Continuing my Faversham Fringe coverage for 2024, this week I had the opportunity to speak to Ryan James Abbott: the founder and choreographer of Kent-based dance company ‘Haus of Heels’. Known for their energetic and sassy choreography that has graced various local Pride stages, fundraisers and more, the dance company are returning to the festival for their third year running and bringing with them 60 minutes of “commercial, vogue and lyrical dance routines to pop bangers – all in heels!”. It was so brilliant to hear more from Ryan about the origin of Haus of Heels, their choreography styles and also how the company celebrates being your authentic self. You only need to have a flick through their showreel on YouTube to know how passionate the group are about dance.
What can you tell me about your performance background and how you got into dancing?
I’ve always loved performing. Ever since I can remember, I was choreographing dances in my back garden to Britney Spears. The neighbours must have hated me because I would put an extension lead through the kitchen window and plug in my stereo just so I could have the music outside. Since then I have studied and trained professionally. I would say without Britney Spears… I’m not sure I would be performing today. As cheesy as that sounds!
Who are your greatest dance inspirations and why?
BOB FOSSE! BOB FOSSE! BOB FOSSE! BOB FOSSE!
I have always been obsessed with the way he creates inverted/jagged lines and shapes with the body. He loved to work with people who weren’t trained dancers, just because people who were, wouldn’t move and create lines in the same way. He is a genius and has inspired so many of the lines I create to this day. I’m not sure if he would be proud of the types of choreography he inspired me to create though. Haha!
What inspired you to create your own company ‘Haus of Heels’?
This year was the 5th anniversary of my open heels classes that I teach in Canterbury. I can’t quite believe I am saying this and it’s been that long, but… the people that would attend those classes inspired me. I asked them if they’d be up for joining a dance group I was putting together. I guess I got bored of performing alone and had dreams of what we could create together. I’m lucky enough they said yes because they’re all FIRE.
It’s also a way I can express a side of me that was forced to hide while I was growing up. Call it a middle finger to all who told me I was too feminine and that I wouldn’t work in this industry if I wasn’t masculine. And here we are… 3/4 years later.
The group performs commercial, vogue and lyrical dance routines to pop music. How do you go about selecting musical numbers for performances?
I wish I could tell you there was some cool way we select our show numbers… but it really is just music that I love. Music that inspires me to move and gets my foot tapping. Any song that makes me feel FIERCE and like I’m taking on the world has a spot in the Haus show set list.
The company performs at pride events, fundraisers, variety shows and more. What have been your favourite performances to date and why?
That really is a hard one. We have been so lucky with the opportunities presented to us… I love each of them, for different reasons.
Canterbury Pride is up there, it’s one of the biggest audiences we get every year (thank you Canterbury Pride). Over two thousand people turn up to that event and our name is on that poster with some of the biggest names in the industry. That to me is just… mind blowing.
Dover Pride was THE FIRST event that booked us as a group and allowed us to perform on their stage and we get invited back every year! It will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m so grateful to that team specifically.
The charity events like the Kent Foster Care Association, who booked us not just once but continue to, to this day… growing our audience to families and young people who might not have seen anything like this before… absolutely incredible.
I won’t list them all but I honestly couldn’t pick a singular favourite, mostly because I want to be booked by them all again. Haha!
2024 will see Haus of Heels perform a new full-length show at the Faversham Fringe. With three years of festival performances under your belt, to what extent will you be bringing something new to the stage this year?
First of all, three years is mind blowing to me! Honestly, when I applied the first year, I didn’t know what I was doing. We had never put on a full length show before and had no idea what the space we’d be performing in was like; we kind of just went in head first to come out the other end with one of the most sold shows that year. Again, mind blowing…
Last year (our second show) had a few technical issues, which I won’t get into but… we made it through and dealt with it (the audience would have never known). So we are going to make sure that doesn’t happen again for sure!
But in terms of new things… We do try to level it up each year. We’ll be performing 11 brand new pieces! More dance styles than we have previously and have made this show more personal. We are allowing the audience to get to know us a bit more. That’s as much as I can say without giving spoilers, but it’s going to be a ride, I can tell you that.
‘The Haus of Heels’ plays at the Arden Theatre on Saturday 26th October. What are you most looking forward to performing at “Kent’s friendliest fringe festival” again?
7pm! Get your tickets!
I just love being on stage. It’s where I feel most at home, alive, myself. These shows are a love letter to my passion for performing, my dance training and self expression. There are not many (safe) spaces for me to express myself in this way… and the team behind Faversham Fringe have created an incredible event that allows performers to create whatever they like. A pair of heels are an extension to our performance. I implore anybody who hasn’t yet tried on a pair, to do it… because when I have them on… I feel invincible. Everyone deserves to have that feeling at least once in their life. I’m lucky enough to be performing with these incredible people 8 months out of the year… and the rush still happens to this day.
I’m looking forward to sharing the stage with my incredible company of local dancers and for the audience to see them all shine. They’re all incredible and leave me in awe every time I see them perform. Each and every one of them.
If you could sum up the full-length show in one word, what would it be and why?
FIERCE!
If you’ve seen us perform before then you’ll understand why I chose that word. Which sounds a bit big headed now I say that out loud, but the energy we bring is NEXT LEVEL! The outfits. The sass. The thumping music and lighting. It’s everything… and if last year’s audience reactions are anything to go by… then you’re in for a treat.
Watching ‘The Haus of Heels’ at Faversham Fringe
It is evident how much Ryan adores the company and I wish them all the best for their third Faversham Fringe performance. You can purchase tickets to Haus of Heels’ one night only performance on Saturday 26th October at 7pm via the festival website. I encourage you to go and support this exciting local dance company.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
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