Here’s what Rohan Browne has to say about the show, our city – and his fighting prowess.

Rohan, congratulations on your role as Riff, leader of the Jets, in Melbourne’s West Side Story. What is it about this musical that makes it so popular?

What the original creative team brought to the fore is something that will stand the test of time. It was originally set in New York, but it could be anywhere.

In every city of every country there are issues with violence, race, societal differences and creed. West Side Story lends itself to these different problems and everyone, at any time, can relate. 

As a born and bred Melbourne boy you must be stoked to play such a big role in your home town.

Of course I’m stoked! I mean, this role is such an incredible character and I am thrilled to be able to do this around Australia – and especially in Melbourne.

Check out what Rohan’s castmates have to say about Melbourne in our exclusive video.

Do you have any favourite hidden bars or cafes that you take your international cast members to while they’re in town?

The hard part about Melbourne is keeping up. Everywhere you turn there are new, exciting and funky places to go to. One of my favourite bars is The Golden Monkey down Hardware Lane. The Emerald Peacock is a great place to hang out, The European and Supper Club are both reliable and trusty friends. And Self Preservation makes a mean coffee.
 
(Spoiler alert) Your character features only in the first half of the musical. If you could sneak out for a while during the second half, where might we find you?

A hospital? I don’t know if you know what happens to my character but it’s pretty messy. There is blood loss. For recovery I’d need something with some iron in it, perhaps a Guinness at 3 Below. Then, if they were still in with a chance I’d maybe go and cheer on the mighty Dees [Melbourne Demons].
 
Though not sung by you in the production, one of the most-loved songs in West Side Story is America. Can you change the words of the first verse to reflect the Melbourne you love?

Melbourne
You lovely city…
City of coffee snobbery
Always the trams clattering and slowing
Always the eclectic bar scene growing
And the MCG buzzing
And the Yarra flowing…

West Side Story is playing at the Regent Theatre now.  Tickets are selling fast.

We’re not suggesting you do anything that could land your mugshot in MX and your butt in the back of a divvy van – there’s no need to take things that far! In Melbourne you can stick your neck out in the name of fun without disturbing the peace (too much).

Think you’re up to the challenge? Go ahead, Melbourne: we dare you!

Laughter is good for the Spleen

You know, you really are a hoot. Every great comedian has to start somewhere, so why not kick off your career at Spleen’s open mic Mondays? Comedy@Spleen  always includes established acts, so you won’t be cracking jokes just for the bartender and that kanoodling couple in the corner. There’ll be a real audience, and real laughs.

Tai Chi cadets

Too scared to join the zen, hip, seventy-plus super-grans who do perfect Tai Chi in the park? Hone your Tai Chi chops – and entertain a few passing commuters – at Fed Square on Tuesday mornings.  Before you know it, you’ll be grasping the sparrow’s tail and repulsing the monkey with the best of ‘em!

Public piano, please

We don’t care if you wagged every one of those expensive piano classes your parents paid for: we want to hear you tickle the ivories. Wow the crowds with your public piano performance on Wednesdays at Fed Square. Bring a few friends for a guaranteed standing ovation … and break a leg!

Trigger-happy snappers

Secretly fancy yourself as a photographer? Join a Loop photography night walk . Snap happily – with arty advice – while you stroll the most scenic corners of our fine city. Then it’s back to the bar, where, with a stiff drink, you can watch your work screened on the wall for all to see.

80s countdown on ice

Admit it: you can’t ice skate, and you know every word to Footloose. Sounds like you’re the ideal candidate for the 80s countdown on Icehouse’s mega-rink this Friday. Mix a bunch of uncoordinated mates, the Safety Dance and some razor-sharp skate blades for the ultimate in hair-raising hilarity. Don’t forget your leg warmers!

 If, after all this, the daredevil in you is still hungry for adrenalin, these coming events might help you get your thrills:

The St George Melbourne Marathon – but remember to put some training in – or choose a length that’s going to see you finish better in a better state than this distance event’s namesake.

Thrill the World invites Melbourne – and the world – to dance to Thriller in a city-wide flash mob on Saturday 23 October.  

What daring antics have you been up to recently?

Our first guide is Wardrobe Production Manager Michael Williams, who leads us to the famed Production Division Wardrobe Department. In moments we are surrounded by a wonderland of tulle, ribbon, fabric and buttons. Our eyes go to the racks of costumes lining the walls.

He’s a crowd-pleaser, Michael. A collective sigh escapes from the group as he pulls out The Sugar Plum Fairy costume from The Nutcracker and others from Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and the more recent Coppélia. With knowledge only 34 years at The Australia Ballet can provide, Michael explains the process of costume creation from material selection, to specific stitches and boning techniques, and appliqué and sequin designs that pay homage to their decades-old samples.

