They’ve got the right moves
BY SANDRA SIAGIAN
A HANDFUL of southern Sydney residents have shown viewers across Australia that they have plenty of talent.
A hip-hop duo, a singer, and a contemporary group have all made it into the semi-finals of Channel Seven’s reality series Australia’s Got Talent.
Professional dancers Neale Whittaker, 22, of Barden Ridge, and James Barry, 21, of Penrith, make up Phly Crew, a dance duo who label their style as comedic hip-hop.
They first auditioned with a bigger crew two years ago.
“We are a lot more mature and have improved our comedic timing,” Mr Whittaker said.
He described their act as Umbilical Brothers who dance.
“We’ve done a lot of training to make sure that we are wittier.”
The Ev&Bow dance company is made up of 12 dancers aged 17-26, with eight hailing from the Sutherland Shire.
They wanted to show Australia what contemporary dance was all about.
“Australia has amazing hip-hop crews, singers, but not many contemporary dance groups,” choreographer Sarah Boulter said.
“A lot of them are professional dancers who are in and out of dance work.
“It would be great to provide them something ongoing and I feel that they deserve it.”
Musical theatre singer Natasha Hoeberigs, 19, of Penshurst, impressed the judges — Dannii Minogue, Brian McFadden and Kyle Sandilands — with her cover of Don’t Rain On My Parade from the musical Funny Girl.
Miss Hoeberigs, who performed her first role as an orphan in a school production of Annie at 12, said her ultimate role on stage would be Evita.
Australia’s Got Talent is on Channel Seven, 7.30pm, Wednesdays.
St George and Sutherland Shire Leader.