Seeking dancers with giraffes

Dancers who can leap through the air holding aloft a fibreglass antelope. Must be familiar with classical, contemporary and tribal dance styles. Ability to operate two pairs of stilts simultaneously to mimic a giraffe helpful.

The Australian theatrical production of The Lion King is auditioning dancers in Auckland. Twenty dancers will portray a selection of exotic African animals in the musical production of the Disney story about a lovable lion cub.

Each dancer will have to manipulate props designed to suggest animals, rather than wear costumes which recreate them faithfully.

A flock of birds is hinted at when a dancer pushes a pram-like contraption bearing six bird models.

Similarly, the warthog, a comic character, is represented by a dancer wearing a body suit and a sandwich board.

Rehearsals begin at the end of August in Sydney; try-outs are at City Dance, 260 Queen St, on Saturday.