REVIEWS from the Edinburgh Fringe 2004

The following are a selection of reviews of Slammin' which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe August 2004

"This phenomenally talented and extremely energetic young company put on a fascinating display of street dancing, physical gymnastics; in an eclectic mix of dance moves. In an innovative show which not only leaves the performers but also the audience exhausted.The company range from 14 - 16 years old and all assisted the young choreographer in putting the show together. Get to see it before word of mouth causes it to be a sell out!"

**** www.one4review.com Saturday 7 August 2004

"Slammin’ is an innovative, energetic and eclectic blend of hip-hop and contemporary dance created by means of a carefully choreographed combination of gymnastics, break dancing, street and contemporary dance styles. Performed by nine agile, athletic adolescents (between the ages of thirteen and seventeen) and choreographed by Tamsin Fitzgerald. She formed Hereford based 2FaCeD Youth Dance Company in January 2001 in an attempt to encourage boys into dance. This show really is a fantastic achievement which is clearly enjoyed by both performers and audience alike.

It encompasses everything from solo pieces danced to the latest break beats to ones with full cast ensemble numbers. There's the exquisitely executed Sights in the City, which successfully incorporates each dancer’s distinctive personal style, whilst remaining true to the characteristic hip-hop street culture of respect and team-work. The seamless Slammin’ is a testament to the skill, drive and dedication of 2 FaCeD Youth Dance Company.

Indeed, the cast’s vibrant vitality is only stemmed by the venue, whose limited stage space and gently tiered seating must restrains the dancers’ freedom of movement. It also restricts the audience’s appreciation of the intricate floor movements central to the hip-hop genre. However, such a lack of space only serves to further evidence the dancers’ control, timing and precision as the boys’ confidently perform complex gymnastic moves despite an un-sprung floor, a lack of run up space and their close proximity both to other dancers and the audience.

An energetic show which invites audience support, Slammin’ inspires spectators to share Denice Williams’ sentiment: ‘Let’s hear it for the boys….Come on let’s give the boys a hand.’
Fiona O’Hanlon 8th August 2004 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com

"Finding ways to entice teenage boys into dance isn't easy, but choreographer Tamsin Fitzgerald clearly has them hooked. Aged 15-17, the nine athletic young men she has recruited into her breakdance outfit, 2Faced Youth, appear to be having a ball. Featuring solos, duets, trios and dynamic group pieces, Slammin' is 60 minutes of testosterone- charged dance. Fitzgerald refuses to take the easy way out so rather than fill her show with straightforward breakdancing and body popping, her choreography shows real spirit and diversity.
Using music from Prince to Jimi Hendrix to rap, the performers adapt to the shift in rhythm, supplementing break dance moves with flashes of contemporary. They're not ready to join the big boys' league quite yet, but most of them are well on the way. And one or two already manage to create awe. Whether spinning on their heads, flying over chairs, or performing back-flips, the energy level never dips below maximum. In the female dominated world of youth dance, an all-male company is extremely rare. One this slick is even rarer. Enjoy basking in the warm glow of this young company's boundless enthusiasm."
*** Kelly Apter The Scotsman Saturday 7 August 2004

"A vibrant dance show featuring nine incredibly talented young males. With its original and funky mix of Breakdance, Street Dance, ballet and much more this show is a must see. We thought the show had a brilliant soundtrack featuring classics old and new. The show constantly changed and evolved never losing pace, vivacity or its original style. Never before have you seen anyone dance to Hendrix or James Brown like this."

**** Clarissa Lamd and Rachel Miele Festival Radio 4 August 2004

"2Faced Youth Dance Company get off to a less than ideal start in Slammin but soon find their feet. And their hands. Despite their sometimes unfinished movements and occasional self-conscious head-scratching, the nine strong male teenage cast maintain an exuberance and intense internal focus that ultimately draws the audience in. One particularly effective solo is devoted to a hand with a life of its own- pulling and sticking in unlikely places while its owner struggles to catch up. A masterful duet of lifts and flips set to Jimi Hendrix segues into James Brown's Sex Machine, with a popping and locking tableu of adolescent glory, replete with blazer jackets over bare chests. The ensuing pubescent striptease a la The Full Monty borders on the indecent, but is saved by a comedy twist at the end: a dancer buried beneath a pile of discarded clothing. These boys earned their noisy ovation."
**** Elizabeth Schwyzer Sunday Herald 8August

"If you have any interest in dance then Slammin' is the show for you. This hour long performance combines Break, Street and Contemporary dance from the nations hottest dance company. The cast is made up of 9 male youths as they capture the audience in their exhilarating performance. Whilst the show isn't the most entertaining for younger children, it appeals to youths right through to adults who will enjoy sitting back and listening to songs by both Prince and Jimi Hendrix. The highlight of the show was definitely the routine performed to James Brown's Sex Machine which soon had all the audience clapping along. It’s exhausting just watching, but for anyone with a dancing bone in their bodies its well worth checking out."
**** ForthOne973 Reviewer Fiona O’Hanlon.

"Slammin is a show of big beats and slick moves; the performers own the stage, and they know it. A seductive red hue highlights the lithe limbs of the first performer, but the audience are soon warmed into an energy burst of rippling bodies dancing, writhing, jumping and freezing to the rhythm of the music in break-dancing style. The story takes us through contemporary inner city life, but just by accepting the dance at face value you’ll come away with toe tapping impatience to shake your thang on the dance floor. 2Faced clearly love this act, and so will anyone who is fascinated by the shapes a bendy healthy body can snap into".
Rating: 4/5 Three Weeks