We were excited to showcase the West End Kids’ amazing 2022 rendition of “Shaking the Blues Away” from the cherished musical Holiday Inn. This iconic performance almost makes you forget that choreographing a number for a group of performers holding a giant skipping rope is no easy feat. It requires not just a strong vision but also trust in the performers to execute that vision. The fresh energy of the West End Kids makes this performance a real standout.
Performance Overview
The vibrant celebration that is “Shaking the Blues Away” perfectly conveys joy and resilience, the essence of a performance by the West End Kids. A combination of the exquisite and the exhilarating, the act merges intricate choreography with a stunning giant skipping rope sequence. This is not just an artful skipping of rope; each of the performers on this stage must not only pull off a near-perfect act of timing and precision but also summon the physical stamina and courage required to make it through 90 seconds without a break. Audiences watching this can either hold their collective breath in anticipation or simply be overjoyed. Either way, it’s a stage-to-skip-for moment.
Rehearsal Challenges
The giant skipping rope’s inclusion in a performance necessitates unique teamwork and a lot of trust among performers. If performers cannot manage perfect timing and coordination, the visual spectacle of the piece is lost.
The West End Kids first presented “Shaking the Blues Away” in 2017, executing the number with such creative flair and pristine precision that it set a near-impossible-to-reach standard for what the 2022 Troupe could do. But instead of taking that mantle of excellence and resting on it, the WEKs—young artists at the very start of their careers—decided to push even further and evolve the work. They came back to it in 2022, and what they presented with that same number now had even more life, more freshness, and just flat-out had more fun packed into it.
Watch the video of this incredible performance and to admire the labour and talent that went into its making. For young hopefuls in the performing arts, this is an excellent window into preparing for real life musical theatre.
What We Take Away
The West End Kids’ giant skipping rope act sure looks impressive, but at its core, the routine is an inspiring study of teamwork and resilience. As one might imagine, the act’s construction involved a good bit of hard yard rehearsals, and in the end, what the West End Kids achieved certainly qualifies as a kind of baptism of fire. But this act, like any good act, is also about storytelling, and there the WEKs pick up the reins and whip us into a kind of haphazard, yet neatly contained, order that not even a giant skipping rope dare disrupt.
If you enjoyed it, why not think about joining us next year in the *Holiday Inn* where the first step in your own performing arts journey can be taken?
