Cast

Synopsis

Lily is ensconced in a South Florida high rise for retirees. To ease her loneliness, she signs on for a series of private dance lessons only to find that her handsome instructor, Michael, is a prickly pear with a short fuse and self-censoring issues.

Antagonism between the two gives way to profound compatibility as they swing, tango, foxtrot and cha-cha while sharing more than dance steps.

During the sixth and final lesson, she shares a closely guarded secret and he shares his greatest gifts.

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks is that rare bird – a story that gives equal weight to both the trials of growing old and the regrets of youth. It’s an authentic, poignant, often quite funny piece that has an ageless appeal.

Directors Notes

Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks is that rare bird – a story that gives equal weight to both the trials of growing old and the regrets of youth. It’s an authentic, poignant, often quite funny piece that has an ageless appeal.

Lily is ensconced in a South Florida high rise for retirees. To ease her loneliness she signs on for a series of private dance lessons only to find that her handsome, middle-aged instructor, Michael, is a prickly pear with a
short fuse and self-censoring issues. Sparks soon fly though, when Michael’s vitriolic, bitter humour finds
something of a match in ex-teacher, Lily. A hate-at-first-sight dynamic eventually gives way to a warm friendship as the pair discover they have more in common than meets the eye, including a penchant for
fibbing, filial and romantic loss, a need to connect (yet a resistance to do so) and, of course, a love of dancing.

The two delightfully dance their way through the foxtrot, cha-cha, tango, waltz, and so on, to eventually reach a point of mutual understanding. The two-handed intimacy is the play’s trademark and is therefore ideally suited to The Theatre Upstairs. Watch (in spectacular close up) Lily and Michael on their journey to their final meeting, as they both transcend fear and mortality while the sun sets on their last dance.

The odd couplehood at the heart of this play is beautifully brought to life by two of our finest actors – Julie and Mark – who conjure such a successful variation of the tried-and-true formula of an ‘odd couple’ friendship. Julie brings class to a woman who needs a dance partner but not really a teacher, since she quite obviously can hold her own to a swing, foxtrot, tango, waltz, cha-cha or contemporary dance step. Julie has created these dance routines for this production.

Mark inhabits Michael’s world like an old worn glove – perfectly balancing brash manners and crude language
with a heart of gold, that will have you laughing out loud one minute and wiping away a tear the next. I thank them both for their creativity, ideas and obvious talent for shaping this play so beautifully. Watching these two experts is like peeling an onion; the surface layer is tough, but as their relationship evolves the layers become more tender, until the heart of the onion (and their hearts) is reached and their true emotions are exposed.

Of course, I can’t sign off without a huge shout-out to my creative team. As you sit in Lily’s apartment tonight, marvel at the view, admire her outfits (and his!), feel at home amongst her furniture and belongings and get carried away with the dance tunes, remember it is our BLT team that work so hard to bring everything to life before your eyes. Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks is a highly entertaining evening that will have you thinking, laughing and perhaps shedding a tear or two. It may even make you take up dancing!

Thank you for joining us