The Wild Bull and Dance Breakthroughs

The Wild Bull and Dance Breakthroughs

So
London
Really it has felt like the reason we came here
Or the most important reason
To take Tanja's work to a world capitol and hold it up
With all the respect and awe we have for it
And all the sweat and tears we have put in it
For the world to see.

Sometimes I wonder
How something like this actually gets accomplished
For the past two months I have been wondering how we were ever going to do justice to the work under such pressure
And certainly when the time comes the energy in the air is electric
On our opening night my heart started to race and I just knew that it wouldn't stop until the show was complete.

And how was it done ?
And how did we do ?

Ultimately I think all our perseverance and hard work paid off
I think the unquestionable ability of all the artistic team kicked in
I think the strength of the group as a whole lifted and supported us all (and continues to do so)
And I think we did it for the grace and spirit and pure golden creative energy goodness that was and continues to be our departed friend and one time young master, Tanja.
Someone asked Pauli what the show was like on Saturday and he said "A Wild Bull"
We all held on for our life
And gave it all the life we had
And it delivered us
And delivered for the audience one helluva ride

The next night we were ready
And out there
And incredibly calm
If the day before was all nervous energy
Sunday was a grounded focusness
So much so that in the preset of the show
The bit of loosely structured meandering we do as the audience comes in
The audience shut themselves up
eight hundred people collectively resolved to silence themselves a full two minutes before the show started in earnest
This has never happened before
And that focus and clarity that was apparent early on carried throughout the show
One of the most complete and aware performance experiences in my humble life
And lovely to be sharing it with friends and family and passers by
Too tremendous
And a bit of a dance breakthrough for more than one of us

So it was done
And the tour and world feels different now that we are on the other side of the mountain
What is left is to continue to be dedicated to the work
And to enjoy the ride and the time we have with each other in this crazy life

But what a mountain
And on the Sunday night
It felt like we got to the top
And the struggle ceased
And the view was

Clear and bright
And astonishing



Honourable mention as always
To Tash and Blair who jumped in a cab for three hours immediately after the show and started at the next venue.
Someone get those guys a fancy dress and a function at the southbank centre quick smart
Cause they deserve it with a vengeance
For the perseverance, artistry and humour with which they approach each and every task.

Big Love
xxHopen