BRAZOUKA Debuts in London Tonight

Pamela Stephenson Connolly, Arlene Phillips and Harley Medcalf, founder of "Burn the Floor," are proud to announce that they will be bringing the world premiere production of Braz Dos Santos' BRAZOUKA to make its London debut at the New Wimbledon Theatre from tonight 16 - 20 September 2014, following a sell-out season at the Edinburgh Fringe, with standing ovations every performance, and prior to an international tour to South Africa and Australia.

Pamela Stephenson Connolly is the driving force, writer and inspiration behind Brazouka. Shortly after her stint in the final of BBC's mega-hit "Strictly Come Dancing," her pursuit to find the real passion in dancing led her to Brazil, pursuit to find the real passion in dancing led her to Brazil, where she was able to open her senses to a whole new world, studying lambazouk, samba de gaffiera, samba nu pe, and forro - as she says: 'the most fabulous Brazilian dances you've never seen!' After two years she began to dream about introducing the skill, energy, fire, spirituality, sensuality and commitment of the top Brazilian dancers to the rest of the world. In 2013 she established 'The Brazilliant Dance Company' - and began to conceive a commercial stage platform for them. Pamela is now the driving force, writer and inspiration behind the new show "Brazouka."

Arlene Phillips CBE, Director, Writer and Co-Producer

Arlene Phillips, CBE is a highly celebrated choreographer, theatre director, talent scout, TV presenter, TV judge and former dancer, who found success in many fields of entertainment.

She is a most noted choreographer of numerous West End and Broadway musicals, films and television shows, and has since achieved mainstream fame as a judge on television talent shows including Strictly Come Dancing and So You Think You Can Dance.

Choreographer of music videos for a string of stars including Elton John, Whitney Houston, Queen and Tina Turner and films such as Annie, The Meaning of Life and Legend with Tom Cruise.

The unstoppable force of this dedicated choreographer has led to varying arena and concert work. From staging Sarah Brightman and Jose Carreras in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games Official Theme, Amigos Para Sempre, to taking on the role of Director of Choreography for the Manchester XVII Commonwealth Games in 2002, directing the Strictly Come Dancing Live arena tour and this year choreographing Monty Python Live at the O2 Arena.

Arlene has worked on huge worldwide productions such as Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, EFX at the MGM Grand, the British 2009 and 2012 entry for the Eurovision Song Contest and An Evening with Gediminas Taranda (Bolshoi Ballet) in Moscow.

Arlene's renowned choreography has been seen in a number of much loved musicals including Starlight Express, The Wizard of Oz, Flashdance, The Sound of Music, Grease, We Will Rock You, Saturday Night Fever, Time and Matador many of which have travelled the globe.

Harley Medcalf, Lead Producer

In a career spanning forty years, producing concerts, live theatre, major events, covering four continents, Harley has worked with Artists as diverse as Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Billy Joel, Michael Crawford, Billy Connolly, Queen, Michael Flatley, Meat Loaf, Lionel Richie, Kenny G and Sarah Brightman.

Harley has produced multiple shows for Barry Humphries, Dame Edna including Look at Me When I Am Talking to You (1984), Remember You're Out (2000), Back to My Root's (2004), A Night with Dame Edna (2002-2004 Regional USA), Dame Edna - Back with a Vengeance (on Broadway, Music Box Theatre 2004/5, Regional USA) and Dame Edna - My First Last Tour (Regional USA 2008/9).

Harley founded and produced the Latin and Ballroom dance hit BURN THE FLOOR in 1999 and has passionately produced the show in over 30 countries and 300 cities including on Broadway in 2009/10 and the West End in 2010 and 2013. BURN THE FLOOR continues to tour into its 15th year, with two offshoot production in long term residency with the Norwegian Cruise Line ships Breakaway in Manhattan and Getaway in Miami, and another production running annually in Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL.

The Brazouka company are: Braz dos Santos and Romina Hidalgo; Gilson Damasco and Natasha Terekhina; Bebe Duarte and Sarita Piotrowski; Carlos Da Silva and Fernanda Da Silva ; Anderson Mendes da Rocha and Brenda de Carvalho ; Zulu and Adriana da Silveira; Rodrigo de Oliveira and Josta O'Niel; and Wellington Dos Santos and Josy Borges de Souza.

Following the inaugural season at the Fringe, "Brazouka" will then go worldwide, moving to the Mandela Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 3 to 19 October 2014, before a tour of Australia visiting Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast, with further dates to be announced.

"Brazouka" is produced by Harley Medcalf, with Arlene Phillips and Pamela Stephenson-Connolly.

LISTINGS

VENUE: New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, London, SW19 1QG

TIME: 7.30pm

DATES: 16 - 20 September

TICKETS: £10.00 - £33

BOX OFFICE: 0844 871 7646

BOOKINGS: http://www.atgtickets/wimbledon

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