It's a diverse international sensation that's been a year in the making, but it's definitely show time for the members of Jubilee Dance Studio (JDS).
More than 100 performers are expected to take you on a trip around the world to over 20 different countries through dance, drama and music when JDS presents "Hola! An International Sensation" on Friday, May 24 at the Rainforest Theatre in the Wyndham Cable Beach Resort.
"It will be something that Nassau has never seen before and a show that any age group and both sexes can enjoy," according to JDS owner Kim Kikivarakis.
"People can expect to see a show that is very diverse because we have dancers from all over the world and our drama basically represents all of the different countries. We go to Jamaica, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Africa, South Africa, China, Japan ... we go pretty much everywhere and visit through dance, drama or music."
A guest fire dance performance from The Attraction Princess Flames as well as a song and dance performance from Julien Believe as he does his Caribbean Slide will be the order of the day as well. During Julien's performance audience members will be allowed to get up on stage and join in on the performance. A performance by the studio's Zumba crew she said would be amazing.
"The show is going to be diverse. It's something that Nassau would never have seen before," said Kikivarakis. "Last year during the Zumba crew performance we had over 50 people on stage, just for adult fitness, so that's going to be really crazy again this year. And it's something that people look forward to seeing. They like to see our fitness side in addition to our technical side, which I think differentiates us in the market."
With the age difference of the JDS members ranging between three up to their mid-60s, participants will showcase popular dances from different countries during the course of the two-hour show -- a Carnival performance from Trinidad, Samba from Brazil, the umbrella dance from China, Kung Fu fighting from Japan and of course Junkanoo has not been left out of the mix.
As it hosts its second show, Kikivarakis said this year's presentation will be even more amazing than last year.
"We definitely as a studio think over the top. We're young, we're fresh, we're modern so that means the show is going to be diverse. You won't just have dance, you'll have singing as well. And another good thing is our age range is so vast, so it's definitely a show that any age range could enjoy whether they are male or female. Some dance shows only women go to them or it's only kiddies, but that's not us," she said.
As for the title of the show "Hola! An International Sensation," Kikivarakis said because they were doing an international show they wanted a name that would ring familiar with a lot of people.
"Spanish is very common as a second language and even people that don't speak the language at least know how to say hello in Spanish. We threw out a lot of names, but hola rang familiar with people, so we're basically trying to bring all the countries to one spot so you don't have to purchase a plane ticket, you can just sit down in the Rainforest Theatre and visit everywhere," said Kikivarakis.
She said last year was amazing and they sold out. She said this year they are nearly sold out again. Tickets are priced at $25, a table is $200. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., showtime is at 7:30 p.m. To reserve tickets and table reservations telephone 324-7923, or they can be purchased online at www.jubileedancestudio.com.

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