Faultless opening night performance

The Jazzart company and trainee dancers upped their game again - from dress rehearsal to opening night they drew on a reservoir of energy and strength they probably didn't know they had to produce a premiere that was nothing less than outstanding.
Alfred takes them through a focus exercise before curtain up to concentrate their attention on each other and the performance. They end up in a circle, facing inwards, holding hands while Alfred walks around the outside gently running his hand across their shoulders, connecting them. "Trust what you're doing; believe in it; you've done well," he says.
Alfred instructs them to take their lead for their bows from Chuma , the actress in the role of the protagonist boy child - "Soloists having the most important roles... we don't do that shit," he says. "Take it from Chuma... and you bow... and if you're lucky you'll take another one."
On opening night, they could easily have had a third curtain call. And it's difficult not to single out stellar performances. Chuma slips into her role so naturally it's as though it was made for her. Come to think of it, it probably was. And she looks like a Jazzart dancer in the closing routine!
The mother's solo; the Douglas throughout and especially his pas de deux with Refiloe; the gangsta scene; Shaun; Grant; - all brilliant... gut-wrenching... unforgettable...
Neo's band drives the emotion too; the music penetrates to the core of one's being.
The stark set comes alive with skilled lighting that, as Ina says, makes it look like a movie. "She (Lara) is so clever..." The costumes are simple, earthy and real; the messages exceptionally clear.
It was incredible to see how what was rehearsed in a confined studio space was transformed on stage. The stage was open; there were no wings and people were always visible sitting quietly, walking slowly or moving subtly in the background even if the focus was the action centrestage. The direction required great vision and contributes to what I think is the best production I've seen all year. - Debbie Hathway

Comments from the audience:
"Chuma is so natural she doesn't even look like she's acting."
"Grant looked like a superstar... they all did.
"I loved it."
"It's everything I expect to see in dance theatre."
"I loved the music; I love it when they mix rock with softer stuff."
"The still moments were awesome."