STEPS Youth Dance Company presents 'Phoenix' - their 21st birthday production at the Playhouse Theatre from 19 to 22 March. 'Phoenix' is a stunning new contemporary dance piece that imagines the end of the world, and new beginnings. The production is performed by 32 young dancers from Perth and features aerial acrobatics, beautiful dance and strong theatrics.

Picture yourself standing on the edge… the edge of something new, of change, of the unknown.

PHOENIX visualizes the apocalypse. The streets are dense with people maddened by the inevitability of the end; all that they have and all that they know, is threatened. In the midst of the chaos, one young man stands still, poised right on the edge of the world. He looks at the madness around him, then to the blackness of the unknown. He steps forward, and begins to fall...

A handful of survivors have made it through, surrounded by remnants of what is now that past. What will they choose to keep? What will they leave behind? How will this shape their new world?

“The 21st birthday production of STEPS represents a coming of age for the company – the phoenix rising and the contrast and connection between the past and the future. The youth of today are the ones that will mould the future and in 'Phoenix', the choreographers and cast members have collaborated to create and portray a particular view of what this future might hold” says choreographer and STEPS Artistic Director Alice Lee Holland.

“The popularity of reality dance TV shows has made contemporary dance more popular in recent years. Auditions for 'Phoenix' were the most competitive we have ever had, which contributes to our promise that this will be our most amazing show to date.”

The cast consists of 14 boys and 18 girls from Perth and surrounds aged 12 to 21 that were chosen from auditions of over 140 young dancers. The final cast has a diverse range of experience including trained classical dancers, cheerleaders, hip hop dancers, calisthenics and gymnasts.

An intense 15-day rehearsal schedule for 'Phoenix' is now underway, where the cast are engaging in sessions of learned movement, as well as other tasks to generate their own material to contribute to the show.

STEPS Youth Dance Company is a professional company that offers extraordinary dance experiences for young people. In its 21-year history, STEPS has nurtured talents such as Zoe Ventoura (Packed to the Rafters), John O’Hara (upcoming national CATS tour), Richard Cilli (Sydney Dance Company), Marko Panzic (So You Think You Can Dance choreographer), and Kevin Mitchell (Bob Evans, Jebadiah). Alice Lee Holland was a company member of STEPS herself for six years.

STEPS engages industry professionals to inspire, mentor and teach the young company members, which enables them to develop their skills as performers, increase their overall confidence and also to become more aware of the many wonderful and rich possibilities open to them as young people in the arts and beyond.

Some STEPS projects take the shape of classes and workshops, giving young people the opportunity to focus purely on their skills development as dancers and dance-makers. Other STEPS projects focus towards the creation of original dance productions for public seasons.

For tour dates and more information, visit www.stepsyouthdance.com.au.