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Port Elizabeth-Born Global Superstar Returns Home This Month For Her Only South African Performance Run For 2018 With Worldwide Hit Show

By: Jun. 01, 2018
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Port Elizabeth-Born Global Superstar Returns Home This Month For Her Only South African  Performance Run For 2018 With Worldwide Hit Show  Image

Fresh from receiving a well-deserved standing ovation at New York's most respected Apollo Theatre - after a mesmerizing performance of "I Will Always Love You" on the US hit TV show, Showtime at The Apollo - South African singing sensation Belinda Davids will be jetting home to perform for local audiences in Johannesburg later next month.

The Greatest Love Of All: The Whitney Houston Show is set to make its début at Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors PalaceCasino for a three-week run of spectacular shows this June and July.

Davids' performance at the Apollo Theatre late last year, which captivated US radio and TV personality Steve Harvey on stage, has been viewed over 10 million times on Facebook to date - cementing Davids as a true global musical icon.

Here's the performance from the Apollo Theatre (which took place towards the end of 2017), that has caused a buzz online and catapulted Belinda into global status: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JonHMeOGscs&feature=youtu.be

After winning BBC TV's Even Better Than The Real Thing musical contest in 2017, the lead singer of The Greatest Love Of All: The Whitney Houston Show returns to Johannesburg this June to once again honour and celebrate the world's most loved pop diva - live in concert.

Backed by a seven-piece live band, dancers and stunning theatrical effects, the vocally-talented Davids takes centrestage in The Greatest Love Of All: The Whitney Houston Show - which is a jaw-dropping musical tribute experience to one of music's most loved-icons.

Launching just over five years ago and leaving hype in its wake ever since, The Greatest Love Of All: The Whitney Houston Show has already achieved great international successes, opening with a sold-out six week season in Johannesburg 2013 and going on to perform to audiences across the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Dubai and North America.

The show returns to South Africa in June, after Davids and the production team performed a 12-city nationwide UK tour recently , accompanied by The National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Prompted into auditioning last-minute by a friend, the Port Elizabeth-born Davids, who now resides in Cape Town, was one of almost 15 000 singers who tried-out for the demanding role, but Director John Van Grinsven knew immediately that she was the star he was looking for:

"Belinda's voice is astounding on its own, but when you hear her sing Whitney songs in full voice, and with such personal affection, it's an ethereal experience," say Van Grinsven.

The upcoming season at Emperor's Palace Casino will be the second Johannesburg visit for the show, after the first took place at the Civic Theatre in in 2013, resulting in a virtual sell-out musical experience. Fans can look forward to updates to the musical production, including new choreography and costumes this time around.

Davids' staggering voice will be serenading all of Whitney's greatest ballads and pop hits, including I Will Always Love You, I'm Every Woman, One Moment in Time, Run to You, Saving All My Love, Queen of the Night, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and many more.

"I want people to come and remember Whitney when she was at the top of her game and when she was fabulous", says Davids, who will be accompanied on stage by a full live band and dancers including professional dancer and acrobat Nathan Adriaanse, as well as Johannesburg-born dancer, Golda Rabe.

Tickets for this spectacular show can also be purchased via Computicket at either www.computicket.com or via Checkers and Shoprite retail stores, countrywide, and range between R160 and R250 each.

For more information please visit: http://www.thewhitneyhoustonshow.com/

South African songstress Belinda Davids was born in Port Elizabeth, and began performing professionally at the age of 14. She has never had vocal training and is blessed with a four-octave vocal range, which allows her to sing any genre. Belinda's inspirations as a child were Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Michael Jackson and the one artist she honours in every show is Whitney Houston.
For Davids, starring in The Greatest Love of All: The Whitney Houston Show is the culmination of a life-long connection with the superstar to whom she pays homage.

In respect for Houston's legacy, Showtime Management dedicated over 12 months to creating the show, first to finding the perfect star, and then to perfecting the production. It took over 15 000 auditions in 12 countries to find the right voice, and finally our very own South African Belinda Davids emerged as the front-runner in 2013.

Exposed mainly to R&B and gospel as a child, Davids was innately drawn to Houston's musical style, and paid homage to her idol through her dress and hairstyle and by including Houston songs in almost all her live shows.

The ultimate realization of Davids' affinity with Houston occurred during a show in Hong Kong. Following a recital of 'I Will Always Love You', the audience was so astounded by her performance that they demanded she sing acapella to prove she wasn't lip-syncing to a Houston track.



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