If you think that a show with a title like this would involve only dancing, you will be in for a big surprise. This play is so much more than that…

Richard Alfieri’s SIX DANCING LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS is a touching and very human comedy about a formidable retired woman, Lily Harrison, who hires an acerbic dance instructor, Michael Minetti, to give her private dance lessons —one per week for six weeks— in her luxurious apartment in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.

What begins as an antagonistic relationship slowly blossoms into an intimate friendship as these two people from very different backgrounds reveal their secrets, fears, and joys, whilst dancing the Swing, Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha and Contemporary Dance.

Michael and Lily learn to overcome their outward differences and discover an unlikely but profound connection. By the final lesson, Lily has shared with Michael her most closely guarded secret and he has shared with her his greatest gifts; his loyalty and compassion. A comedy with music and dance, the play also addresses the serious issues of ageism and intolerance.

As each week, and consequently each lesson, elapses, we learn a lot more about the two characters. And each new scene brings new and unexpected surprises. Each of the six scenes brings a new dance, as well as a new twist to the plot.

The setting throughout is a magnificent 7th floor apartment in South Florida, (lovingly and artfully decked out by designer Graham MacLean) where the lessons take place, bequeathed to Lily after her husband’s death. The vista from the apartment is that of the Atlantic Ocean conveyed by a backdrop which reveals different times of day by way of Trudy Dalgleish’s elegant lighting design. Now back to my opening statement.

The dancing scenes are delightful. To watch Nancye Hayes and Todd McKenney, two consummate, legendary artists,  whirling around the stage brought cheers from the audience, and acclaim as they danced off the stage at the conclusion of each scene. But, as I said, there is much more to the story than just dancing.

In between each dance sequence, Lily and Michael build up a rapport to the extent that they become so comfortable in each other’s company, that they start sharing some painful and personal experiences with each other. Although billed as a comedy, these scenes become quite dramatic, and quite often end up as shouting matches, as each one unloads a lot of intimate and personal pain and anger on the other. But there are also a lot of laughs along the way, with the comedy lines delivered with expert precision from both the characters.

To give away more of the plot would only spoil it for future audiences. I would rather that they have the experience of hearing it from the actors themselves while enjoying the play.

With so much violence abounding in entertainment at the moment, especially in movies, it’s nice to just sit back and watch a play as delightful and as calming as this one.

And by the end of the play, if you find yourself reaching for a tissue to dab the cheeks, don’t feel ashamed. There will be a lot of others around you doing the same thing.

The play is a tour de force for these two well-known performers and I would need a few more pages in which to list their many achievements.  Do not miss it.

Since its Los Angeles premiere and Broadway opening, this show has been translated into 14 languages and has traversed the globe with productions in 24 countries. The play has established itself as an international hit and one of the most produced plays in the world. The film version included in the cast our own Jacki Weaver.

SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, once again directed by Sandra Bates, is running until Sunday 13th March. Extra 11am performances have been added to cope with the demand for tickets. Booking details can be found/made on The Concourse Website or by calling the booking office on 8075 8111.