A show that made you want to put on your boogie shoes
Exhilarating and breathtaking till the very last second, Grace and Glory presented by Naomi Rajaratnam was met with a standing ovation as it dominated the stage at Bishop’s College Auditorium last weekend.
Naomi once again proved herself to be the powerhouse of dancing expertise she has always been by keeping the show vibrant and current. Ballroom and ballet met hip hop and fiery Latin in a culmination of sequences that celebrated the diversity of dance styles while marrying it to the same music.
The stage was alive with a passion for dance at all times, so much so that it was difficult to know where to look at times. The show was full of innovation, with a mix of ballet and hiphop set to live beatboxing performed on stage by Julius Mitchell, an innovative three-way routine to Puttin On the Ritz, and a sultry take on the Paso Doble – the audience was kept at the edge of their seats.
Naomi had ventured out to prove that different styles of dance could be performed to a single piece of music. And achieve this she did, with all her dancers creating amazing moments on the floor for the audience to take home that evening. The dancers themselves were clearly having the time of their lives, with their smiles and energy carrying them through to the dazzling finale.
The runaway star of the show was Tarja De Silva, who performed in the majority of the numbers with grace, style and energy that never waned. Tarja spent a significant portion of her time on stage being thrown up in the air in lifts and balancing acts that were equal parts mesmerising and heart-stopping for the audience.
At its core, Grace and Glory had a little something for everyone. This was clearly evident just as their hip hop dance troupe took the stage. The act was jaw dropping as some of the dancers pulled off a few near to impossible moves. As one of dancers performed a head spin and a back flip to end their set, the look of disbelief on the faces of those seated in the front row was clearly visible even in the darkened auditorium.
All in all, the audience left that evening thoroughly entertained. If you weren’t into dancing before the show, Naomi and her troupe certainly left you with the thought of taking up lessons and putting on your boogie shoes.
Great joy and energy on stage: The dancers in action. Pix by Ishanka Sunimal
Some of the audience members at the show
