EAST MEETS WEST

EAST MEETS WEST (also dance and leisuresmart)

Fashion, Fusion and Dance at Suncoast from May 29 to 31.

Globalisation hits the catwalk in spicy style from May 29 to 31 when the East Meets West fashion and dance show takes place at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World (Suncoast). This extravaganza dazzled Durban audiences in 2007 and 2008 and now it’s gearing up to wow Durban again this year. India meets Europe meets Africa in the East Meets West concept, resulting in a stylish blend of fashion, dance and all-round entertainment.

Coming off the recent Bollywood dance success, Dance with me Baby in January 2009, director and choreographer Shivani Kara from Eastern Moves Productions, has many ‘new tricks up her sleeve’ for this year’s East Meets West ‘fashiontainment’ show.

“Sexy, daring and dangerous”, is a little indication of what audiences will be treated to at this year’s event,” Kara continues, “we make fashion exciting to everyone.”

Fashionistas should prepare for an exotic feast of fashion, as exciting young South African designers display how a melting pot of cultures can produce innovative results. The shows are the brainchild of choreographer Shivani Kara and dancer/performer Bhavnesh Narotam, two professionals who have set their sights on producing a fashion experience with a difference.

“Bollywood movies are hugely popular in South Africa, even more now after having hosted the DLF Indian Premiere League 2009 and we want to show local audiences that there is far more to this rich culture than meets the eye,” explains Narotam. “The fact that borders are blurring across the world means that exciting cross-cultural exchanges of ideas are taking root in all spheres of creativity, including fashion.”

East Meets West is raising the bar a few notches higher in this year’s showdown. The fashion designers include Mthoko from JB Couture, Tabisa, Melinda from Tinseltown Designer Collection, Enens, Duke, B Gangaram, Rizwana from Funkishiq, Benze Tailors, Saheli and Olivia from RedOliv. Each designer will be showcasing their favourite pieces for Durban audiences.

“Expect cutting-edge designs that blend the traditional with the contemporary, the playful with the elegant, and the casual with the luxurious,” enthuses Kara. “We’ll be showcasing stunning and funky fashion that appeals to all cultures and ages. It will be an unusual, theatrical, high-impact fusion of fashion with different forms of foot-tapping, exciting entertainment, including music that ranges from old to new, from Spanish to house to Bollywood to African.”

The models will have the benefit of Hair Sensations hair specialist, Shirley Naidoo and Rushay Valjee of Makeup Your Mind who will adorn them with the latest exquisite styles and trends. Make-up is by Cuan Kemp from Glamour Eyes who has been sketched different ‘faces’ for every scene to ensure that Kara’s dramatic and creative ideas are brought to life.

The premiere night on May 29 is a red carpet, black-tie affair. A five-course dinner will be served. Tables of 10 or individual seats for the Premiere Night are available from Shivani Kara on 083 776 9222. Tickets for the public shows on May 30 and 31 are on sale from Computicket on 083 915 8000 or at the Western entrance of Suncoast.