Dubbo couple join Andre Rieu on stage

A PHONE call from Holland. Your presence is requested.

Andre Rieu – yes that Andre Rieu – wants you to be part of a very special one-off performance at the Sydney Town Hall in November that will be filmed and eventually be seen by hundreds of thousands of his loyal fans from all over the world – and importantly you can’t tell anyone about it.

This incredible invitation was extended to local ballroom dancing champions Cassandra Donnelly and Joel Tongue who were also one of the first to be contacted and confirmed for the Rieu concert, an incredible endorsement of their national profile.

Fast forward nearly six months to rehearsals on Monday, November 19, at the Sydney Town Hall.

“The production of the whole event was phenomenal, every single female performer had a dress made to measure, the measurements having been supplied earlier,” said a still excited Cassandra. Joel wore his custom-made tails.

Monday was a quick run through, followed by a full rehearsal with Andre and his full orchestra which left Cassandra and Joel full of praise.

“He is such a perfectionist, very high energy with incredible attention to even the smallest detail,” Cassandra told Dubbo Photo News.

“We were pretty starstruck,” said Cassandra, with Joel describing him as “a larrikin, good fun to be around, enjoying a joke, but serious when he needs to be”.

Monday was a seven-hour day of rehearsals, and then on Tuesday, November 20, it was show day which lasted 12 hours.

“Tuesday was a lot of getting in and out of your costume, a lot of waiting around, many more rehearsals, with camera crews ever present for the total filmed dancing performance time of only three minutes – and what a three minutes it was!”

Both described the experience as a huge opportunity.

One of only 40 couples chosen from all over Australia and New Zealand, Cassandra and Joel were the only regional couple, with most couples based in the capital cities.

The enormity and professionalism of the show has left a lasting impression on Cassandra and Joel, the smiles and energy still evident during our interview.

Like every Andre Rieu performance, there are more surprises we can’t reveal here, so you will have to watch the show on video, with our very own Cassandra and Joel, which will be available mid-december.

Right:

Cassandra Donnelly and Joel Tongue at Sydney Town Hall. The Dubbo dancing couple were invited to be part of the performance for Andre Rieu’s concert there. PHOTO: SUPPLIED