton
Ed
Sullivan would call it a "really big shew". Wendy Williams, artistic
director and lead choreographer of Get Bent Yoga and Belly Dancing in Penticton,
call it an extravaganza.
The "it" in question is Pulse! The Spirit of Rhythm and Dance, a Valleywide dance tour that mixes local and professional talent for an evening of music and movement.
More than 60 performers will take the stage in Kelowna, Lake Country, Vernon, Penticton and Kamloops this month, performing an eclectic mix of Latin, African, hip hop and Belly Dancing.
"The Okanagan has so much talent," Williams said. "We've tried to include as many people as we can."
Those that will shake, shimmy, twist and turn their stuff under the spotlight for the six scheduled shows range in age from five to 76, and in ability from beginner to polished professional.
Williams can't stress enough the value of diversity. "There are so many people from so many ages, talents and communities. There are hippy people and business people. But when they get on the stage with their art, everyone's the same. It's been a really neat process," she said.
Amanda Seath, who has been dancing for Carnival Cruise Lines, will perform merengue. Alanna Mathews, 76, was one of the original performers of Ballet Russes, the Russian Ballet.
Justina
Bailey, on the other hand, has been taking belly dancing for about eight years,
but has never had the chance to perform on such a grand scale. She'll be
dancing with a group of almost 30 belly dancers, decked out in sequins and
sparkles, with all the technical bells and whistles to make them look their
best, and she's totally pumped about the chance.
"A lot of these women don't have the background, but they're extremely talented," Bailey said. It's giving people an opportunity they might not otherwise have. I think a lot of the artists are very grateful." But while it's a landmark occasion for those performing, the goal is to offer a spectacular production, full of eye candy, for audiences across the Okanagan.
Also included in the lineup is a poi spinner named Desiree, from Lumby. Poi is a traditional Maori dance prop from New Zealand, comprised of a staff and fire. Rather than twirling a burning stick, though, Desiree uses a chain with fiberoptics on the end.
In addition to the dancers, Williams and tour-coordinator John Goudie, who co-founded Get Bent Yoga and Belly Dancing with Williams, have collected a lineup of live musicians to perform original music for the production. So original, in fact, almost all was written for the occasion.
Included in the musical lineup is a West African drumming group from Okanagan Falls called Common Pulse, a Middle Eastern fusion music group also from OK Falls called the Barefoot Profits, The William Leggott Jazz Trio from Penticton and Peachland, and Latin and Middle Eastern singer Lauren Holmes from OK Falls.
"Since it's community-based, there's a lot of exposure for everyone," Williams said. "And you're going to find someone you know on the stage, or even a friend of a friend."
She, with Goudie, would like to make the show an annual event, exploring different styles each year. Williams herself choreographed the hip-hop segments, featuring dancers from around the Okanagan, as well as the merengue dances, and she will appear on stage as a belly dancer. The salsa numbers were organized by Lainesque Studio in Kelowna.
"Putting all that energy on one stage is cool. It's just cool," Williams said.
Prior to the Kelowna show, Nov. 24 at the Mary Irwin Theatre in the Rotary Centre for the Arts (tickets at Ticketmaster), local belly dance troupe Banat Al Raks will perform. Students from George Elliot Secondary School's band class will perform pre-show when Pulse! comes to the Creekside Theatre in Lake Country, Saturday and Nov. 10 (tickets: 250-766-9309).
Other concert dates are Friday at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre (Tickets at Ticketseller), and Nov.25 at Penticton's Cleland Theatre (tickets at the Can Coffee Co on Fairview Road).
Prices are $30 adults, $25 students and seniors, and $15 children age 12 and under. Time is 6:45pm. For more information, visit www.getbentyogaandbellydancing.com or call (250) 462-1025. _______________________________________________________________________
