about

Who is Cha Cha Sam?

Cha Cha Sam is a Melbourne creative team lead by singer/composer Andrea Rieniets
and writer/visual director Andie Lemon.

Cha Cha Sam has a BIG vision: to bring children and their communities closer together through singing, dancing and practicing communication skills to the magic of music.

Andrea Rieniets

Andrea is a singer/composer/performer renowned for her beautiful music for stage and contemporary adult concerts. Her music is eclectic – drawing on pop, musical theatre, country and folk. Her bent wit and passionate voice have been heard at events such as Womadelaide, the Famous Spiegeltent, the Black Box, Sydney Cabaret Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and the Adelaide Festival of the Arts.

Her compositions include The Stowaway’s Guide to the Pacific for ABC online, Eora Crossing by Legs on the Wall and Museum of Sydney for the Sydney Festival, the national anthem for the first National Sorry Day – her song Something So Simple.

As Cha Cha Sam, Andrea now works closely with world leaders in children’s health, education and disability to create fresh, funky music that nourishes wisdom in kids. She is a powerful performer, known to be capable of entertaining audiences for 15 minutes in a power blackout. It’s this ‘responsible optimism’ that makes her such a great kids’ and family performer!

She is the recipient of the Centenary Medal for Services to Society through Writing for Theatre for her kids’ Reconciliation story concert - Postcards from Nanna (created in partnership with Andrea Lemon) and the first Australian musician to be guest of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions.

You can find out more about Andrea’s other music at happyhead.com.au

Andie Lemon

Writer/theatre director, Andie Lemon is renowned for her visual, physical and musical theatre. Her credits include the yodelling musical Rodeo Noir (Adelaide Festival Centre); Artistic Director and creator of Ghosts and Odditorium for the Women’s Circus; co-writer and director of the Snakehouse trilogy with Sarah Cathcart; creator and curator of The Circus Diaries exhibition at The Arts Centre; an most recently the co-writer and director of The Meredith Crocksley Project (awarded the 2007 SA OscArts for Best Solo Production).

She is also the recipient of the Centenary Medal for Services to Society through Writing for theatre, winner of numerous Green Room Awards, and AWGIE Awards.

Find out more about Andrea Lemon’s work at andrealemon.com

Where does the Cha Cha Sam name come from?

Cha Cha Sam is a cheeky puppy who was claimed from the pound by a travelling band. She has a great talent for making children and their families happy. Now Cha Cha Sam plays wherever there are treats and pats.

What sort of music is this?

Cha Cha Sam music is folk/pop for children and their families. Made with love and laughter, Cha Cha Sam songs are dedicated to moving your body, your heart and your mind.

Cha Cha Sam songs encourage children to play and communicate creatively in the early years of growth and discovery. The songs are made in close collaboration with specialists in children’s health, education and disability, so that they are also inclusive of special needs.