The Dance Piece

The Dance Piece

Defying Gravity Productions and The PE Opera House present Chains choreographed by Heidi Sampson and Lauren McCarthy.

Heidi and Lauren through this production navigate the inner conflict an individual faces when you are at war with yourself, conflicting inner turmoil and the constant fight for perfection.

There is a perfect tension between the positives and negatives of each alternative you are fighting for. I try to break the chains but the chains only break me.

The Group

Heidi Sampson and Lauren McCarthy realised their childhood dreaming of owning and running their Dance Company in 2010 when Defying Gravity Productions was born. Since its inception Defying Gravity has choreographed many High School and Primary School productions such as ‘Honk’ for Sundridge Primary; ‘Urine Town’ for Woodrige Primary School and ‘Beauty And The Beast’ for Victoria Park High School. Defying Gravity offers fun filled classes at the Defying Gravity for everyone who wants to move their body, their youngest dancer is 3 years old and their oldest is 81!

Choreographer’s Abridged Bio

Heidi Sampson and Lauren McCarthy both started dancing at the tender age of 4 years old and came together in High School and as best friends that is when the combined dream of wanting to start and jointly own a Dance School. That dream was realised in 2010 when Defying Gravity Productions was born. Their love and passion for dance and teaching the art form has led them on broad and wonderful adventures not just in Nelson Mandela Bay but abroad too. Having received their National Colours in Performing Arts, Lauren and Heidi took part in The World Championships in Los Angeles in July 2011. They both won a year scholarship to dance at the prestigious and world famous Millenium Dance Complex in Los Angeles, California.

After they returned from Los Angeles, Lauren and Heidi took part in The Dance World Cup and together with nine of Defying Gravity dancers represented South Africa in Portugal at the International Dance Competition.

About Dance Seasons

Dance Seasons at The PE Opera House is commissioned works staged every month for a week long short run. This programme is designed to breathe life into ready productions that are produced largely by local based experts.