shania.funurl.com
shania.funurl.com
WALKIN' THE LINE AT WEMBLEY
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Line Dancer magazine
April 2004
By Linda Willis
The love affair between line dancers and Shania Twain is sizzling. Starting off as an affair when she sang, 'Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under' for us to trip around doing Boot Scootin' Boogie developed into a deep and meaningful relationship. An intimate liason that has captured the heart of every choreographer on the block, and the some!
She's still dazzling, still ready to rocn 'n roll and fling in some country and even line dance with us. What more could devoted dancers ask from Shania the sweet-heart?
Nothing! The opening night of Shania's Wembley Arena concert series in February was sold out. Long queues of people moved around the arena as far as the car parks and beyond, stretch limos with tiny golden lights snaked through the crawling traffic jams.
Gridlock outside. Inside, welcome to the dynamic, breathtaking wonderland that is Twain's World......
In-the-round performances like this give more people the chance to get up-close and personal with a woman who boldly sets out right from the opening number to do just that. Gathering with her along the way as many adoring fans as possible.
The Shania Twain band are becoming legen in their own lifetime too. Almost as mich as their leader. But not quite.
They arrived on the circular stage clad in denim and leather, expertly weaving their way in and out of the intricate stainless steel frames of the 'set'.
Circumventing the dais with skill, precision, laughter, violins, guitars, and keyboards - like a marvellous travelling circus.
Centre stage was a huge white cover draped like a giant sno-cone. "Da-da, da, da, da..da...da Are you ready London?" A black silhouette of a trilby hatted Twain appeared on the whiteness. "Yes!" thousands of voices yelled back. Thumping on the floor.
There she was.....but not on stage. Shania was running through Michael Flately style from the right of the arena. Right through the middle of her delighted fans, with two minders, like a mini athlete about to enter the ring, leaping on stage she was there.
In black satin 'coolle' trousers with diamante trim, what appeared to be white boxers boots, tied with satin ribbons and vivd bright pinktop, revealing a black bra at the back. Piles of Diamonds heaped around her throat and on her wrists, like gigantic sparkling knuckle-dusters.
Treat Me Like A Woman shimmered; everyone joined in. She held her people in the palms of her tiny bejewelled hands.
She bounces, dances, punches the air, all the while circling the stage, stopping en route to receive kisses, gifts, hugs, slapping hands, shaking hands and signing hundreds of autographs on shiny big Shania souvenir programmes, or pieces of paper, or pieces of body (like arms - naughty - it wasn't that kind of show.)
For this was pure family entertainment at its very best. Shania's audience, like Line Dancers, range from tiny to teeny ageless and dreamy.
She may be the most successful female artiste of all time, yet she takes nothing for granted. Holds nothing back. She gives one thousand percent to her loyal fans. Her fizzing energy and engaging gift of being able to 'connect' with each and every member of her audience is extrordinary. Her genuine warmth and affection is a privilege to share.
Shania gives a bit back by nominating a children's charity to receive donations from her concerts. Tonight was the NSPCC who benefited, as did two little girls who won the coveted chance of being photographed on stage with their heroine.
They wore cream 'Shania' T-Shirts that swamped their tiny frames swamping them resembling a billowing frock. But they didn't care. They posed prettily with the lady now adorned in this season's 'hot' colour - cool green chiffon with aqua trim and tiny glittering beads. A very chunky gold, amber and green choker - like a polo neck made of jewels wrapped itself neatly around beneath which swung a huge soarkling amber, green and aqua cross.
Bracelets which could rival those worn by Troy himself held her tiny wrists in a firm and dazzling grasp. She swung her longer than ever chestnut hair down her back, and from side to side one moment tossing it like a swishing twirling tail of a wild and rare pony, the next draping it seductively across her perfect high cheekbones and arching brows like a glamorous and fabulous film star.
Meanwhile, her band got hotter and hotter till they were truly steaming. Sizzling fiddlers, thumping drums, and chunky gritty guitar you could bite into like a Crunchie Bar. And do you wanna dance? Yes please! And they did – up and down the aisles, jumping up from seats, singing and dancing in the Twain! Music reverberated around the arena, shaking our senses awake.
Shania notices everyone. “I know you!” she cried pointing to a teenage boy with black, white and orange bandana. Instantly he was hauled on stage. “And you!”. She reached out to a tiny dark haired girl.
“Where are you from?” she asked. “Brazil.” Replied the lad. “Malaysia!” answered the girl. “Choose a song to sing!” In seconds they were singing along a-Shaina. “Nah!” And they knew all the words! Impressed? Yes so was she! Not everyone is lucky enough to get seats to the front row of the stage.
At the back you cannot see so well. Shania has her own unique was of making sure they don’t go away disappointed, relying on the huge video screen, reassuring them that she is girl-sized – not a matchstick! She perches on a seat in the auditorium was at the very end, just Shania and her Australian guitarist.
Singing Country. Singing songs for the soul. The rest of the band stands together in the centre of the stage, joining in the chorus. No instruments. Pure voices. A capella. And it’s the most moving thing you’ll hear all night long.
Then instantly she’s sprinting back across the rows and rows of audience seating, down the aisles with two ‘minders’. She flings herself back onstage. And they are rockin’ and rollin’ like never before. A crescendo of electrifying energy, fireworks fizzing up from the stage, as they have throughout the evening, in gold and silver champagne showers.
And then she’s gone. And the lights dim. And we wait. We clap, yelling at the top of our voices, “More! More! Come Back!” Stampeding thundering feet reverberating around like a Mexican wave. Then she reappears.
Wearing black trousers and a red and white England Rugby shirt with red rose! And just when you think this smiling little enchantress cannot provide any more compliments or surprises she is singing once more – Any Many Of Mine! She starts to do something extraordinary; she starts to Lind Dance with her violinist in the centre of the stage.
For a few moments the rest of the band join in. She gives a nod and a smile and a wink of recognition. Rock This Country belts out, sweeping across like the all-embracing national anthem that it has become.
Fireworks sizzle, sparkle, glitter and dazzle, from the stage. Then silver and purple confetti cascades in clouds from above, and all around us, engulfing us and Shania standing smiling in the middle of the giant snow globe.
She waves farewell and we know that this love affair will go on and on……………