As the proverb from Zimbabwe tells us: “If you can walk you can dance and if you can talk you can sing.”
Angela Sharp and Lisa Lanzi have long held this to be true and now, once a month, are taking their energy into a City of Adelaide watering hole (The Jade in Flinders Street).
These two women have worked within their artistic partnership BodySONG for 9 years sometimes co-directing up to nine inclusive community choirs each week. They have run projects with women in prison, women affected by homelessness, those with mental health issues, the frail and elderly, those affected by dementia, Parkinson’s Disease or stroke and disabled people.
Apart from their work together, Angela is the Director of 2 outstanding community choirs: the all-female Allegria Absolutely (who just celebrated their 10th birthday) and In Good Company, a mixed gender group. She also runs shorter choir projects from time to time (more information and opportunities available on the BodySONG Facebook page). Lisa is a former professional dancer and trained actor who does project work locally and internationally as an actor, director and choreographer as well as relief lecturer in movement for actors at Adelaide College of the Arts and running other community dance projects.
PUBsing has been on the to-do list for over a year but with other projects at full steam and the need to look for an appropriate venue, Lisa and Ange have just launched at The Jade on May 1st with 100 people turning up to take part in the fun. Hereafter, on the first Tuesday of the month, PUBsing will fill the space on Flinders St with harmony and a song from a legend of popular music who has departed this world. The first song was ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ from the awe-inspiring Freddie Mercury but you have to stay tuned to Facebook to find out what the song will be each month. (Search PUBsing on Facebook and you’ll find the information – it is a public page so you don’t have to be a member.)
In 75 minutes (with a few *drink* breaks) Lisa and Ange teach you the featured song and harmonies with Rob Andrew on guitar. Lyrics are projected on screen and no preparation is needed, just a willingness to sing out and have fun. You are among friends (even if you have just met them!), have a drink in hand if you wish AND it’s not just about the singing. There is a spirit of camaraderie and delight in the room so if you have only ever been a secret shower-singer or someone who always thought they COULDN’T sing then this is the activity for you. There is no pressure to sing harmony as there is always the melody to fall back on. However, if you are more experienced, you can soak up the harmony and sing with full voice. Being in a group of like-minded humans and singing in harmony is one of those special life-moments and great for people who don’t have time to commit to a weekly choir rehearsal and all the performances.