Over 150 of Dubai's up-and-coming young dance stars are preparing to showcase their talents in front of a packed DUCTAC theatre as they star in the 2018 edition of Sharmila's Dance Extravaganza.
Months of hard work and preparation will come to a climax in two weeks time (April 20 & 21), when the cast will perform five shows to sell-out crowds inside the Mall of the Emirates' 500+ seater auditorium.
The show, supported by sneaker firm, Skechers, has grown from humble beginnings as a small street jazz dance show in the Jumeirah Beach Club in the year 2000, and is now the highlight of the Dubai dance calendar.
Speaking to Gulf Youth Sport in an exclusive interview, dancer Sarah Ferguson, 15, a student at GEMS WSO explained that despite the gruelling training regimen and pre-show nerves, the challenge of preparing mind and body for the bright lights of the DUCTAC stage is a hugely positive experience:
"…reaching the studio on Friday mornings for rehearsals is still my favorite part of the week. Our nerves are increasing as the show day gets closer, but our enthusiasm is at an all time high. I know as soon as we hit the stage our performance will excite and our passion shine through, and the months of hard work and extreme dedication will be evident."
Jumeirah College's Zara Nelson, 16, is equally as excited to show the fans what she and her friends are made of:
"Every Friday we’re dancing our hearts out for hours on end, but fortunately all the hard work is definitely worth it for the amazing rush of performing on stage! I really feel that the show allows me to showcase and express all the heartfelt effort put into the event, and it allows everyone to see how much we really love to dance."
Founder of Sharmila Dance, Sharmila Kamte, is looking forward to giving her protégés the opportunity to shine on the big stage:
“Every year is a chance to impress new and returning audience members with breathtaking choreography and dances that will leave a lasting impression and a higher regard for the world of dance. I am proud to see the sweat and hard work that goes on behind the scenes in preparation for the show to turn into magic on stage.”
A small number of tickets are still available for purchase at AED 225 for stalls (allocated seating) and AED 175 for balcony (allocated seating) from Ductac and Virgin Megastore.
For more information on Sharmila's dance classes and workshops, head to www.sharmiladance.com, or check out Sharmila's Instagram and Facebook pages.