The tail of a ballerina

YOU can call it a doggie version of Billy Elliot but just like that movie, the play Dogs Don't Do Ballet teaches its audiences to live out their dreams.
Currently performing at PJ Life Arts until Nov 23, Dogs Don't Do Ballet is the stage adaptation of the children's book of the same name by author Anna Kemp and illustrator Sara Ogilvie.
The play is presented by the UK-based Blunderbus Theatre Company, the same company that brought us such children's theatre plays as The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark and The Selfish Crocodile.
Dogs Don't Do Ballet revolves around a little girl named Anna and her dog Biff, which is not like other dogs. Biff thinks it is a ballerina and wants to dance.
Despite the fact that Anna's dad and her ballet teacher don't believe that dogs can do ballet, Anna and Biff think differently.
With original music, a beautiful set, puppetry and lots of theatrics, the play is sure to entertain the young (it is recommended for those aged three years and above) and adults who are young at heart.
The main cast comprises Jennie Luke who plays Anna, Matt Salmon who plays both Biff and Anna's friend Bertha, and Stephanie Crome who plays Anna's dad and ballet teacher Miss Polly.
Salmon and Luke have been touring the UK with the show since April, while Crome joined them in July, which was towards the end of the English school year, as a replacement for another actress.
Crome slowly eased her way into the production, working alongside her predecessor.
She recalls: "She would play the dad and I would play Miss Polly." Eventually, Crome took over both roles.
Salmon describes their experience doing this show as "fun".
He says: "We would do the shows at schools in the mornings, and in the afternoons, we would hold workshops. It was part of our programme in schools."
Both Crome and Salmon take on male and female characters.
"I find it fun to play a different gender," says Salmon. "Biff puts on a ballet dress and he is a boy. It just says anybody can do ballet, even a dog."
Luke concurs: "Anyone can do anything."
As a children's play, it is important to interact with the youngsters in the audience.
Crome says the singing, dancing and theatrical style help to keep the children interested in the goings-on on stage.
She adds: "It is such a big colourful world. The sets and costumes are so bright and colourful. We try to incorporate all our props and we use puppets."
Costumes for the show do change, depending on the type of venues the cast performs in, and also how the show develops over time.
"Sometimes we gain some [props], sometimes we have to lose some of our sets," says Salmon.
Essentially, the actors have to adapt to their environment.
Salmon adds that although the show is meant for three- to seven-year-olds, it also caters to adults. The older audience members enjoy the technical aspects and the characters.
During one part of the show, the cast invites two teachers on stage for some ballet lessons.
"When children see adults coming up on stage and dancing, they find it funny. We always try to get everyone involved," says Luke.
Right now, Malaysia is the only stop for the group before the play returns to the UK.
After that, the trio will be pursuing other things.
Crome says: "Jennie [Luke] and I will be back in Singapore for [the play] Santa's Little Helper. Jennie is going to play my mum and I play a little boy called Albert."
Salmon, who has been touring the whole year, will be returning home for Christmas. But he hopes to work with Blunderbus again in the near future.
There will be a special 'relaxed performance' of Dogs Don't Do Ballet this Sunday at 3pm that is adapted for children on the autism spectrum or with other sensory/communications disorders. For more details, visit the Gardner & Wife website.