Meet the Team - Nicole

On this sunny Sunday of December you get to meet the youngest of the Pineapple Team, our pretty ballerina and contemporary lover, Nicole...

> Can you tell us few words about you?
My name is Nicole de Malmanche. I am 22 years old (the baby of the company) I am from the humble city of Napier and I like to pretend I am still a small town girl...Day to day I just work a part time job at an International College.. It’s gets me by. The rest of the time I am in the studio, over the bridge at my ballet studio, working behind the scenes at City Dance or running errands for Pineapple Productions.

> How are you involved in the Jukebox Dance Show?
Dancer. Media. Raffle. The ‘funny’ one. I think.

> When and why did you start dancing?
I started when I was 5. A couple of years of skipping around the room, pre-primary exams etc..
I remember being a yellow flower in a Beatrix Potter show that first year. My step dad fell asleep...
Why? I had to ask my mother this.. Apparently it is all I wanted, and nothing else would do. I had to go to ballet class.Sadly for her, it was 16 years of paying for my fees, costumes, ballet shoes..... thanks Mum!

> When, how and why did you start working with Pineapple Productions?
I began taking class with Julie early 2011, and she snatched me up pretty fast to join her technique class- Pineapple Lumps. I was shy and nervous all the time. But I found my niche eventually. Now no one can shut me up. When the opportunity came to to dance French Cancan for a Bastille Day show in July last year, I couldn’t say no. Having French roots (name) I always had a little obsession with wanting to do all things French. Voila. Hooked.

> Why did you decide to take part in the Jukebox Dance Show? What attracts you in this show?
Not taking part in this show would have been out of the question. Let’s just say that. It is way too fun!
This show was just the thing we needed to show our versatility. I am so very into this concept as all of our dancers are from different parts of the world, different walks of life and we are all so different. I’m not just talking place of birth, but look at our heights - We do not discriminate! :) It shows what we do best - Different styles, different people. We all love to please our audiences, so what better way than let them choose?

> Do you have a favourite choreography in the setlist?
Aaaahh.. there are so many!
Top 2 would be Immigrant Song and Keep me Quiet. They have so much depth and are very challenging, character wise. You need to choose them!
Favourite to perform would have to be Babies of the Blitz - It’s cute, fun and always a crowd pleaser!

> Anything else to add?
Don’t miss it! If you know any of the dancers, crew, or even just hearing about it, you have the opportunity to see something really unique. Julie really is a phenomenal choreographer and it’s a fun, friendly and original show- every time. Totally be inspired to accept that diverse concept into your life! See you at the show!

Meet the Team - Nicolas

Pineapple Team is not only a bunch of dancing girls, we have also few boys to bring up the level of testosterone. Today you meet Nicolas, one of our trusty and ever present cameramen.

> Can you tell us few words about you?
My name is Nicolas Plaire and I’m a graphic designer/animator/motion graphics artist/director (yes all of that in one person). I work as a freelancer at a lot of places, lately, I’ve been working for TVNZ, which was a great opportunity for me.

> How are you involved in the Jukebox Dance Show?
I usually shot with Bertrand Remaut all the Pineapple shows and The Jukebox Dance Show is no different. I’m also producing an animated video explaining the concept of the Jukebox Dance Show. It’s going to be cute and quirky, just like the Pineapple Girls!

> When, how and why did you start working with Pineapple Productions?
Well, Julie is my girlfriend, and she needs my skills to help her promote her creations and I’m always the moral support and I massage her sore feet at night. Without me, she’d be nothing, let me tell ya!

> What do you bring to the table as a AV director and what kind of experience does Pineapple give you in that field?
Well my experience, my love of filming dance (before we moved to New Zealand, we shot a few dance videos with Julie and I grew my love for the dance game). And with the animated video I’m doing, it’s the perfect opportunity to hone my skills as an animator and a designer. I love animation just as much as I love shooting stuff with a camera.

> Why did you decide to take part in the Jukebox Dance Show? What attracts you in this show?
I think I had no choice. Julie would have banned me from having sex if was not involved... I’m so funny! Hem, sorry, no it was only natural that I helped the girls as best as I can.

> Do you have a favourite choreography in the setlist?
The Immigrant Song! And Keep me Quiet, because I know how to dance it. Julie is giving me dance classes and this is the choreography we've been working on. Maybe one day you'll see me doing it on stage. But maybe not.

> Anything else to add?
I love pie

Meet the Team - Erin

Today we meet Erin, a singing and dancing pineapple who also knows how to use a saxophone and a sewing Machine.

> Can you tell us few words about yourself?
My name is Erin Grant and I currently work in an accounts team for an insurance company. When I’m not there, or dancing, I am studying classical and musical theatre singing, and I play the saxophone whenever I have the opportunity.

> How are you involved in the Jukebox Dance Show?
I’m performing in the cancan routines, as well as the vintage ones.

