Dann now on her own

Press, 16 April 1985, Page 13

Dann now on her own

Phillipa Dann hosts “Shazam” solo for the first time this evening, but her first television appearance was less than auspicious. She was part of a five-girl dance group, “Momentum,” who appeared on “New Faces” in 1976. “It was the most unlikely dance group you can imagine,” she says. “You think of dancers as being at least 5 foot 8 inches with long legs, and here was I at sft IVz inches.” The other dancers had backgrounds in ballet, but Phillipa Dann’s only creden-. tials were a love of dancing and a few modern jazz lessons in the sixth form. Her costume was a zip-uo purple stretch outfit with silver boots, to go with the “Purple People Eater”-type background music. “They had forgotten that I have very small feet and they didn’t have any boots small enough. So I had to wear boots stuffed with paper in the toes. “I ended up as the Wally in the back row. That was my first big bid at stardom!” Phillipa Dann has always been keen on appearing on stage. As a child she loved dancing, but also knew she wanted to become an actress. Her stage credits include the “Spare Parts” revue and “The Thunderbird” at Downstage, and “A Dream Romance” and “The Lady from the Sea” at the University of Otago theatre. In 1982 she worked as a freelance actress and her television career took a turn for the better. She appeared as Stella, the barman’s

daughter in “Jocko”; Susan in “Daphne and Chloe,” which was part of the Bruce Mason series; and was a young doctor in “Close to Home.” In 1982 she played her most challenging dramatic television role as Nellie Hewett in the “Pioneer Women” series — the episode that will be repeated on Friday, April 26, at 10 p.m. on One. In 1983 she began a two-year stint as a reporter and presenter for “Viewfinder.” Phillipa Dann sees her role on “Shazam” as not unlike a stage role. “It demands a certain professionalism. If you are tired and grumpy you can’t let it come through.” She aims to draw on the elements in her personality that will reach the “Shazam” audience. “I never want to be superior to the audience — I like them to feel an empathy with me.” Above all, as presenter, she wants to project a positive attitude, an enthusiasm for what she does. She is a jazz and blues fan although recently she has been introduced to country music by friends. She admits that she is not keen on heavy metal, but does enjoy pop music — “anything that makes my feet want to dance.” “Shazam” screens at 5.30 p.m. on One today and will include clips of Bruce Springsteen, The Cars, Ultravox, Billy Joel, and an interview with a Michael Jackson look-alike. Phillip Schofield will still appear in “Shazam’s” video vault segment.