Pop Singer Sun Rai sets "Expectations" for Internationally Renowned Australian Dancer

LOS ANGELES, June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Acclaimed Australian dancer Natalya Alessi will perform as solo dancer and choreographer in the upcoming music video, "Expectations," from Sun Rai, lead singer of the Australian pop rock band Thirsty Merc.

The song is from Sun Rai's upcoming debut solo album. "It's a ballad," Alessi said, "It's about a dream he once had of a haunting woman in the snowfields. Though at the time of shooting the location won't be possible, he wants to capture the essence of mystery and loneliness. My job will be finding moments for the movement and honoring the vision Rai has for the piece through contemporary dance. I enjoy being involved in projects like this as they help to bring contemporary dance to a more commercial platform."

The video is scheduled to shoot in September in the Nevada desert near Las Vegas and Joshua Tree, Calif.

Alessi is one of Australia's most profound and versatile dancers versed in classical, contemporary, hip-hop and jazz. She's danced in dozens of productions throughout Australia and in China, England, Japan, Egypt and Greece.

She's danced in annual productions for Breast Cancer Care Western Australia, the stage musical "Heart of Gold," which was nominated for 2010 Western Australia Equity Guild Awards and choreographed "Motortown," a 2009 Blue Room Theater Award winner. Alessi has also danced for Disneyland Tokyo, Disney Sea Tokyo, the Make a Wish Foundation, and for the Australian Football League's Perth Eagles and Fremantle Dockers. She teaches dance for the Education Department in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.

Alessi co-founded The Ruby Roses, a Burlesque style jazz trio that sang and danced in three-part harmony and made festival runs during 2008-2011 in Perth.

Sun Rai is currently touring in the U.S. He released on June 4 an EP titled "Pocket Music" that's available at www.sunrai.bandcamp.com/album/pocket-music.

During his stint as lead singer, guitarist, and keyboard player for Thirsty Merc, Sun Rai ushered the group into national success in Australia. Thirsty Merc has recorded three studio albums, sold more than 200,000 albums and received seven APRA Music and ARIA Music Award nominations.

SOURCE Natalya Alessi