> When and why did you start dancing?
Dancing has always interested me but I didn’t take it up until about 9 years ago when I decided to take a break from music. Since then I’ve had the pleasure of dancing lots of different styles and with heaps of great people.

> When, how and why did you start working with Pineapple Productions?
I’ve been with Pineapple Productions since its inception in 2011, via a cancan workshop run by Julie Anterrieu, Pineapple Productions’ founder and choreographer.

> Why did you decide to take part in the Jukebox Dance Show? What attracts you to this show?
I love the interactive concept of the show. It means the audience doesn’t know what they’re going to see beforehand, and as performers we get some variety as well, which keeps us on our toes.

> Do you have a favourite choreography in the setlist?
Sweet Georgia Brown is my favourite. The Charleston is heaps of fun and is a big crowd-pleaser. Also I used to play a jazzed-up version of the song in my high school jazz band!

PledgeMe Updates - D-9

We did say that we would post a new team picture every time the Pledgeometer rizes... Well we are up to $2685 thanks to 41 one of you! It is picture time then!

Last night after French Cabaret practice...

Thank you so much! Only 9 days to go...

Meet the Team - Kat

Up next is Kat. One of our newest performers who already doubled her amount of time on stage since the last Jukebox show.

> Can you tell us few words about you?
I'm Kat, an aspiring costume designer, currently working in Fashion as a fit model and production assistant.

> How are you involved in the Jukebox Dance Show?
I have designed and created many of the outfits that you will see the dancers wearing on stage for the Jukebox Dance Show, and I am also participating in a number of dances myself with the girls.

> When and why did you start dancing? What about costume making?
I started dancing in September 2011, and I was soon taking 4 classes a week, and I haven't stopped dancing since then. Costume design is something I have always had a passion for. I love creating things, adding details, and seeing the finished article. After studying costume at university, it’s a great feeling to put in a lot of hard work, and then see your creations come alive.

> When, how and why did you start working with Pineapple Productions?
I was invited to join Pineapple Productions as a dancer about 6 months ago, because of my enthusiasm for Cancan, and once the girls discovered I have a talent for costume I soon branched out into creating outfits for the girls to wear on stage.

> What do you bring to the table as a Costumier and what kind of experience does Pineapple give you in that field?
My work with Pineapple has enabled me to have a constant creative outlet, and to gain solid experience in my field. My aim to to help the dancers bring their choreography to life by adding costume and colour that reflects the feel of their many different performances.

Charleston costumes made by Kat

> Why did you decide to take part in the Jukebox Dance Show? What attracts you in this show?
The Jukebox show is such a unique experience to be a part of, constant high energy performances, and quick back-stage turnarounds. The use of audience interaction for a dance show is an idea that has rarely been used, and and this makes the show a different and unique experience every time it is performed.

> Do you have a favourite choreography in the setlist?
I have two favourites, which would have to be the Cancan numbers. Cancan has such an energetic form of dance, and it never fails to get a great audience response. People can recognise it instantly, it has such a cheeky nature, and I get a great sense of pride in performing such a classic French dance.

Meet the Team - Lucy

The Jukebox Dance Show should hit the Auckland stage in a bit more than 2 months and there are only 11 days left to finish our PledgeMe Campaign. We thought it was highly time that you meet the Jukebox Team. To make it a bit more fun we asked each of the 15 persons that will make this second season happen to answer a few questions.

And we are starting today with Lucy, one of the very first members of Pineapple!

> Can you tell us few words about you?
My name is Luciana but like to be called Lucy, Lu, Lula or Popi . I’m a food Technologist and work at a Plastics company as Quality, Safety and Environment Manager, In my spare time, I like playing with my son Dylan and dancing.

> How are you involved in the Jukebox Dance Show?
I’m one of the dancers.

> When and why did you start dancing?
I love dancing since I can remember and I’ve try quite a few different styles. My favourite is Jazz.

> When, how and why did you start working with Pineapple Productions?
I started going to Julie’s classes 5 years ago and since then I’ve done basically anything she has suggested I could do. I started with Pineapple Lumps rehearsing at the old train station, fun days!

> Why did you decide to take part in the Jukebox Dance Show?
What attracts you in this show? I like challenges and this show it’s definitely a big challenge for me, not only because I’m involved in over 10 chores but also because we don’t know what’s next!

> Do you have a favourite choreography in the setlist?
Good Intent has become my favourite in the last week. I also love Babies of the Blitz.

One Pledge - One Photo

A big shout out to all of the pledgers out there!!! Thanks to you, we have now reach $2415, which is more than half of our goal!!! THANK YOU!!!

As a pre-thank you reward here are some pictures of us backstage at Phoenix Belly Dance Showcase on Saturday!

We will post more of those pictures every time there is a new Pledge! Only 13 days to go…