Author: karenconrad

Maverick music theatre makers the Present Tense Ensemble re-imagine five legendary albums as part of The Major Bruce Sessions: Volume 1, a monthly residency at Ruby’s Music Room featuring:

Eternal Nightcap by The Whitlams on Wednesday 19 February at 6.30pm

with Zoy Frangos (Les Miserables) Zoe McDonald (FOMO) and Yesse Spence (Delectable Shelter)

Like a Prayer by Madonna on Wednesday 19 March at 6.30pm,

with Anna Boulic (Chants Des Catacombes) and Mark Leahy (The Twoks)

Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf on Wednesday 16 April at 6.30pm

with Amy Lehpamer (Rock of Ages / Dirty Rotten Scoundrels/ Margaret Fulton: Queen of The Dessert)

Josh Price (M+M / Menagerie) and Quyen Le (the Good China).

Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen  on Wednesday 23 July at 6.30pm

with Laura Burzacott (Chants Des Catacombes/ Margaret Fulton: Queen of the Dessert)

and Jack Howard (Hunters & Collectors)

Tapestry by Carol King on Wednesday 27 August at 6.30pm)

with the best recent graduates of the Ballarat Arts Academy

Curated and arranged by Nate Gilkes and Bryce Ives (the unconventional theatre directors behind Margaret Fulton: Queen of the Dessert, Chants Des Catacombes and FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out) Major Bruce will feature the hallmarks of their Present Tense ensemble: glorious vocal arrangements and impulsive live performances led by Nate Gilkes, sitting at a sensational Steinway piano.

“Most of our contemporaries are dealing with the works of Shakespeare, Beckett or Churchill. We’re more interested in Madonna, Meatloaf and Bruce Springsteen. This monthly residency gets us out of the theatre; as we jam, make music and reflect on the poetry that inherently exists in popular music,” says Bryce Ives.

“We’re excited about the intimacy offered within Ruby’s Music Room, it will give the audience the opportunity to be up close and personal with the lyrics and music of some of our greatest rock and pop artists,” says Nate Gilkes.

The Major Bruce Sessions: Volume 1

Ruby’s Music Room: 132 Lt. Lonsdale Street Melbourne

Tickets: $25 on the door, or $20 online

www.rubysmusicroom.com

Melbourne dancer Arna Singleton aka Robotgirl has won the opportunity to dance with Madonna at the Grand Opening of Hard Candy Fitness Toronto in Canada next week!

Hard Candy Fitness, founded by Madonna, is new to Sydney Australia and for the past month they’ve been on the search for talented dancers with great personalities to fly to Canada and dance with Madonna.

Last Friday, 31^st January was audition day. A bunch of very excited, hopeful dancers and fans rushed through their doors. Dancers were taught  the ‘Addicted To Sweat’ routine, which is Madonna’s very own class, based off her weekly workout regime and is exclusively offered at Hard Candy Fitness.  They went through in groups and finally got down to the top 20, then top 3 involving 3 rounds of dance offs!

Judges included;

– Chantel Curmi  (Currently in Beyonce‘s Film Clip and tours with Jessica Mauboy and Ricki Lee).

– Samson Smith (Part of the Justice Crew, nominated for 2 ARIA awards and recently toured with Ke$sha and Pitbull).

– Joelle Hadjia (Top 5 finalist of X-Factor, Series 5).

And our girl Arna was the lucky winner!

“I can’t believe I was chosen!  Madonna is my idol and I have been a fan since the age of 5.  This is seriously a dream come true for me and I am thrilled,” Arna said.

No overnight success story, Arna’s recent credits include head choreographer for ‘Fame – the Ultimate High School Musical’ FOX8 TV commercial, featured dancer for Jay Jay’s 3D dance in store and online campaign, choreographer to Honey Singh’s music video ‘Bring Me Back’ and a T20 Big Bash League – Melbourne Redbacks dancer. Her other appearances include; Lipton Tea 2010 nationwide TV commercial, The Footy Show Players Revue segment (Ch. 9), The Today Show (Ch. 9), The 7pm Project (Ch. 10), Good Friday Appeal Variety Concert (Ch. 7), Australia’s Got Talent (Ch. 7), Big Day Out and music video clips, Double Dutch – CC Martini and Shouldn’t Let Him Out – Polo Club.

She also represented Australia at the world class ‘Body Rock’ competition in San Diego (USA) in 2009. and is well known in the street dance community as an event organiser and advocator for the scene. Through her event work she has successfully run the hip hop extravaganza at the Arts Centre known as Our Backyard for 6 successive years, Step Off! (an urban dance crew competition) for 9 years, Push It! Hip Hop Arena at Push Over Festival for 9 years and multiple programs providing young people with free access to gain further opportunities to perform, produce music, gain skill development and professional exposure to become the next generation of hip hop artists.

Arna is off this Sunday with Hard Candy Sydney’s Lead ATS (‘Addicted To Sweat’) Instructor, Alissa Hall.and will be training and practising with winners from all over the world all day on the day prior to the red carpet event.

This is also the first time that the dance class with Madonna has been open to the public.

Pictures & footage from the auditions that can be viewed at – dancewithmadonna.com & on Hard Candy Fitness AU’s facebook page.

Check out dancewithmadonna.com & hardcandyfitness.com.au for more details.

Bendigo’s inaugural Recycled Roots Festival is thrilled to announce a fantastic lineup including  headliner Justin Johnson (USA), Jarrod Shaw, Kim Volkman and Stackhouse!

Recycled Roots Festival is a celebration of the art and ingenuity of home made and hand made instruments including recycled, recovered and repurposed items, cigar boxes, hubcaps, kitchen drawers, suitcases and more.

Jamie Mcpherson, Captain Tricko and Blind Kiwi are also on the bill and there will be builders stalls, live music, workshops, open stage, community jams and more from midday ’til late.

April 19  – Recycled Roots Revolution  – Bendigo  

March 7-10 – Port Fairy Folk Festival – VIC

http://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/

More info: http://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/?page_id=5284

March 21-23 – Deloraine Stringfest – TAS

https://www.facebook.com/DeloraineStringfestTasmania

April 19 – Recycled Roots Revolution  – Bendigo