'STILL BREATHING' SPRING TOUR 2010

DANCERS BLOGS

Rehearsals and Week 1: David Allwood

Hey, I'm officially classed as the 'New Boy' in 2Faced Dance Company, replacing Tim Schneider for the Spring Tour of 'Still Breathing.' My task was simple, although very challenging. I had four days of rehearsals to learn the whole piece ready to go on tour on the fifth day... No pressure! On my first day, the thing I noticed most was how nice the atmosphere was, we always worked hard but had a good time in the process. This continued as the dancers and Tamsin taught me the rep. Everyone was so helpful and made learning the piece far less stressful than I had previously anticipated. As the days rolled on, my body ached like never before and my brain began to become overloaded but by the end of day three, I had learned everything and we had our first run-through. Woah! That was a shock to the system but also extremely enjoyable. Next up, we grabbed our oversized bags and climbed aboard the retro-turqoise tour bus, bound for Kendal. Our hotel was really nice, set on the bank of the river and we had a really relaxing evening to prepare us for the first performance at the Brewery Arts Centre. The next morning, as soon as we arrived at the theatre, there was a buzz in the air and everyone was noticably excited about the first show. The nerves kicked in big time for me and I was well aware that some of my family had come to support me on my first night. Fortunately the show went really well and the adrenaline rush at the end was incredible. I loved the feeling of standing on stage, taking a bow, knowing I had given everything I had into the performance....Then It suddenly dawned on me that I have to do exactly the same thing every night this week. No rest for the wicked!

Rehearsals and Week 1: Johnny Autin

2Faced dancers got back together after 2 months since the end of Still Breathing autumn tour 09. We had 4 days to re-rehearse the 55 minutes show and teach it to the "new boy", David Allwood replacing Tim Schneider. David was really impressive in the studio, he picked up the routines, learnt the repertoire quickly and accurately and after 2 days and a half we have been able to do a full run of the show with him.
We travelled on wed the 3rd to Kendal, for our very first performance of Still Breathing 2010 tour. that week we performed three times, the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal, Forum 28 in Barrow in Furness and the Queens Hall in Hexham. We all enjoyed the travel between those places and found some stunning views.
The show is still very successful with amazing audience responses....
.... much more to continue

Week 2: Jake Nwogu

Week 2 of the 2faced ‘Still Breathing’ spring tour started with two schools performances in Telford, which was great for most of the guys because after doing the full 60 minute show three times the week previously the 20 minute version should have been a walk in the park. But not so much for me as I rarely leave the stage in the first half of the piece so I’m almost as knackered as when we perform the whole piece! 2Faced topped and tailed the first performance with 2Faced Youth starting the show and the main company finishing it. I t was good to see the Youth company’s work as I had been at their rehearsals when they first started to create the piece so well done to them. The second performance the next day was just the main company.

The next morning we were up bright and early to make our way to Wellingborough, where things were feeling great as I had decided during the week that I wasn’t so old and that I could have another ten years on this level if I looked after myself. Well If Michael Schumacher can return to formula 1 at 41 why cant I dance till then. Then in warm up class before the show... disaster happened. We were doing a great Bboy class taught by Robby when my knee decided it had had enough and decided to lock and I don’t mean that it wanted to a different dance style either. I mean no performance tonight and a lot of pain. Somehow the guys managed to change the show with not long till curtain up. While they were on stage I was in A&E with Leo undergoing examination number one. While in the waiting room Leo received a phone call from Dan saying that there was no sound on the stage monitors and that the theatres technicians couldn’t be found. All we could do was pass the message on to Matt who was in the box back at the theatre by text and hope that he got it. But I’ don’t think there was anything that could have been done as the amp had broken.

The outcome of the first examination was to go and see a phsiyo.The next morning I had the difficulty of trying to decide if I should go back to London to get a phsiyo appointment or head to Folkestone with the company and ring one there on the way down. I literally had asked Nathan to take the next exit on the junction to get me to the nearest station to London when I got through to a great Phisyo in Folkestone. So I stayed with the company and went to a town that was completely covered in snow. Nice if you don’t have a bad knee to look after. Oh and the tour bus got stuck a couple of time as well when we were trying to leave a place where I had been parked. The guys rocked the show, its funny even I couldn’t really tell that I was missing. With my knee strapped up it was my job to sell mechendice and record the show.After staying in the worst hotel I have ever stayed in where the cleaners think that it is ok to leave a chair in the room that looked as if someone had soiled themselves in, my first memory of the day was standing out in the corridor at 8.30 am asking Dan what time we were leaving as I had forgotten to ask the night before. The answer was 10 minuets I can’t write what my next thought was. I ended up having to ring Tamsin very early to ask if I could head back to London to get an appointment with my doctors on Monday as the phisyo had said that I may need to see a knee specialist. I am determined to make it back on stage by Manchester even if it is a cut down version of the show for me. I WILL BE BACK.

Week 3 - Dan Lowenstein and Nathan French

This week has been Intense. Ups downs round and round its all happened.
It all started what feels like a year ago... On monday the 15th... In a small town with a population of 4000 called keswick. Situated in the lake district, the sights were something else. The theatre was appropriately named 'theatre by the lake' with 360 degree views of snow topped mountains. this was by far the most beautiful theatre on the tour. We sold out completely and later worked out that 10% of the population of keswick were at the theatre that cold monday night... The show was followed by a post show talk which turned out to be more of an 8 man stand up, leaving the audience inspired and laughing... The only down side to this performance was that we were missing our afro haired fusion dancer jake due to a smashed up knee. But re worked all went well.We then drove the long journey to manchester, contact theatre. Where we were joined by tamsin who was there to give support and a little bit of love to get our fried brains ready for what was to come. The drive from manchester to liverpool harbor flew by arriving at 9:30 we drove onto the ferry destined for belfast and got ready for the 8hours of water that lay ahead of us. we arrived in belfast at 6:30pm and drove to our hotel. Having mad tom tom problems we eventually arrived at the chimney corner hotel. Most of us had a day off and the rest had to teach a workshop, mine consisted of a group of hyped up northern irish drama students who turned out all to be talented dancers... Picking up the routines quickly...

We then got the phone call....David Allwood had got an ear infection and was unable to travel... And with jake only in about a quarter of the show and Robbie also poorly we were left with 5 and a half 'fit' dancers.... Aaaaaaaaaaargh was our 1st reaction. Canceling the show was never a consideration but we had a lot of work ahead of us...The whole of friday was spent rehearsing,Reworking, creating and making up a new show... The show that evening was the most challenging show we had done. The theatre at the mill had just opened and we were the 1st professional company to perform there. So we were very aware that the show had to be tight! We gave it our all. After a lot of Sweat, blood and bruises we bowed to a standing ovation to a packed out auditorium. Luckily Robbie returned for the 2nd show and we performed another version to a very supportive crowd. Now in the hotel room... We are all looking forward to getting back to Hereford for a day off.

To find out where we will be next CLICK HERE