E
veryone back to your starting points, let’s go one more time, from the top!” calls Emma Seward, founder and director of the Macau Glee Club, at the top of her voice. The kids on stage break into a rendition of ‘The Polar Express’ – the title track from the Christmas film of the same name – as up to 150 other members of the club, ranging in age from three to 63 years old, make their way down the aisles of the theatre, singing and dancing, before filing up to the stage en masse. It’s a glorious sight and testament to how this Macao club has grown in size, strength and ability over the past decade. That scene was at a rehearsal for the Macau Glee Club’s spectacular Christmas show that took place at the city’s Parisian Theatre last month. It was a performance that celebrated the troupe’s 10th anniversary – a marvellous achievement after Seward set it up in 2010 ‘with the purpose of introducing kids and adults to the wonderful world of performing arts’. Over the years, the club has run regular workshops, classes and shows in Macao, helping to develop local talents and prepare them for the arts industry in the city and beyond. Much like its American TV show namesake ‘Glee’, the Macao troupe grew out of humble beginnings. “I literally started with three kids,” admits Seward. “Two of them were mine and we were working in our front living room. We were new to
Macao and I realised the city offered good ballet and hip-hop classes but there was nothing in between. No jazz. No musical theatre. No contemporary classes. I’ve lived my life as a dancer, so I wanted to show that avenue to my kids. I wanted to show them how much fun it can be.”
Glee has really set the benchmark in Macao for kids who want to perform. – Joel Fesalbon
Seward is an acclaimed director, producer and choreographer who has worked with some of the world’s biggest names in music and theatre. In her native UK, Europe, Australia and Asia, she’s worked for MTV, performed concerts with the likes of Whitney Houston and Elton John, choreographed the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens’ opening ceremony and has even worked on theatre shows with celebrated Chinese director Zhang Yimou. But starting a club for young people was a whole new venture for her and her family. After a few informal living room
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