The extent to which The Australian Ballet creates costumes for their dancers from scratch is astonishing. Staff work away surrounded by sewing machines, tools, hanging patterns and mannequins. In a kitchen-turned-science lab, fabric and ballet shoes (literally thousands) are dyed and treated in huge pots, cookers and washing machines.

Our next guide is Frank Leo, The Australian Ballet’s artistic administrator and a former dancer.  As Frank describes the gruelling schedule of the ballerinas, we peer through doorways to watch lithe bodies move in fluid perfection across the large light-filled studios. And they’re dancing to tinkly piano music. But the Australian Ballet doesn’t dance to wonky tapes like I did. They have a real pianist. Seated behind a baby-grand.

Finally, we peek inside a small dark room smelling of rich leather. It’s the smell of hundreds of hand-crafted, made-to-measure pointe shoes. Each dancer will wear out around three pairs per performance, so plenty are always kept in stock.

My own dancing ambitions ended with the distinct lack of coordination that comes with being a tall teenager, but the obsession of the ballet is lodged firmly in my heart. For those who have ever criss-crossed ribbons around their ankles, dragged their hair into an eyebrow-lifting bun or forced their parents through years of ballet recitals (sorry Dad), this tour is for you.

Australian Ballet Centre Tours run most Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of September. Tours run for an hour and depart at 10.30am. Cost is $15 for adults and $8 for children under 17 years of age. Bookings are essential as places are limited.

Well, we’ve done a bit of the legwork (so to speak) for you. We’ve asked around and we’ve gone exploring. And this is what we found.

Legwarmers are in most of the big department stores, a sure sign they’ve been on edgy legs for quite some time now. Plus, legging tights and ballet slippers have been staple fashion items for a while –so going all the way with dancewear is no longer much of a stretch. And fuzzy ankle coverings do make sense at this end of April.

A polite legwarmer inquiry elicited some amusement from a helpful Target salesperson. ‘I couldn’t believe it when they came in,’ she said, pointing at the two purple varieties on offer (one striped, one with glitter). ‘Haven’t seen those for years.’  Stocks were low, so someone has been buying them!

At Bloch, that magnificent dancewear store, the guy in front of me asked for a ‘level six unitard’ and they knew exactly what he meant. Legwarmers are part of the terrain here, no raised eyebrows in sight. You’ll find lots of pastel options, plus black white and grey and some lovely soft burgundy thigh-high numbers.

You can choose from two styles, with or without stirrup. Apparently someone cleaned out their stocks of black and hot pink glitter legwarmers – respect! – but the salesperson assured me they’re getting more in. And yes, the guy got his unitard and seemed quite satisfied with it. So good work all round, Bloch.

Finally, if you have your heart set on a particular colour or texture, you could always knit your own. Morris and Sons has a wonderful array of wools, cottons and acrylic blends to choose from, in so many colours you might need to take a paper bag to prevent selection-anxiety hyperventilation.

New or nervous knitters are welcome, just go up and ask your question. Advice will be dispensed with kindness and wisdom – even when the question is about legwarmers. (We checked.)

Clearly, Fame the Musical has revived more than memories in our enthusiastic little city. Once you’re wearing your comfy and cosy fashion numbers, you’ll wonder why you ever stopped. Legwarmers proudly on, your next step is surely to move it and shake it down to the Regent Theatre for one of the world’s best-loved musicals of all time.  

Fame the Musical finishes Sunday 13 June.

Antipodes Festival
27 – 28 March

This weekend the Greeks will take over the city (minus the Trojan horse) and around 100,000 people will enjoy a ‘glendi’ (party in Greek).

Dance to Greek folk, blues or techno. Direct from Greece, the Apodimi Compania will be playing their special form of the Greek urban blues, Rebetiki. Aggelos Dionysiou, the Barry Manilow of Greek crooners with have the yayas flinging off their headscarves in excitement. While Melbourne’s own DJ Dean Paps, as well as international turntablist, DJ Bestseller will take over the night with his techno/house beats.

If you have any energy left, compete in the ‘Zorba till you drop’ to win a flight to Greece. For the more foodie-minded, see how many souvlakis you can consume in seven minutes or if you have a sweet tooth, gorge yourself on baklava to win some great prizes.
Register here to get involved.

For the less competitive, there will be lots of food stalls on offer to sample traditional Greek treats, carnival rides and children’s entertainment to keep the kids amused.

In the meantime, try this authentic and easy recipe in preparations for this weekend’s celebration of all things Greek.

