The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

THE DANCERS aged 50 to 70 years, who shaked their romps to "I'm Sexy and I Know It", stole the show at the Jubilee Dance Studio's "GLITZ: A Broadway Production".

These dancers were featured in the highly energised 'Zumba Blast' act during the dance school's first production at the Rainforest Theater last Friday.

This sold out show, according to organsiers, brought Broadway to the Bahamas with acts from Chicago, Burlesque, Lion King, Cats, Rent, Grease, In the Heights, Sweet Charity, Fosse, A Chorus Line and others.

"Where else would you see fifty and sixty year olds dancing to songs from Neyo or dancing to I'm Sexy and I Know It. That was funny and people really enjoyed it," studio owner Kim Kikivarakis said.

Ms Kikivarkis has always been inspired by the life that Broadway takes on in New York, her second home. She always envisioned the school's first production to be Broadway. She said she wanted to bring that same energy and diversity that Broadway exhibits in New York, here to the Bahamas.

"I lived in New York permanently for sometime. My mother always took me to see Broadway shows and it was always fascinating to me. A lot of people may have not had that opportunity to see a Broadway show, which is why we put it on. We ended the show with Blast. This was our first production since we opened last year and I am so pleased with the way the show went. It was sold out, " she said.

Glitz was a diverse mix of the arts. Ms Kikivarakis said she intended for the production to be out of the ordinary. There were over 50 dancers, 12 dramatists, 3 singers and about 50 Zumba blasters.

"The show was a spectacular success. We are so grateful for the opportunity to bring the joy and love of Broadway to Nassau and were excited to use so many art forms. It was important to create a show experience that was geared towards the young and the 'not-so-young'; the female and the male; the lovers of music, dance, and new fitness styles. It is almost as if we showed two sides to our school. We showed the kids, and we showed the adults," said Ms Kikivarakis.

The school is launching a DVD of the GLITZ production. It is already preparing for a second production.