Simon 'Blue' Robinson

So I'd help him into these really tight outfits and help him put his shoes on as well.

Walk to the curtain with him, walk to the stage with him.

I'd have a bag of all sorts of stuff.

mostly tea and mug and towels and wraps and things and beanies.

And he would stand there just before he had to go on, whip off all the accessory stuff, dance and come back, and he'd want tea as soon as he got off the stage.

When I first met him, I think he was 51.

He was still dancing the slower pieces, but the very majestic pieces.

Après-midi du Faune was a beautiful piece he did.

He could dance that really well.

But he was also introducing younger dancers as part of his group.

So he'd be on stage with them and promoting them.

I don't think I was ever frightened of him.

I don't think I was ever intimidated by him, which is a really interesting thing to say.

I was confused because I didn't know dance.

I didn't know the breaks.

I didn't know anything about anything.

And everybody around me did.

You know, these beautiful, elegant, powerful ballerinas were staring at me like I was something from Mars, which I guess I was because I had no clue what I was doing.

So bumbling along just to try and make things happen.

And always getting things wrong.