Tap Dogs creator to visit SA

"We are so thrilled to be returning to South Africa. Tap Dogs resonates strongly with audiences here - they love the rhythmic tone of the work and I think appreciate that unique Australian spirit that comes through," said Perry. In Tap Dogs he created a show business phenomenon built around the themes of his industrial experience while growing up in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

In the early 1990s, Perry worked as an apprentice fitter and turner by day and continued to dance with his mates in the evenings. He then worked in musical theatre for 10 years, beginning his career with a stint in the Australian production of 42nd Street.

Critical and commercial success

An offer from the Sydney Theatre Company led to the collaboration of Dein Perry with designer and director Nigel Triffitt and composer Andrew Wilkie - the result was the creation of Tap Dogs, which premiered at the Sydney Theatre Festival in January 1995. Tap Dogs was catapulted to international acclaim at the 1995 Edinburgh Festival and a subsequent sell-out season at London's Sadler's Wells. Back Row Productions saw the potential of the show and began what would become one of the most successful producing partnerships in Australian musical theatre history, which led to Tap Dogs becoming a global phenomenon with critical and commercial success from Australia to America, Asia, Europe and Africa.

Perry won his first Olivier Award in 1995 for Best Choreographer for West End musical Hot Shoe Shuffle (he also starred in this production) and his second Olivier Award in 1996 for Best Choreography for Tap Dogs, something he would replicate a year later when the show moved to New York for an off-Broadway season, earning him the Obie Award. He is the youngest person ever to receive a second Olivier Award back to back. Perry produced, directed and choreographed the 2000 feature film Bootmen, based on the early creation of Tap Dogs. The movie received five AFI Awards. Perry also worked as choreographer on the Warner Bros animated motion picture, Happy Feet 2, directed by George Miller.

Eighty-minutes of non-stop dance

Tap Dogs is the same 80-minutes of non-stop dance combined with elements of a theatrical rock concert, uniquely set within a construction site, but the tempo is faster, the effects are stronger, the sound is louder and the dance moves more outrageous than ever before, bursting with the sexy, rough-and-ready appeal exclusive to the hottest male tap dancers found south of the Equator and there's the added appeal of a few stunning female forms alongside the energetic male tappers.

"Female drummers were introduced to Tap Dogs fairly recently, so I'm very excited to be performing in front of South African audiences. I have no doubt that they'll appreciate the blend of tap and drums. We have a great time on stage and go really hard at our drumming so I think the audience will embrace that energy and spirit of fun as well," said Catriona Hunter, Tap Dogs drummer.

You can book now at Computicket service centers, go to www.computicket.com or call 0861 813 9000. Ticket prices range from R100 to R300.