If the good people of Queenstown feel the earth shaking over the next few weeks, they need not dive under the nearest table. Chances are it will be a dozen sturdy blokes performing an especially energetic grand jeté in unison.
Ballet is a beautiful, graceful and precise form of physical and artistic expression which has enthralled the world for five centuries. However, Wakatipu residents will get to witness the dance in its purest and most dazzling interpretation when the Remarkable Mens' Ballet Troupe takes the stage as part of the 2011 Shotover Jet Christmas Spectacular on December 11.
A gleeful Tracey Roxburgh, a ballerina for 10 years, "volunteered" this reporter for the comical highlight of the spectacular when compere without compare Simon Green was short of bodies.
We lords of the dance gathered for our first and second rehearsals in the Queenstown Primary School Hall last week.
(Out of class hours - the children will be traumatised enough during the show.)Some members make their encore this year, but I was among the newcomers who threw themselves on the mercy of Queenstown School of Dance co-founder Anna Stuart, back for a second year.
Shoes and socks off, the spirit of fun and a feeling of ridiculousness ran as rampant as we did while our teacher instructed us on the delicate techniques we will perform, in full costume and make-up, to the waltzing strains from The Nutcracker.
Respect for real ballet dancers has increased 10-fold, given the multitude of moves and timings we have to remember while running, jumping and flouncing around with our imaginary harps and bouquets.
Yet no-one wants to let the side down and everyone wants to nail the sequence to deliver the best and funniest performance.
