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This week, Kevin talks to Olivier Award-nominated performer, choreographer (and Kevin’s flatmate!) Tommy Franzen, who over the last few years has carved something of a legend for himself in the world of dance.
In this fascinating conversation, Kevin talks to Tommy about the people who have inspired him the most, the origins of the dance styles that have formed his own style, his views on competitive dance, his journey into property investment, and the qualities that make him one of the country’s greatest performers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Tommy’s dance career started at a very young age, when he was inspired by his sister, and visiting celebrity dancers in Sweden, to begin dance lessons. After some initial setbacks, and confidence issues, Tommy never looked back.“Locking" was born from social dances of the sixties, and involves locking your body tight, and is named after its inventor, dancer Don “Campbellock” Campbell. Its proponents since then have included Richard Pryor and Dick Van Dyke.“Popping” evolved when music changed in the 70s and 80s, when locking no longer fit with the contemporary music styles. It emerged as a major dance style on the West Coast.Hip hop style dancing is less regimented, and ever-evolving. People seem to be drawn to the dancing itself, instead of the formalised competitions that surround styles such as ballroom and latin. This means that it can naturally evolve without breaking the so-called “rules” set down by dance organisations.There seems to be a small pool of judges and coaches in the dance-competition world. Often this can be used to a dancer’s advantage, as they can find themselves performing for people they have been trained by, and can plan accordingly.Tommy is not attracted to the concept of using dance to compete against someone else. It affects him emotionally, and affects his performance, and so he avoids it. Many are drawn to performing by the lure of celebrity, by the fact that they can spend their lives earning money from doing something they love. For Tommy, the attraction of dance is the sense of joy he experiences while performing. Companies like Zoo Nation, Boy Blue and Avant Garde, have pushed dance companies from obscurity, into the mainstream. As a result, dancers can now find real employment opportunities.Hip-hop dance theatre is rising in popularity. Spearheaded by a creative generation, stories are being told by hip hop dancing, with as much narrative involvement and dramatic tension as standard theatrical productions.There were concerns when Tommy was offered a role on the BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance, as he was worried in case he was portrayed in a way that he was not comfortable with. He ended up reaching the final, and partnering several times with eventual winner, Charlie Bruce.Choreography is a tiring process, for both Kevin and Tommy. It involves a lot of thinking, mental space, and consideration. Listening to the music over and over again helps the dance to take shape in the mind.The uncertainty of regular employment as a dancer is what made Tommy investigate the world of property investment, seeing an opportunity to give himself a Plan B. It was Tommy who introduced Kevin to this way of investing, which he subsequently did.BEST MOMENTS
‘I felt so exposed’
‘With ballroom and latin, the “endgame” is usually competition dancing’
‘What I love about your style of dancing is that it’s not geared towards that’
’It was my birthday party, and I was the only one not dancing’
’The shows you do are like a story. They’re like a musical’
‘Dance-ical? Is that a word?’
‘I’m so glad that we’ve been given songs and concepts that have really excited us’
‘If you judge what you do too much, that’s when you end up in the trap’
‘A blank sheet of paper is really scary'
VALUABLE LINKS
www.sadlerswells.com
Tommy Franzen Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tommythefranzen/?hl=en
Tommy Franzen’s Website - http://www.tommyfranzen.com/Tommy_Franzen_Official/Tommy_Franzen.html
Tommy Franzen Twitter - https://twitter.com/tommyfranzen?lang=en
Rob Moore - https://robmoore.com
Rich Dad Poor Dad (Amazon) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680194/
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
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Kevin is no stranger to setbacks. In fact, in the past week, he and his Strictly Come Dancing partner, Anneka Rice, left the competition. But as Kevin explains, there’s a way of looking at every setback in life, and it involves using one of two mindsets: fixed or growth.
There’s a place for each of these, but which is the right one to choose and at which time?
