Young people to star in WA Ballet festival

27/9/00
More than 60 young dance students will take the stage with the State's best over the next two days as part of West Australian Ballet's FEAST: Festival of Entertainment, Arts and Street Theatre.
To be launched tomorrow by Mike Board, Minister for Arts and Youth, Pictures at an Exhibition is the highlight of the inaugural festival, being held at - and around - His Majesty's Theatre.
"This ballet is a wonderful opportunity for the State's up-and-coming young dancers to experience performing at an elite level with a top-class company in front of a major audience," Mr Board said.
"The competition for the 60 places was fierce, with the two casts of 30 students chosen from an audition field of 500. The performance will be well worth taking the time to see - and it has the added bonus of being free.
"I urge everyone who can - especially young people on school holidays - to take the opportunity to enjoy FEAST, which offers a huge range of free entertainment, activities and workshops from some of WA's best performing arts companies."
Pictures at an Exhibition was choreographed by West Australian Ballet's Ballet Master Edmund Strip.
Performances and activities will be available from 9.30am to 6pm from tomorrow, Thursday, September 28 to Friday, September 29, with the ballet performances at 11.30am and 1.30pm.
Activities will include acting workshops for teenagers by Deckchair Theatre Company, puppet making with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, dance classes and tours of His Majesty's Theatre.
An entertainment program of theatre, song and dance will be provided by organisations including Barking Gecko Theatre Company, Aboriginal Productions and Promotion, West Australian Opera, STEPS Youth Dance Company, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Tetrafide, Levi Indich, Company Kido and Two-Part Invention.
Jazz bands, mime and pavement artists, musicians and street theatre performers will take FEAST's fun on to the street outside His Majesty's.
"This event is a showcase of Perth's performing arts talent and shouldn't be missed," Mr Board said.
FEAST is presented by West Australian Ballet and His Majesty's Theatre and supported by the City of Perth, Healthway, Lotteries Commission and the Office of Youth Affairs.
Media contact: Tamatha Smith - 9222 9211