Dance Australia – June-July 2017

[Bodyguard's associate director], is an
ex-dancer and when you hear his story it’s a
similar thing. When you finish dancing or
you choose to go in to anything else it keeps
you in such good stead, having that
disciplined background of working hard
because you don’t make it anywhere as a
dancer unless you work really hard.
“Wedancershavealanguage,too,”
he continued. “I can take corrections.
As dancers we are used to having things
thrown at us – and it’s never right. That’s
whatIstruggledwithalittlebitinTV.
We probably only rehearsed about 40 per
cent of the scenes and they were 10-minute
rehearsals. And, they were more for
blocking and for the cameras to work out
where they’re going to be shooting. I’ll
never forget the first day onHome and Away
...Imusthavebeenabout25anditwasa
big scene in the Diner and there were lots
ofextras.Ididthesceneandwehadno
rehearsal. Three takes and they called,

JUNE / JULY 20 17 | W W W.DANCEAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

29

TOP: Kip Gamblin

and Paulini

rehearsingThe

Bodyguard.

FAR LEFT: Kip

Gamblin suited up

for his role.

RIGHT: Back in the

day: Gamblin with

Sydney Dance

Company.

The lowdown on

‘The Bodyguard’

• The script is based on Lawrence
  Kasdan’s screenplay. The stage
  adaptation, by Oscar-winning
  writer Alexander Dinelaris,
  brings the story forward to
  present day.


• The Bodyguard includes 19
  songs made famous by Whitney
  Houston, many more than the
  movie, including the smash hit,
  “I Will Always Love You”.


• The choreography is by Karen
  Bruce (Saturday Night Fever,
  West End, Footloose, West End)
  and was restaged on the
  Australian cast by her
  choreographic assistant,
  Amy Thornton.

Did you know?

“I Will Always Love You” was

written by Dolly Parton.

PHOTO: KATE WILLLIAMS

PHOTO: JAMES HOUSTON.