The Sugar Dandies dance their way to Exeter
Multi-award-winning dance couple and Britain's Got Talent finalists The Sugar Dandies serve up their special brew of performance at Exeter Northcott Theatre next month.
Jenny Hogg, media officer at Exeter Northcott Theatre, spoke to them about about their show:
We're excited to be hosting The Sugar Dandies Tea Party here in Exeter. What can Exeter audiences look forward to seeing in your performance?
We are very excited to bring 'The Sugar Dandies' Tea Party' to Exeter. It is a modern twist on a traditional old-fashioned tea party complete with parlour games, fabulous music, party dances that everyone can join, show-dances performed by the Sugar Dandies and of course tea and cake! It is an entertaining afternoon for everyone from eight to 80. Its good old-fashioned fun with a lot of sparkle and great costumes!
There was a time when tea dances were a regular afternoon feature and we know there are people out there who still miss them. There's also a new generation whose interest in dance is just beginning and we welcome them to come along and experience what it's all about.
Dance is now hugely popular in this country, with shows such as ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, ‘So You Think Can Dance’ and ‘Got To Dance’ – why do you think it has become so popular?
The great thing about Strictly, So You Think You Can and Got To Dance is that they have revitalised dance and shown that it is for everyone. Ballroom in particular is one of the great British dance forms and is part of our social fabric so everyone is reconnecting to that in a new way. People really understand what dance is now and what to look for, they know all the 'industry' jargon from the shows.
And there's a lot of interest in trying it out. That's why we created 'The Sugar Dandies' Tea Party', we are creating a modern version of a great tradition. The tea dance itself is a long standing form so we don't need to reinvent it, but in typical Sugar Dandies fashion we have added a few twists and turned it into a party. Dancing is a wonderful way to express yourself, to meet other people and to stay fit! And of course it is beautiful to watch and everyone just loves the glamour and glitz of it all. The original idea of a tea dance was simply an afternoon entertainment, over the years it evolved into more of a dancer’s only event. So we are bringing it back to the original concept of a good afternoon's entertainment -- an 'experience' that can be enjoyed by everyone, dancers and anyone interested in dance alike.
I'm sure everyone asks you about this, but you reached the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent - how did you find experience?
We had a great time on the programme and met many interesting people like Ashley and Pudsey, Twist and Pulse and of course Simon Cowell! It was amazing getting 'yeses' from all the judges at our audition and the support from the audience was truly moving. We have been dancing together for over 10 years; it started as a social hobby and became a passion. We train with the world's top professionals and have won many titles but we accomplished our lifelong ambition to quickstep off a giant wedding cake on Britain's Got Talent! Since then, we have had the pleasure of dancing all over the world. It was a wonderful experience to have together as a couple and gave us lots of ideas for other things we wanted to do with dance like 'The Sugar Dandies Tea Party'. The audience may recognise a dance or two from the television...
You have been dancing together for over ten years, what is it about ballroom dancing that is so special to you over other forms of dance?
Ballroom dancing is a wonderful thing to be able to do together as a couple, and it's also a great way to meet people. It comes with great music, sparkling style and social opportunities. Bradley always knew that he wanted to dance ballroom but Soren was a bit slower to warm to the idea. But we were soon both hooked! There is a whole world of wonderful people that opens up when you begin to dance ballroom... it is like a very special family that we belong to. But mostly it is fun and takes us to new places like Exeter!
Finally, do you need to be able to dance in order to enjoy 'The Sugar Dandies' Tea Party'?
You don't need to know how to dance; our tea party is for everyone. Although we are both accomplished dancers, our philosophy has always been that dance should be easy and fun. You also don't need a partner, but if you have one bring them along. One of our favourite party games is teaching everyone old fashioned 'party dances' like the Lambeth Walk and our goal is to have everyone up on the floor and doing it in 5 minutes, whether they have been dancing for years or it's their first time. So you can watch or join in, but as one of our dance idols says "why walk if you can dance?"
The Sugar Dandies Tea Party comes to the Exeter Northcott Theatre on Saturday 8 March at 2pm.
Tickets, which include tea and cake, are £18 (tables on stage) £14 (main auditorium).
Gallery
