Derek Deane’s Strictly Gershwin is not what an audience would expect a typical ballet show to be – in the best possible way.
“There’s still an enormous amount of classic ballet in it,” Deane, the show’s director and choreographer, explained.
Queensland Ballet’s Strictly Gershwin runs from September 28 to October 7.Credit: Queensland Ballet
“But at the same time there are other elements in the production that create a different atmosphere for the audience.”
Those other elements include jazz, tap and ballroom dance, performed by all 60 of the Queensland Ballet’s company dancers.
The production features some of the most iconic Broadway and Hollywood tunes of the ’30s, created by brothers George and Ira Gershwin.
The soundtrack will be performed live by Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
Derek Deane, a former principal dancer of The Royal Ballet and the former artistic director of the English National Ballet, choreographed the show in 2008.Credit: Derek Deane
“There’s so many different dance, song and musical elements within the production,” Deane said.
“It creates an evening of great excitement, interest and joy.”
Deane, a former principal dancer of The Royal Ballet and the former artistic director of the English National Ballet, choreographed the show in 2008, eventually bringing it to Australia in 2016.
“I was asked to do a new production at the Royal Albert Hall in London,” Deane said.
“I told the producers I would really like to do something on the Gershwin songs. They thought it was a great idea.”
Strictly Gershwin takes audiences on a journey through ballet, jazz, tap, and ballroom dance genres, to the big band era soundtrack of the ’30s. Credit: Queensland Ballet
Some might not recognise the Gershwins by name, but it’s likely most people know their compositions by ear.
“I discovered them through my teenage years, watching a lot of Hollywood films,” Deane said.
“I love the songs … Rhapsody In Blue and An American in Paris, two fantastic pieces of music.”
Senior soloist Alexander Idaszak joined the Queensland Ballet as a company dancer in early 2013.
He danced in the show’s 2016 run and has spent the past two months getting ready to perform for the show’s return to QPAC’s Lyric Theatre this week.
“It’s taken a lot to get that muscle memory of the movement into the body,” Idaszak said.
“But it’s been an awesome process.”
Senior soloist Alexander Idaszak has been a company dancer with the Queensland Ballet since 2013. This will be the second time he’s performed in Strictly Gershwin. Credit: David Kelly Photography
Idaszak describes Strictly Gershwin as a “big blockbuster production”, agreeing with Deane that it’s a production anyone can enjoy, no matter their age or musical interest.
“There’s a tap routine, then a song, then a classical ballet number, then another song and then a tango. It’s pretty cool,” he said.
As for what he’s most looking forward to, Deane said it’s the thrill of seeing the audience at the end of the final performance.
“When I hear the audience’s appreciation of the production and people, especially [when they’re] people who wouldn’t normally go to the ballet ... it’s a great experience for me,” Deane said.
“There’s so many different dance, song and musical elements within the production,” Derek Deane said.Credit: Queensland Ballet
Ultimately, that’s what he hopes Strictly Gershwin does: encourages more people to go to the ballet.
“I think it’s important to be creating productions like this [that] entice new audiences into the theatre to see ballet.
“And Strictly Gershwin does that very well.”
Queensland Ballet’s Strictly Gershwin runs from September 28 to October 7. Tickets and information here: https://www.qpac.com.au/event/qbstrictlygershwin_23
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