Coomalie Cabaret | Tracks Dance

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Coomalie Cabaret, Litchfield Outback Resort, Batchelor, NT

Performance: July 30, 2022. 7pm

Tracks Dance Company presents The Grey Panthers performing in Batchelor for this one-night-only evening of entertainment

Coomalie Cabaret featured over 28 dancers from Darwin, outer Darwin and Coomalie regions, enjoying their life over their 60s. The Grey Panthers hijacked a bus and went to town – Batchelor Township. This not-to-be-missed opportunity to experience the loud-and-proud life attitude of Australia's longest-established senior dance group was seen by a sold-out enthusiastic crowd of locals, Territory, Interstate and international guests. (Unfortunately due to COVID we were down a few performers)

More Than Just A Cabaret
Spend the day in the country:

GREY PANTHER DISPLAY

10am – 9pm
Presented at the Litchfield Outback Tavern, this display included posters and short films of works by the Grey Panthers. As Australia’s longest-running senior dance troupe, the Grey Panthers have entertained audiences in full-length shows, pop-ups and community performances for the past 35 years.

DANCE WORKSHOP 10-11am

Tracks creative team led participants through a warm-up, learning some repertoire, and a warm-down. A great way to get the day moving. The Dance Workshop was open to all ages, and by donation.

ARTIST TALK 11-11.30am

An insightful discussion about the artistry of older adults between the Grey Panther directors and facilitators David McMicken, Jessica Devereux and Darryl Butler. It was hosted by Darwin theatre maker, director and funny guy Kyle Walmsley.

GREY PANTHER POP-UPS 6pm

Pre-show Pop Up performances in and around Litchfield Outback Resort - Spice Girls

COOMALIE CABARET 7-8pm

Venue: Litchfield Outback Resort

Scenario

Master of Ceremonies - Kyle Walmsley
Spice Girls - Original Choreographer: Sarah Calver
Pushbike Song - Choreographer: Darryl Butler. Music: Then Mixtures
Ballin’ The Jack - Choreographer: David McMicken. Music: Danny Kaye
Lola - Choreographer: David McMicken with Kelly Beneforti. Music: Les Baxter
Who Can Remember Sweet November - Choreographer: Joanna Noonan. Music: Enya
Nothing Matters When We’re Dancing - Choreographer: David McMicken and Kelly Beneforti. Music: The Magnetic Fields
Jump Around - Choreographer: Kelly Beneforti, featuring Soloist Steph Spillett. Music: House of Pain
No Walls, No Ceilings, No Floors - Choreographer: Darryl Butler. Music: Barbara Mandrell
Cabaret - Choreographer: Jess Devereux. Music: Lisa Minelli
Latin Medley - Choreographer: Jess Devereux. Music: Chan Chan, Roy Paci & Aretuska, Ritchie Valens, Ricky Martin
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough - Choreographer: Kelly Beneforti. Music: Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell
60 Shades of Grey - Choreographed by Kelly Beneforti and David McMicken. Music: Right Said Fred

Creative Team

Choreography: David McMicken, Kelly Beneforti, Darryl Butler, Jess Devereux, Joanna Noonan, Sarah Calver
Production Manager: Duane Preston
Promotion/Media: Adelaide Wood, Mikaela Earnshaw
Poster Images: Duane Preston
Graphic Design: Backslap Design

Performers

The Grey Panthers

Darwin: Barbara Pollock, Cherrian Eecen, Connie Vlastuin, Darryl Butler, David McMickien, Ellen Hankin, Elsa Gibbons, Jenni Sanderson, Jess Devereux, Lillian Mann, Marge Duminski, Maria Vlastuin, Natina Demetriou, Nikki Charlesworth-Canning, Susan Pattiselanno, Toni Vine-Bromley, Trish Greenfield

Coomalie: Darryl Butler, Denise Grecian-Wright, Ellen Hankin, Jan Powik, Gail Flack, Marjan LeFaucheur, Nanette Gillies, Pat Simmonds, Prue King, Sue Mornane

Special Guest Master of Ceremonies: Kyle Warmsley

Thank You

Deepest gratitude to the McElwee family for their ongoing and generous support of the Coomalie Grey Panthers and this event.

Company Partners

Tracks Inc is proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government.

