Making a musical 11: The show!

Yes, it finally happened... the show at the Hackney Empire, where we performed our Saturday Night Fever routine in front of 1,500 people. Did it go well?
You know what? I think it did.
I mean, I screwed up a couple of times. My timing was off - but I managed to catch up. I'm sure other people messed up too... and I'm totally fine with that -because it was an interesting experience.

I didn't feel nervous or anything before going stage, mainly because I've been on stage a few times now (although not for dance), and so I was used to the feeling - but also because I didn't have anything riding on the performance, if you know what I mean. It was all quite quickly put together, but it wasn't for anything that I had a stake in - so in that sense I had nothing to worry about - and it still turned out pretty good - or so I've been told.

The build up to the show was probably the best part if I'm honest. We had a dressing room between 15 of us, and our own make up artists. I went crazy with the make up - eyeliner, eye shadow; I got my hair done too -the works! Really awesome.
And then, while we were waiting, I kept practising salsa and merengue for about 3 hours straight... needless to say I now need a hip replacement :P lol.
I think the pre-show fun is what I'll miss most. The whole group was just there together, talking crap, trying to calm each others' nerves, singing, dancing, generally just having a laugh.

So now Monday evenings will be reserved for 24 and Heroes :D
But I will be really sad to not be preparing for the show anymore.

There are only 4 Tuesdays left of dance class now :(
It's rather upsetting really.
But on the plus side, I'm thinking of doing another class - perhaps to concentrate on street - It's with a professional dancer dude, and it's not too expensive. But I think I'll take a break for a few months and start it in the term following the next one... we'll see.

I'm not looking forward to this dance class ending. Sad times on the horizon :(

Making a musical 10: Lemon Merengue pie anyone?

I have been getting so used to going dancing on Monday and Tuesday nights, that I'm really sad now because Monday night classes finished this week.
The final show is this Sunday, after which we will of course require no more rehearsals :(
We do get an extra rehearsal day on Saturday, but it's going to be very strange having Monday nights free again.

I don't even want to think about performing at the show, because it will just make me really nervous... oh wait... too late!
Dancing in front of 1,500 people, when you can't dance is not exactly something I want to be remembered for doing.
But then again - this is exactly why I wanted to do dance isn't it? To practise, to learn, to perform - all in preparation for the musical. I just think it's all a little too soon. I've been dancing a total of 7 weeks so far, and I'm going to be performing in a show. I thought I'd have at least six months of lessons before being ready to do anything like this.

Anyway, enough of that. So, Monday was the performance rehearsal, but Tuesday was another class of Latin dance magic!
Last week we did salsa, which was awesome. And we did some more advanced salsa last night (yes, I can spin and I'm learning to lead); but we also did another dance called Merengue (not the dessert! It's pronounced "Meranga").
It's a dance from Puerto Rico, and it's actually very simple, but also quite fast - yet surprisingly relaxing compared to Monday's rehearsal.

I'm getting ready now for some proper Latin dancing. I think it's time to go out and hit the dance floor with some crazy Latin moves (he says as trips over his own two left feet) haha!

It never ceases to amaze me, how much love I have developed for dance in such a short time. I just want to know more.
Oh yeah, and guess what next week is?...
TAP!
Public transport beware.