Classical music concert promotes singing and dancing

A free classical music concert where it’s OK to dance on your seat, pretend to be a conductor and sing along is headed to Palmerston North.

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s Symphonic Boogie show is coming to the Regent on Broadway and it is designed to introduce children and young people to the national orchestra.

Presenter Chris Lam Sam said the NZ Music Month event will be a riot of classical music’s greatest dance tunes.

‘‘We want kids to respond to the music and be themselves. There are so many times when an orchestra might play and it might not be appropriate for that to happen. Whereas this is the concert that you want to bring your kids to, where they can dance and clap and shout. They can take it all in silently or be 100 per cent energised by the music.’’

Lam Sam will be ‘‘throwing the rules out the window’’ while presenting a show of some of classical music’s biggest names, including Johann Strauss, Brahms, Dvorak, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Bizet and Kiwi composer David Farquhar.

‘‘Dance is at the heart of the uplifting mix of music we’ve chosen this year. Be set to not only clap your hands, but to stamp your feet and even boogie. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the country’s biggest band and one that families will love. Our free Symphonic Boogie concerts are designed to let kids be themselves, and contain all the excitement and joy of hearing and seeing an orchestra live. There is nothing else like it.’’

Lam Sam said he has a lot of interaction with the kids.

‘‘We want an interaction between the kids and the players. The players absolutely love these shows too because they get to let their hair down a little bit. This is a way for them to to share music with communities that may not get access to a lot of live music at this end of the spectrum.’’

Symphonic Boogie opens at the Regent on May 24.