Durban’s Dance Power Couple shake up Shall we Dance

Durban’s Dance Power Couple shake up Shall We Dance
The annual showcase, Shall We Dance, returns to The Playhouse Company’s Opera Theatre for it’s quarter-centenary year, and choreographing the Belly and Line Dancing section of the show is Durban’s dance power couple –Warren and Senta Duffield.
The showcase, which was started in 1991 by the former Playhouse Company’s CEO together with the South African Dance Teacher’s Association, was an initiative to put competitive Ballroom and Latin Dancing on a local stage. It is now one of the longest standing annual productions in the country, and it seems to keep evolving – getting bigger and better every year. 2017 is no exception, and among the many local and international acts audiences can look forward to is a fascinating fusion of Belly and Line Dancing choreographed by Warren and Senta Duffield which uses specific techniques from both dance forms – each complimenting the other, and danced to the contemporary pop song “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran.
The Duffields have been involved in dancing and choreographing Shall We Dance for more than a decade, and the show holds a sentimental significance for the couple who met at the rehearsals for the same show in 2005. It was their mutual love for dancing and teaching that drew them to each other. “We are both very passionate about our teaching and our students, and love being able to support each other and bounce ideas off each other. We feel we make a great team.”
The Duffields are dedicated dance instructors and both teach dance full-time. Senta teaches Belling Dancing at Maya Dance Company and Warren runs Floorcraft Dance Studio from their home in Sunningdale. Warren also teaches Ballroom and Latin at Northlands and Northwood School. They are firm believers in the positive effects that dance is capable of having on children and promotes “confidence, respect, decorum, positive body image, and fun.”
Warren has just recently returned from the Line Dancing World Championships at Winter Gardens in Blackpool, United Kingdom where he was placed 3rd overall in the Allstar division, 2nd for both his medley and showdance and won the charity duo section (where all entry money is donated to charity) with fellow KZN Line Dance teacher, Noel Roos.
Senta runs regular tours to Egypt for South African belly dancers where they go to attend workships, take dance classes, see how authentic costumes are made, learn more about Egyptian culture and draw inspiration for their craft from the birth place of Belly Dancing. Senta is a published author of a self-improvement book on dance healing titled “Dancing with your Skeletons” available on amazon.com or through Senta herself.
Don’t miss Senta’s SADTA Belly Dancing group “Raqs Arabia” and Warren’s SADTA Line Dancing group “Denim and Diamonds” performing live in Shall We Dance, produced and directed by Neville Letard and Caryl Cusens, from 8 – 17 September 2017 at The Playhouse Opera Theatre. Tickets range from R90 to R150 and are available at Computicket.