In this special, candid episode, Kevin discusses his feelings about being eliminated, as well as other challenging times in his life, and the outlook he takes on these moments.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
There are two types of reaction when it comes to dealing with a setback. Some like to blame, so as to pass off the guilt. Others choose instead to learn and grow from the experience.Fixed mindset people do not like to be challenged on their view of the world. They feel as though life is predetermined. When they fail, they tend to give up. They take criticism as a personal attack.Fixed mindset people tend not to ask for help, even if they desperately need it, because they do not wish to show weakness or vulnerability.Those with a growth mindset see failure as an opportunity to grow. Whenever they fail, whenever they differ a setback, they always ask where the opportunity for growth lies.Kevin credits his mentor, Rob Moore, with helping him to achieve a healthy, growth mindset, a tool that Kevin has always used to become better in his career and life.Those with a growth mindset believe that they can achieve anything. They know that every decision in life is a learning experience. They also seek opportunities that may be outside their normal comfort zone. They see life as an ever-evolving journey.Kevin has never seen himself as the best dancer in the world. Some may choose to look upon other, more talented contemporaries as competition. But Kevin has always insisted that working and being around those with more talent has helped him to become better; have made him push himself harder, and have inspired him to greater success.Mistakes are not negatives. They’re positives from which you can draw huge and valuable lessons. Take responsibility for them. Assess. Learn. Grow.BEST MOMENTS
‘I was real proud of her and what we achieved’
‘What if you learned from it? What if you got better because of it?’
’Failure is an opportunity to grow’
‘Mistakes and setbacks help you to grow’
‘I have an opportunity here to learn from the best’
’The fastest way to get to what you want is to learn from your mistakes'
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
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In this episode of The Kevin Clifton Show, Kevin chats with Lucas Rush, the actor who played Lonny in the UK tour of the musical Rock of Ages. Discover today some of Lucas’ theatre stories (especially his Rock of Ages experience), the nature of performing arts, the training that happens before any performance, and many more.
Not everyone would notice, but being a theatre actor demands a lot of dedication—you need the consistent effort to rehearse and improve, you need the bulletproof mindset to not get influenced by negative feedbacks, and anything, really, that would help you give a top-notch performance every single time.
There will be uncomfortable situations. But there will also be no pauses. No halts. No excuses. The show must go on, as they say.
Listen to Lucas’ experience and learn more about the performing arts.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the beginning for Lucas. It was the first cassette he bought;It was the first musical he ever watched. This musical opened him to the beauty of theatre and the performing arts. No one can ever downplay what live performers and theatre actors do. They provide entertainment, escape, and happiness to the viewers, aside from the fact that they portray ideas, concepts, stories, and experiences in this world that the viewer might relate to. Just like any professionals, they have some good days and some bad days. But it’s more difficult for theatre actors to deliver when they’re being influenced by some sudden negative pull. The audience can see through the performers, and as much as possible, it’s a 100% performance they want to give every time. Lucas also admits that, on some days, he thrives on the energy the audience gives off. He can be put off when he sees that they are disinterested and unsatisfied, but he’s known long enough not to let others’ perception crash his fearlessness and boldness on stage.BEST MOMENTS
“The more you remind yourself that ‘you can’t hear a smile’, the better.” “Don’t stop yourself from thinking certain things or feeling certain ways. They’re going to happen and you’re just going to learn how to deal with them.” “Accept what you have in that moment.” “I love feeling things… I want to feel strong emotions.”VALUABLE RESOURCES
Happiness Podcast - www.happinesspodcast.org Rock of Ages Musical - www.rockofagesmusical.co.ukABOUT THE GUEST
Lucas RushLucas stepped onstage at The Hackney Empire at the age of 7, receiving his very first acting lessons from Brian Blessed.
He was introduced to Shakespeare at the age of 9 and by the time he was 13 was playing Robin in The RSC’s production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" alongside Leslie Phillips. His West End debut soon followed, as he performed as "Gavroche" in Les Misérables at The Palace Theatre.
At the age of 14, he landed the role of Rowan Neville in ITV Drama Walking on The Moon, a hard-hitting gritty drama about bullying directed by Bafta Award winning Director Peter Kosminsky.
Since those early days Lucas has enjoyed a very successful career, experiencing all corners of the Entertainment industry.
In his 25 years as a professional actor Lucas has found that the thing, he loves more than anything is simply to immerse himself in any character he is playing, regardless of the genre.
(Source: https://www.lucasrush.com/about)
Lucas Rush Official Website - https://www.lucasrush.com Lucas Rush Twitter - https://twitter.com/lucasrushABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube
