My Peterborough festival experience 2010

 Months before the festival I was asked to take part in the Salsa show......... months? I hear you all ask. You’re right it wasn’t months it was weeks and with only just under 3 weeks of rehearsals I was beginning to consider whether I should have actually said no, 3 weeks (!) I need 3 months at least to get my head round a new routine....... or so I thought.......... and this is where the fun begins!!!

 20 dancers selected for a routine that so far only JC knows what it is going to look like as he has it picture perfect in his mind, and 20 dancers whom although they dance in class every week don’t really know each other but all that was soon to change.

Rehearsals were set and venues proved to be a challenge, they were a combination of POSH club, community centres, Coco’s, tennis courts and the most exquisite venue of them all..... Rosy’s house!  Although it felt a little odd at first dancing in the street at Rosy’s house it has to be said this was my favourite venue. It didn’t matter that the first day we rehearsed there it felt like it was January it was so cold, or that the second time we were there only 4 of us arrived, it was also fine that the last rehearsal there felt like we were melting in the heat, none of it mattered because Rosy looked after us so well. There were drinks steadily flowing and the food was fabulous! It’s a pity classes can’t be there every week it would certainly be a step up from the burger and fries I usually end up eating in Tesco’s car park every week before class!!! An added bonus was that the taxi driver next door videoed it on his phone. We asked for royalties for this to which he said he would always give us free journeys (once he’s checked the video) if we are ever needing a lift in town, shame I can’t for the life of me remember what he looks like or what he drives!

 The rehearsals were a mix of events from happy to sad people, confident to frustrated people and hot and cold people!!!! However one thing’s for sure there was lots of laughter. One day they would go like a dream another it seemed like we had joined the army and had spent the whole 3 hours marching on the spot, sounds easy doesn’t it? Well apparently not! Who’d have thought counting to 15, sorry 14! Would have been so difficult, I will admit I was still cheating on the day and relying on the guys to be mouthing the count as they came towards us when we were on stage, so thank you guys you helped me out no end!

 I must say the first few rehearsals were ok then JC muttered the word ‘lift’ and there was me thinking he meant elevator, oh no he meant my feet leaving the ground whilst sat trying not to look terrified on the arms of whichever 2 men (depending on whether the circle bit worked beforehand!) happened to be my seat for 30 seconds. This did cause some sleepless nights for me although not for long as rehearsals were wearing me out!

 The last rehearsal in the tennis courts at the park on the Sunday was probably the worst but only because of the heat, but also the best because the atmosphere was brilliant and Clair’s fab photo’s show this as there are smiles everywhere.

 Then the performance was looming, the temperature was still rising and the nervous laughter began to be heard. Some people were giving others prep talks, others were singing, I was standing still under a tree hoping there might be the smallest of breeze. Then the music started and the stage became our home for the next forty five minutes, although it went so quickly it felt like only ten minutes. Line ups, freestyle Salsa all went well then the performance arrived. Already feeling hot and dizzy I was at this point nervous as I didn’t want to faint half way through or it or forget my steps. Happily none of the above happened and I even remembered to clap in the right place, first time all week! The lift worked well, wasn’t without a wobble (as the video shows) and I was glad when I was back on solid ground but how cool were we? Who would have thought that in 3 weeks we could do something on stage so well!!! An enormous sense of pride went through all of us I think, if not all it certainly did through me. Patient Clair who had seen several rehearsals where the lift hadn’t gone according to plan also sounded proud as I could hear her cheering from the designated press spot, alongside Stuart the cameraman, half way down the field. What a moment! I think Omar shared this pride judging by his cheering at the end too!!

 The Reggaeton, and Merengue disappeared in a flash (personal thank you to Gary who helped me forget the fact I can’t do either of these very well by making me laugh throughout the routine.) and then the final bow and it was all done! Very hot but very very very happy people left the stage to be personally thanked and congratulated by JC. The chatter increased and then decreased when the next act started their drumming, well maybe it didn’t decrease but the drumming was too loud to tell! I left the stage area keen to see family and friends who had come to watch and my first comment to them was “never again I feel like I’m going to die I’m so hot” then we chatted about how hot it was, how our press gang had sunburn but finally how fab the whole performance was and how great the lift looked. 

 Others joined us and the same conversations took place again but with the same positive ending about how good it had been. Leaflets were handed out amongst the crowd. Being the tree hugger I am I wanted to make sure they were not being thrown away and happily I can report most people who took a leaflet kept it so we must have made an impression. Maybe classes will become even bigger.

 My conclusion for the whole experience........ with sore feet and knees, an obsession for playing the same cd in the car over and over again, and the need to sleep more than ever before...........would I do it again? Abso bloomin lutley!

 Lizzie - Peterborough Cuban Salsa class, Wednesdays.