"Imagine if you’re in a football pitch, or you’re in a different world or a different bubble. And you ain’t got no one and you don’t know anyone, and you wanna shout and you don’t care how people feel how you are feeling, you don’t care about what they think, just let it all out." - Red Group Dancer

Home Turf rehearsal photos by Gigi Giannella

Green Group - Rehearsal Photo

Interview with Red Group dancer Andy

What motivated you to take part as a dancer in Home Turf?

I would never describe my self as a dancer,  not with my  knees,  but it's cool being part of something, a reason to get nervous and anxious and wonder why you are doing it ? And when it's all over you want to go and do it all over again. I was very  lucky in being part of some big events over the last few years, but none bigger than the opening ceremony of the  2012 Olympics . I was asked  just before that event “am I scared?”  my response was “ No, I’m scared of it being over”. 

I think its easy to get addicted to performing  and when I read about  “Home turf”  the  scary thought of performing on Sadler's  Wells  stage  around the subject of football , it sounded like the perfect  combination.

What has been your favourite part of the Home Turf experience thus far?

Actually being in Sadler’s Wells a place steeped in so much history, being in rehearsal rooms  that have had so many famous  people using the same room is a real buzz. But also working with  choreographers  who are  talented  and incredibly patient, especially with me.

What is your relationship with dance and football?

What is my relationship with dance and football... I guess dance to me is the music of my  teenage years  that  still resonate with me as I practice my air guitar, but  seeing  a performance  by dancers  I have to admit to being spoilt by seeing the most amazing show in Havana, Cuba by Danza Contemporanea de Cuba which was mesmerising. I even had  return the following night  to watch them all over again.

Football to me is something that has been in my blood since a child from my father taking me to Arsenal and  also going with my brother and cousins to see Charlton and  following the  score of my team on teletext or suffering (yes suffering) while watching them on TV, like dance its full of highs and lows.

How have your past experiences with dance and football shaped your time at Sadler’s Wells for Home Turf?

Learning to take and follow instruction, especially in ceremonies has helped me follow what the choreographers want...most of the time!  but also understanding  football  a little  better than the choreographers, has maybe helped them...I hope.

What are 3 words that would describe your feelings around the Home Turf rehearsals or project as a whole?

Exciting. Anxious. Sore-knees!

Red Group in rehearsal