I was so excited to see Flawless perform live at the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing after being such a massive fan when they were competing in Britain’s Got Talent a few years ago. I had never been to a street dance show before and I’m more used to going to see the ballets and musicals, so it was a new experience for me.
When we arrived, there were queues of people standing outside the Pavilion Theatre. We crammed into the foyer and were handed a pair of white gloves; this left the grown-ups a bit puzzled but definitely curious as everyone tried them on. Small groups of younger children were dancing around with them, twirling their hands in the air. Eventually, we were able to find our seats and wait for the start of the show. There was a great atmosphere in the theatre. Even before the show started, there were loads of younger children standing on their heads and dancing up and down the aisles! I had no idea Worthing had such a flair for street dance!
The lights dimmed and immediately the crowd cheered; it was as if there was an explosion on stage as Flawless appeared. They opened the show with such a bang of energy that I think really lifted everyone’s spirits and expectations for the rest of the performance. I still do not know how the dancers can possibly stand on their heads and spin, then flip, then bounce off each other and do it all so quickly! It was almost as if you didn’t know where to look; there were so many amazing things happening on the stage.
From the beginning it was clear that there was a story behind their dancing and it reflected their ambition to ‘chase the dream’. I loved how they used a moving video back wall, so we could follow their story. However, the voice-over that was used to introduce each dancer as they said a bit about themselves was distorted and it was hard to work out what they were saying. Though I doubt this is the dancers’ fault, it was a pity the technology let them down as their messages were important to the theme of the show itself. However, despite the problems with video sound, the music, lighting and smoke effects were brilliant throughout.
I loved how they used loads of songs that were old and new and then mixed them together. Me and my friend were singing and dancing along and when I looked round I couldn’t see a single person without a smile on their face! Their slick performance, trickery with hats, costume changes and constant energy didn’t fail to entertain and there wasn’t a single point where I thought that the show was beginning to get a bit boring.
In the second half, the mystery of the white gloves was revealed. I thought it was such a clever and fun way to involve the audience, but I won’t reveal too much as I don’t want to ruin it for other people! All I will say is… be prepared for aching arms!
Overall I think everyone had a brilliant time and there wasn’t a single person that wasn’t smiling at the end. I am amazed at how they can pop and lock their bodies without hurting themselves! They completely deserved the standing ovation at the end and this is a show that I would really recommend.
