Dancers will dazzle and delight
THE ‘Golden Entertainers’, an amazing dance troupe from Hilton and Howick, look forward to meeting local audiences.
The dancers will stage a show at Port Edward Resort Hall on Tuesday, May 31, at 2pm. Proceeds of this lively dance extravaganza will go to a local charitable organisation known as the Help Foundation. Tickets are R45 and include snacks.
What makes these golden oldie dancers so amazing is that they use their impressive dancing talents to make a statement about growing older with gusto. Four of them are women aged between 66 and 87 who do not allow growing older to slow them down. Aging is no excuse for not enjoying life and making a worthwhile contribution, they say. The other two members are a younger man and the group’s choreographer and dance instructor, who has lived in the world of dance and stage since a young girl.
The group has been in existence for nearly 21 years and has built up a repertoire of more than 80 items of dance and song. Most of these numbers are enhanced with lovely costumes all designed and made by the dancers themselves. The result is an exceptionally colourful variety performance.
None of the members would claim to be professional, though. This is a group that exists primarily to bring happiness and good quality entertainment to older people, although of course the dancers’ brand of classy, cheerful entertainment is enjoyed and well-received by all ages.
The performances are staged at all kinds of functions and fund-raising events and even sometimes in public theatres, but the main aim is to do charitable performances at retirement villages and homes. In this way the dancers remind their older fans everyone can make a valuable contribution to life, whatever his or her age.
Pietermaritzburg Rotarians have honoured the group with a ‘Service to the Community’ award. One of the dancers’ most exciting experiences was to audition for South Africa’s Got Talent on national television – and to reach the third round.
Sharleen McNeill is the leader and the extremely well qualified instructor and choreographer of the group. She has spent 52 of her 58 years as part of the world of dance and has dedicated her life to tap, modern and ballet. Gloria Harrison, a healthy 87-year-old, was one of the founder members of the group, way back in 1995. She had long been involved in drama and singing, participating in various eisteddfods and musical events, but had never danced before.
Rose-Marie Coventry is a confident 79 and Diane Hamilton is an energetic 73 with a strong tap-dance grounding . She is also responsible for the fabulous beadwork on many of the costumes.
Rosie Keevill, a bubbly 66-year-old, has danced since the age of four. Michael Bullick, is a former Drakensberg Boys’ Choir soloist. He joined the group in 2001, adding both a male presence and a beautiful voice into the mix. He is the baby at 47 years, but has had a lifetime’s experience on the stage.
The dancers all believe that if they can make one person smile during a show then they have done their work.
Tickets for show are available from the Help Foundation Shop in Port Edward. Contact Maureen Hughes at 039 3113828. They will also be available at the door.
