For Immediate Release Direct from Broadway and London’s West End The International Ballroom Dance Sensation BURN THE FLOOR IGNITES HONG KONG FOR LIMITED SEASON Tickets now on Sale “Spectacular from start to finish. Some of the most energetic and flawless choreography seen on stage.” Daily Mail, UK Hong Kong (10 August 2012) The electrifying Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular Burn The Floor is coming to Hong Kong! Years before Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance turned ballroom dancing into must-see TV, one sizzling show was setting stages ablaze around the globe. Burn The Floor has thrilled audiences in more than 30 countries, now it is bringing the fire and passion of their live performance to the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 17 to 28 October, 2012. Tickets are now on sale at Hong Kong Ticketing. From hot nights at The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in New York City, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, Burn The Floor takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of the Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble - audiences will experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep, and Swing. “Dazzling!” The New York Times The full spectrum of dance styles are performed with sizzling sensuality and athleticism by 22 award-winning international dancers from 10 countries around the globe, who between them hold more than 100 Championship Dance Titles. Two vocalists and two on-stage percussionists turn up the heat with a variety of music, from Swing and Waltz classics to Jennifer Lopez and Credence Clearwater. Burn The Floor press release Page Two “Heart-pounding! Splendid dance and gorgeous dancers” Time Out, New York Jason Gilkison, director and choreographer of the show, has a theory for why the show connects so well with audiences wherever it goes, saying, “I think ballroom dancing is such a social thing that everyone’s had in their life at some stage. And, it’s the one dance form that hadn’t been put in the theatrical form before so it’s very accessible to the audience. To enjoy the show, you don’t have to be a dance fan at all or into high art as far as dance is concerned. Audiences respond to us because it’s rare that there’s such an interactive theatrical experience when watching a show.” Jason says of his show, “I’m just amazed by the energy the dancers throw off to the audience. I love watching older couples in the crowd holding hands during the Viennese Waltz section. I love seeing the guys that get dragged to the show by their wives or girlfriends and then, by the end of the show, are up on their feet. That’s when I know we’ve reached a new audience, which is what this show is about.” Burn The Floor is produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Harley Medcalf, Dance Partner Inc. Burn The Floor will heat up the stage at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 17 to 28 October, 2012. * * * NOTES TO EDITORS Burn The Floor dancing styles The style danced in Burn The Floor is called “international style” and has been danced in competition since 1920. International style ballroom dance consists of ten dances, split into five Latin American dances and five ballroom dances (standard). Standard Dances Waltz, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Tango, Quickstep Latin Dances Cha Cha, Samba, Paso Doble, Rumba, TJive Burn The Floor press release Page Three About the Creative Team Director/Choreographer, Jason Gilkison together with dance partner Peta Roby have become one of Australia’s most successful dance couples, being undefeated Latin champions from 1981 to 1997. During this time they also became World, British and International Champions. In 1999 Jason and Peta joined the original production of Burn The Floor, and danced with the company as lead dancers until 2006. Jason also accepted the role of choreographer in 2001, and become the company’s Artistic Director in 2005. Associate producer, Peta Roby and Jason Gilkison danced together for 35 years, becoming undefeated World, British and International Latin Dance Champions. Young Australian of the Year, 1990; Burn The Floor principal dancer 1999-2004. Peta became company manager and executive producer of Burn The Floor in 2005. Producer, Harley Medcalf worked with artists as diverse as Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Billy Joel, Michael Crawford, Billy Connolly, Queen, Michael Flatley, Meat Loaf, Queen, Lionel Richie, Kenny G and Sarah Brightman in his career spanning of 39 years. Harley founded Burn The Floor in 1999 and has passionately produced the show in more than 30 countries. Festival of Fun Burn The Floor is part of the Festival of Fun. The Festival is produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, which brings six exciting shows from the world stage to the Hong Kong this autumn: Louis Pearl, The Amazing Bubble Man, 12-16 September Enter a world of bubble art, science, magic and fun. Potted Potter, 18-30 September The unauthorised Harry experience – all seven Harry Potter books in seventy hilarious minutes. The Mousetrap, 9-14 October The legendary murder mystery drama, now in its 60th year in London’s West End. Burn the Floor, 16-28 October Broadway and the West End’s hottest dance show. The Bootleg Beatles, 1-4 November The world’s first and finest homage to the Fab Four. The Nutcracker on Ice, 6-18 November World-class ice dancing in the intimacy of the theatre. * * * Burn The Floor press release Page Four Burn The Floor Date: 17-28 October 2012 Venue: Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts VIP Reserve A Reserve B Reserve C Reserve Tue - Thu Evening - 8:00 pm $850 $750 $550 $350 Fri & Sat Evening - 8:00 pm $950 $850 $595 $395 Sun Evening - 7:00pm $850 $750 $550 $350 Sat Matinee - 4:00 pm $850 $750 $550 $350 Sun Matinee - 2:30pm $850 $750 $550 $350 A limited number of Student Tickets are available in both A & B Reserve (excluding Fri & Sat Evening show). Ticket prices are exclusive of HK Ticketing booking fees. Ticketing Information Tickets priced from HK$350 to HK$950 are available now by calling or visiting the following hotline, site or outlets: - HK Ticketing hotline: 31 288 288 - HK Ticketing website: www.hkticketing.com - HK Ticketing outlets: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong Fringe Club, Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, The Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus-Bethanie and all Tom Lee Music outlets and K11 Select. For more information, visit www.lunchbox-productions.com. Official Hotel: Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Official Ocean Carrier: OOCL * * * The above press release is issued by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Ltd. through PRO Marketing Services Company Limited To download images, press material and information on Burn The Floor, please visit: http://www.propublicity.com/ProMWeb/public/News.aspx For further Information and interview requests, please contact: PRO Marketing Services Company Limited Catherine Cheung & Maggie Ho Ph: (852) 2851 1482 Mob: (852) 9466 4743 Email: [email protected] .