From Funk to Fidelio – Punk to Puccini
Enjoy an eclectic smorgasbord of musical styles and textures.

27 November – 4 December, 2010

$2280 twin share (not including international flights)

Dallas believes that anyone can be taught how to sing – and what more enticing way to learn, than under a palm tree? He uses his vast experience as professional singer, singing teacher and drama educator to get singers moving and making music at the same time.  Inspired by the techniques of ‘theatre sports’, we will explore sounds together with improvisation, as well as learning a variety of music from the written page.

The greater the raw energy of sound that the choir creates, the more fun we will have. The approach will be layered; so that we start with easy tasks, then tackle ambitious ones. You will learn a good deal of technique along the way – and if enough people are mad enough, we’ll even sing some opera!

Dallas will identify your strengths and give you the confidence to work on your weaknesses. By activating the energy nodes (some call these chakras) you can make the whole body resonate with sound naturally. Dallas has studied the techniques of Franco Corelli, teacher of Andrea Bocelli, and will share these secrets with you as we train together. Dallas particularly loves to create a safe environment for individuals to explore possibilities and to engender trust and teamwork.

Dallas Watts runs a busy singing studio in Sydney, and specializes in HSC vocal performance preparation. He has sung in 25 operas with Opera Australia, most recently in Fidelio and Aida in the 2009 Sydney winter season. He toured Australia in Pirates of Penzance with Anthony Warlow in 2007 and played the prison guard in Dead Man Walking in the same year. He has also sung as bass soloist in a number of oratoria including Messiah, Carmina Burana and the Mozart Requiem. He has directed sixteen major productions including Austria Goes to the Proms at the Parade Theatre NIDA, Amadeus and West Side Story. He also featured in the winning Tropfest film Uno Amore in 1999. Dallas is committed to community choirs and in 2009 has been conducting three quite different choirs and loves to bring people of different backgrounds and musical knowledge together.

As we sing together we will create our own ‘orchestral sound’ with our voices as the instruments.  What instrument do you think you are?

Programme

Saturday 27 November
Travel to Nadi and on to Savusavu.

Sunday 28 November
9.00am – 12.00am: Workshop
1.00pm: Poolside lunch.
2.00pm: Coconut demonstration
Afternoon free for swimming, snorkeling, relaxing.
6.30pm: Pre-dinner drinks. Dinner.

Monday 29 November
9.30am – 12.30pm: Workshop
1.00pm: Lunch
Afternoon: Visit to village with church choir
7.00pm: Dinner.

Tuesday 30 November
9.30am – 12.30pm: Workshop
1.00pm: Lunch
Afternoon: Optional visit to town, visiting the geothermal hot springs, the local market and the shops.
7.00pm: Dinner.

Wednesday 1 December
9.30am – 12.30pm: Workshop
1.00pm: Lunch.
2.30pm – 4.30pm: Beach outing
7.00pm: Dinner and informal singing.

Thursday 2 December
9.30am – 12.30am: Workshop
1.00pm: Lunch
3.00pm – 5.00pm: Free afternoon
6.00pm: Drinks at Savusavu Yacht Club; dinner in town

Friday 3 December
9.30am – 12.30pm: Workshop – Final session
1.00pm: Lunch
Afternoon: Free time. Options for private tours, relaxing.
4.00pm – 5.30pm: Village visit for traditional Fijian meke (dance)
7.00pm: Dinner, Concert and party

Saturday 4 December
Return to Nadi and on home.