Dancing to the Sound of Music

 

When I read “the Sound of Music” on the poster that came with the invitation from JB Ballet Academy for a concert hosted in the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House, my thoughts flashed to the 1965 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical film of the same name.

 

JB Ballet Academy presented a cheque for
RM100,000 to the Lions Club of Johor Jaya

This film was a fictional retelling of the story of the Trapp Family singers set in Salzburg, Austria, where Maria, the governess to seven children eventually married their widowed father, Captain Georg von Trapp, and their escape during the Anschluss or the Annexation of Austria, in 1938.

 

Having watched The Sound of Music countless times, I am not only familiar with the story and its characters but also its songs and even the lyrics to most of the songs.

 

The children dancing to My Favourite Things
during a thunderstorm

I thought that dancing to the Sound of Music was such an epic ending to an eventful year and did not hesitate to send founder of JB Ballet Academy, Billian Ye Pick Lian, my reply, stating that I was happy to accept her invitation.

 

In 2016, I had the pleasure to get to know Billian Yee and shared her story about JB Ballet Academy and her commitment in supporting the Lions Club of Johor Jaya, documented in, A Ballerina’s Journey.

 

Established in Johor Bahru since 1976, the JB Ballet Academy, under the leadership of Ye and her daughter, Julia Lee Hwee Sing, has shaped the careers of elegant dancers who qualified with Degrees from the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance, United Kingdom.

 

Maria and the children perform to
the familiar tune of Do-Re-Mi

When I made my way to the Opera House for their concert, I could not help feeling bubbles of excitement as I anticipated the dance performances to the familiar tunes from the musical, The Sound of Music.

 

At the entrance, I was warmly welcomed in by Ye who ushered me into the auditorium where a short video was playing on the backdrop screen.

 

This video showed us some of the cast’s rehearsals along with information about this concert, the seventh in the series of charity dance performances by JB Ballet Academy since 2006. 

 

By reading the info on the screen, I was pleased to learn that this performance was co-organised with the Lions Club of Johor Jaya and that proceeds from this event will be channeled to support dialysis patients and underprivileged children.

 

The Captain introducing his fiancee in 
a celebration held in the ballroom

As the seats filled up in the auditorium, I heard the announcement that the concert should start very soon. From the info printed in the souvenir programme, the audience was aware that the concert will be presented in three separate Acts with two brief intermissions.

 

It was simply a joy to watch how the JB Ballet Academy brought the timeless masterpiece of The Sound of Music to life again, to delight new generations in the audience and evoke fond memories of this magical musical from so long ago.

 

A scene performed to the tune of 
The Lonely Goatherd

Act One opened to the music of, I Have Confidence, as Maria joyfully left the Convent – holding her carpet bag and guitar – and headed to the home of the von Trapp family as a governess.

 

It was good to watch how Maria was introduced to the seven children in a strict military way – by the sound of a whistle – and I even spotted the detail where Kurt (the mischievous one!) tried to scare the governess with a live frog.

 

While the performance stayed close to the storyline, I was aware that it would be quite impossible to include every part of the original story so the synopsis provided in the souvenir programme and flashed onto the two screens at either side of the stage, helped the audience to better appreciate the storytelling.

 

Maria dancing with the Captain

I liked how the backdrop screen was used to provide the various scenes in each dance performance so the audience could easily link the dance and music to each scenario.

 

For instance, Maria’s bedroom was where the eldest daughter, Liesl, found refuge when she came indoors from the rain and Maria let her change out of her wet clothes.

 

When lightning flashed and thunder rolled, the other children – frightened by the storm – also sought comfort with Maria and danced to the tune of, My Favourite Things.

 

The Captain placing the headband on Maria
that symbolised her acceptance of his proposal

Then there was the outdoor scene where Maria encouraged the children to sing to her guitar-strumming, beautifully portrayed by their dance to the familiar tune of, Do-Re-Mi.

 

After the first intermission, the scene opened to the grand ballroom where Captain von Trapp introduced his fiancée, the Baroness Schraeder, with a dance celebration to the music of, Edelweiss. They were accompanied by a friend, Max Detweiler.

 

I was so looking forward to the scene when Maria guided the children to stage a puppet performance to the music of, The Lonely Goatherd, and was not disappointed.

 

Maria and the Captain
dancing at their wedding

In another scene, Kurt asked Maria to teach him to dance a folk dance. When he could not dance a difficult step, his father stepped in to demonstrate the move.

 

As the Captain and Maria danced together, Maria broke away, confused about her feelings for him.

 

It was good that JB Ballet Academy applied dramatic license to bridge the scenes for the audience understand that the feeling was mutual between the Captain and Maria when he proposed to her by putting a flower headband on Maria.

 

This was followed by the wedding scene to the backdrop of a church, where the Captain and Maria were happily married.

 

The Trapp family sneaking away while
the 'challenges' surrounded them

While I was eager to watch the next scene, there was a pause for the second intermission so that the dancers may change costumes and prepare for the Third and final Act of the performance.

 

This part of The Sound of Music was in stark contrast to the earlier part of the story which was both colourful and amusing. I recall not liking the sinister and secretive scenarios when the family had to leave their homeland under threat of their lives.

 

When the performance continued, I thought that the JB Ballet Academy aptly portrayed these sentiments when the dancers – dressed in flowing Red gowns – swamped the stage in graceful waves upon waves that (to me!) represented ‘challenges’ that surrounded the Trapp family.

 

Then at the Music & Dance Festival, the Trapp family singers performed to the tune of, So Long, Farewell, and when the results were being announced, the lights flickered – to symbolize a blackout – while the family took the opportunity to escape.

 

The von Trapp family, living together happily
ever after, in the final scene

While the family’s escape was fraught with tension and obstacles, they finally reached a new land to continue the next chapter of their lives. Then a view of the awesome Alps and the music of, Climb Every Mountain, brought this exhilarating dance performance to a happy and encouraging ending.

 

Then it was time for everyone in the cast, some as young as age seven, to come on stage for their turn to take a bow. It was also an opportunity to acknowledge the Lions Club of Johor Jaya, parents, teachers, administrators, volunteers and sponsors for their cooperation and generous support.

 

As JB Ballet Academy continues to nurture an elegant younger generation, they also wish to make a meaningful difference in the community. The show ended with a gift cheque presented to the Lions Club of Johor Jaya in the sum of RM100,000 to support dialysis patients and underprivileged children.

 

JB Ballet Academy welcomes enrolment of students to train in Classical Ballet from age three and above. Trail lessons are available from three academies located at Taman Pelangi, Taman Johor Jaya and Taman Ungku Tun Aminah in Johor Bahru. For more info, visit Facebook.com/JBBalletAcademy.