Multifaceted student work always exciting

BITTER SWEET by Cape Academy of Performing Arts. Centenary Hall

I await in anticipation...

"When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow," Shauna Niequist.

This is the essence of this many faceted piece by multiskilled students.

The opening number discusses the merits and demerits and the personality of ballet dancers as opposed to the performing arts in general.

This piece is like a modern Swan Lake with beautiful port de bras, strong point work and lines of swans.

This sets the scene for what is to come. As they are not only beautiful ballet dancers, but their training has equipped these students to perform in any genre.

The speed of the change of mood and costume flows one into another, with the spoken word keeping one enlightened with the change of scene and pace.

Just for good measure their harmonising voices keep the flow going.

This whole work is like the forerunner of a musical, as it has all the separate parts.

There musical comedy number in the Byrds and Bees to music by Rimsky-Korsakov had the audience giggling.

A complete change of pace in SWAT, performed in military style complete with army uniforms, and jack boots. Rather chilling.

The pace is never slow, never repetitive and always exciting.

I congratulate Debbie Turner, the whole team and the dancers for their quality of work. Well done. – Ann Knight