Project Partners

Regional Arts Australia
Regional Arts NT

Supporting Partners

Litchfield Outback Resort

Tracks 2022

Artistic Co-Directors: David McMicken and Tim Newth (Tim currently on long service leave)
Company Director: Adelaide Wood
Assoc. Artistic Director: Jessica Devereux
Dance Animateurs: Kelly Beneforti and Steph Spillett
Production Manager: Duane Preston
Administrator: Mikaela Earnshaw, Debbie Macairin
Bookkeeper: It Figures

Committee Members: David Taylor (Chairperson), Max Dewa Stretton (Vice-Chairperson), Glenn Bernardin (Treasurer), Venaska Cheliah, Andrea Wicking, Rachael Wallis, Michael Grant, Ken Conway. David McMicken, Tim Newth, and Adelaide Wood (Ex-Officio Members)

Public Fund Trustees: Maari Gray, Will Crawford, and Lachlan Peattie

Patron: Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AM, Administrator of the Northern Territory

Photos

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Susan Pattiselanno, Ellen Hankin, Barbara Pollock, Jess Devereux, David McMicken, Marge Duminski, Natina Demetriou. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. Photo Duane Preston l-r Marge Duminski, Jess Devereux, Jenni Sanderson, Trish Greenfield, Darryl Butler, Elsa Gibbons, Cherrian Eecen, Susan Pattisleanno

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Denise Grecian-Wright, Ellen Hankin, Jan Powick, Gail Flack, Marjan LeFaucheur, Nanette Gilles, Pat Simmonds, Sue Mornane. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Natina Demetriou, Susan Pattiselanno, Nikki Charlseworth-Canning, Maria Vlastuin, Connie Vlastuin, Barbara Pollock, David McMicken. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Jenni Sanderson, Darryl Butler, Lillian Mann, Ellen Hankin, Cherrian Eecen, Elsa Gibbons, Marge Duminski, Barbara Pollock. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Trish Greenfield, Darryl Butler, Lillian Mann, Jenni Sanderson, Cherrian Eecen. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. MC Kyle Walmsley. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Darryl Butler, Nikki Charlseworth-Canning, Jenni Sanderson, David McMicken, Cherrian Eecen, Lillian Mann, Denise Grecian-Wright, Ellen Hankin. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Ellen Hankin, Sue Mornane, Pat Simmonds, Prue King, Gail Flack, Denise Grecian-Wright, Marjan LeFaucheur, Nanette Gilles. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Sue Mornane, Ellen Hankin, Pat Simmonds, Prue King, Gail Flack, Denise Grecian-Wright, Marjan LeFaucheur, Nanette Gilles. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Marge Duminski, Darryl Butler, Lillan Mann, Susan Pattiselanno, Spillet, Connie Vlastuin, David McMicken. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (front row l-r) Connie Vlastuin, Spillett, Jenni Sanderson, Natina Demetriou. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Susan Pattiselanno, Lilian Mann, Barbara Pollock, Trish Greenfield. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Darryl Butler, Natina Demetriou, Ellen Hankin, Nikki Charlesworth-Canning, Jenni Sanderson, Trish Greenfield. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Darryl Butler, Connie Vlastuin, Marge Duminski, Nikki Charlesworth-Canning, Denise Grecian-Wright, Maria Vlastuin, Trish Greenfield, David McMicken. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Gail Flack, David McMicken. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Susan Pattiselanno, Maria Vlastuin. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Natina Demetriou, Trish Greenfield. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. Ellen Hankin. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r back) Trish Greenfield, Jess Devereux, David McMicken, Nikki Charlesworth-Canning, Susan Pattiselanno, Jenni Sanderson. (l-r front) Natina Demetriou, Marge Duminski, Ellen Hankin. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r front) Barbara Pollock, Sue Mornane. (l-r back) Denise Grecian-Wright, Nanette Gillies, Nikki Charlesworth-Canning, Prue King, Darryl Butler. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r front) Nikki Charlesworth-Canning, Prue King. (l-r back) Denise Grecian-Wright, Nanette Gillies, Darryl Butler, Pat Simmonds. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Nanette Gillies, Darryl Butler. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Denise Grecian-Wright, Pat Simmonds. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Connie Vlastuin, Cherrian Eecen. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Marjan LeFaucheur, Lillian Mann. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Jenni Sanderson, Elsa Gibbons. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. (l-r) Marge Duminski, Trish Greenfield. Photo Duane Preston

Grey Panthers Coomalie Cabaret. Whole cast finalé. Photo Duane Preston

Videos

Date / Venue

7pm Saturday, July 30
Litchfield Outback Resort, 49 Rum Jungle Rd, Batchelor

Audience Responses

“The Cabaret was just brilliant! The way each item took an idea and expressed it through dance was fantastic. For anyone who thought they were just going to see some old pensioners hauling themselves around the room, the pace and quality of production would have been quite a shock”

“OMG that was BRILLIANT. Didn't expect it to be so amazingly good. CONGRATULATIONS.”

“I was in awe. Can't wait for the next one.”

“... lovely to see so many dancing as if no one is watching.”