Irini’s tzatziki dip

Ingredients
1kg Greek yoghurt
1 large cucumber or four small Lebanese cucumbers
3 cloves of garlic (can have more or less depending on your garlic tolerance)
Virgin olive oil, salt, white pepper (no measurement here, just ‘to taste’)
One kalamata olive

Preparation
1. Strain yoghurt in a muslin cloth overnight (minimum four hours).
2. Peel and grate cucumber (on thicker side of grater). Strain cucumber but keep the juice, you may need it later.
3. Crush garlic and then combine all ingredients (yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, oil, salt and white pepper). If dip seems too thick, pour in a little of the cucumber juice. If it’s still a little bland just add oil and don’t be stingy. Keep tasting and adding and mixing until satisfied.

Presentation tip: Once you’ve transferred the dip in a bowl, place a kalamata olive in the centre of the dip to really impress your friends.

Thai Food and Culture Festival
Sunday 21 March

This is a one day crash course in Thai culture! Learn everything that makes this country so unique: perfect your roundhouse at Muay Thai (kick-boxing), surrender to the rigors of Thai massage and admire the elegance and glamour of Thai dancing.

The wonderful piquant smells of Thai cooking will assail your senses as you wander around Fed Square. At the River Terrace, Melbourne’s best Thai chefs will be serving your favourite dishes which you can sup in the relaxed surrounds of the Singha beer garden.

Here’s a recipe for that must-order item on any Thai menu.

Thai Fish Cakes (Thod Mun Pla)

Ingredients
500 grams white fish meat minced or chopped
1 egg
1/2 cup string beans, sliced finely
3 tbsp. kaffir lime leaves, minced or chopped
1 tsp. sugar
2 tbsp. of red curry paste
3 cups peanut oil for frying

Preparation
1. Put all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Take 2tbps of fish mixture; shape into small patties about 7-8cm in diameter and deep fry in vegetable oil until golden brown.
3. Serve with Sriracha chili sauce which you can find at Asian grocers. Serve immediately.

See it, believe it: Pics from the day. Check out the official video on YouTube.

Emu walks. Barrels of monkey. Jar twists. Thriller arms. Just some of the moves busted en masse at the amazing flash mob dance staged in the Bourke Street Mall today.

Rubbernecking, stickybeaking and lookylouing were the most common moves among surprised shoppers who at first thought they were just hanging out in the mall and enjoying a free swing dancing performance.

But as the ‘innocent bystanders’ around them surged forward and, in unison, launched into some awesome African dance moves, it became clear that this was indeed one of ‘those flash dance mob things you see on the internet’.

If some of the dance moves looked familiar, they should. Many were based on famous dance sequences from movies such as Slumdog Millionaire and Saturday Night Fever, as well as Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video.

Professional choreographer and contemporary dancer, Stephanie Lake, created the dance drawing from these sources and more.

‘I wanted to make something really joyous and surprising. The brief was very specific, with the music and dance styles selected from within the Summer Fun in the City event program.

I used classic moves from the chosen styles – finger pointing for disco, claws for Thriller, Bollywood head and so on – and also tried to throw my own flavours into the mix,’ she said.

Stephanie designed the dance so that even those with no dance experience could join in.

‘I had to try and think what it might feel like to do the moves if I hadn’t done any dance before. Not easy when you’ve had 11 years professional experience – but trying things out on mum and my partner helped!’

This flash mob dance marked the launch of Summer Fun in the City the City of Melbourne’s annual program of free events in city parks and public spaces.

Events on offer include many more opportunities for public displays of joy and merriment, including opportunities to swing (and maybe fling) your partner around in the park, belting out a few 80s classics in Queensbridge Square and even flying the trapeze in the City Square.

But for the Summer Fun in the City flash mobbers and mobettes, the dance was an event in itself, with that amazing choreography to learn, four secret group rehearsals and hours of home practice in preparation for the big day.

‘My sister signed me up and then bailed on it, but I stuck it out and so glad I did. A bit of exercise for once was good, and it was heaps of fun.’ said flash mobette Camille.

‘The smiles’ were the highlight for flash mobber David. ‘Everyone really got into it. You could say it was cheesy or whatever, but it’s great, it was so much fun’

Dance student David has some dance experience, but when it came to learning the steps, even he said, ‘It was actually quite hard!’

Dance choreographer Stephanie Lake was impressed by the dedication shown by the dancers.

‘I didn’t expect people to put in many hours of practise at all given the silly season. I think there may have been a bit of dancing round the Christmas tree for a few families. So much work for just five minutes of glory!’

And yes, folks, it was worth it. The dancers were awesome, the crowd (and quite a large crowd at that) was amazed and everyone left with smiles on their faces.

Melbourne, we salute you!

If you missed out on the flash mob event, or you participated and you’re now missing your regular dance practices, remember that Summer Fun in the City includes some fantastic and free dance events.