Mr Souris joined Baz Luhrman and Catherine Martin to launch hundreds of ballroom dancers in glittering, colourful costumes who performed the samba around the Sydney Opera House.

The public event, called Strictly Sydney, celebrates the fact that the Harbour City is the venue of the world premiere of Strictly Ballroom The Musical which was secured by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Strictly Sydney also featured a special performance by the winner of last season’s The Voice, Harrison Craig, who performed John Paul Young’s song ‘Love Is In The Air’. “It was a huge coup to secure the world premiere of Strictly Ballroom The Musical, so it’s wonderful to be showcasing our ballroom dancers, including the musical’s leads, Thomas Lacey and Pheobe Panaretos at the largest outdoor ballroom dancing event in Australia,” Mr Souris said.

“Strictly Ballroom The Musical is expected to generate more than $20 million in visitor expenditure for NSW over a six month run.”

The director, Baz Luhrmann said: “Most people know Strictly Ballroom as a movie but it began, as a piece of theatre and now it is an all-singing, all-dancing, live, stage musical. But it is more than that.

“As a show it reaches out not only to the audience but also to the community to become involved.

“That’s what dancing does. It allows everybody to participate so it seemed like a fun and a fitting idea for us all to meet on the forecourt of the Opera House and create a scene together from Strictly Ballroom”.

Destination NSW CEO, Sandra Chipchase, said: “Strictly Sydney is a wonderful way to showcase Sydney’s magnificent Sydney Harbour and world famous Sydney Opera House, to entice people from around Australia and the globe to come and visit Sydney and see this spectacular musical.”

Strictly Ballroom The Musical, previews at the Sydney Lyric at The Star from 25 March 2014. Opening night 12 April 2014. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.au or by calling 1300 795 267.

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