Strictly Ballroom

Vivir con miedo es como vivir a medias.

‘To live a life in fear is a life half lived.’ – Baz Luhrmann

Acclaimed Australian, writer, producer and Director, Baz Luhrmann penned this quote in the script of Strictly Ballroom. Don’t do things by halves. Make the most of every opportunity and to do this sometimes it means you have to step outside your comfort zone and stand for what you believe in. Congratulations to our amazing cast, backstage crew, tech crew for bringing Girton Performing Arts back to Ulumbarra Theatre for this year’s Senior School Musical: Strictly Ballroom. With the inspiration of choreographer Ms Kaddison Kearin, 42 students danced and shimmied and celebrated the joy of presenting this classic story to the school and wider community. Everyone involved felt the exhilaration of achieving all three performance evenings without the impact of Covid. The buzz at the end of our final night on Friday 24th June resonated throughout the beautiful theatre from audience and production team alike. 

One of the key messages of the story is that "A life lived in fear is a life half-lived". (Luhrmann says he borrowed this line from the 1970-s TV series, Monkey Magic).  Much of the atomization of modern life is a function of fear, fear of being judged, fear of failing, fear of being hurt by those we open up to.  The protagonist, Scott Hastings, begins the play as only half of a couple, unable to share anything, even a dance, with his partner.  He is living only a half-life.  But he becomes wholly human, begins to live a whole life, when he becomes a true partner with Fran and together they challenge the staid competition rules of Ballroom Dancing (now called Dancesport) to open hearts and minds to change. After two years in the wilderness during Covid lockdowns and fear of the impacts of the global pandemic, what a poignant reminder that with perseverance and banding together, we can stimulate resilience and learn to find new ways (new steps) to live life to the full again.

I am immensely proud and grateful to everyone who helped make Strictly Ballroom The Musical possible. The many acknowledgements have been documented in the program and here I would like to offer particular thanks to our Production Captains Mia McGovern and Indi-Mara Bodin for their constant encouragement and leadership in your roles. We salute the courage to stage a high calibre professional musical in the current circumstances impacting the Performing Arts industry and we express much appreciation to all of our audiences for your spirited attendance. The highlights of success will live on in the memories of all who participated or experienced the love in the air! 

Bravo Team.

Mrs Mandy Ellison

Head of Drama/Media and Director of Strictly Ballroom The Musical 2022