Strictly new stars out to shine

Sharu Delilkan | 5th November 2009

Laughs, songs and dances are coming up at this weekend's Strictly Brown talent show.

Part of the Manukau Festival of the Arts 2009, it is a new-to-New Zealand comedy and variety show modelled on New York's long-running Apollo Amateur Night, said to have launched the careers of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder and James Brown.

Hoping that Strictly Brown will have that kind of effect on their careers are Las Donnitas.

Omer Gilroy, of the new dance troupe, describes them as Pussycat Dolls with a Latin feel. She says they entered the competition for the exposure it will bring. "We were over the moon when they announced us as one of the finalists.''

Besides the six undiscovered acts, the show includes special guests, actresses Anapela
Polataivao and Goretti Chadwick (Where We Once Belonged, My Name is Gary Cooper) as Pani and Pani, the Pacific Rim's answer to Australia's Kath and Kim. Robbie Magasiva (Shortland Street, Bro' Town) and musicians Adeaze will also perform on the "full phat nite''.

Hosting the show is comedy crusader Vela Manusaute (The Brownies, Taro King, Once Were Samoans) with the Kila Kokonut Krew and the Empty Rooms band starring Tony T of Adijah.

Gilroy, from Papatoetoe, who is a hairdresser by day and a dancer by night, says the group is hard at it, rehearsing for their three minutes in the spotlight when they will demonstrate their hybrid style of Latin and hip-hop dance.

"We bring different dance styles and personalities as well as nationalities to the group. Hopefully, that will give us the winning edge.''

Strictly Brown, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau,
Nov 8, 7.30pm. Tickets: ph 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz