When Grazia Daily was treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of The Mrs. Carter Showat the O2 Arena yesterday, we got a glimpse at what really happens on Planet Beyonce. Tina Knowles talked us through the tour outfits in the ginormous dressing room while seamstresses stitched sequins onto dresses and The Mamas, aka: a trio of bubbily backing singers, told us about performing alongside Queen B. We also grabbed a chat with the tour's troop of dancers who dished on what they've learned from working with the lady herself...
What was the audition process like?
'You're judged on a combination of your dancing, your presence, your professionalism. How you handle a gig will also determine whether you're asked to do the next one. Many of us were handpicked after performing at the Super Bowl so during that whole process, they watched everybody to see who would go on this tour. We were also being watched when we did the H&M commercial.'
Now you're on tour, what's an average day like?
'We get picked up at around 2pm then we have rehearsals at 4pm incase there's any changes. We have to be ready by 7:30 so we grab dinner and warm up together before going on stage.'
How long does it take to perfect the routines?
'Things are always rushed in the entertainment business so it was a quick process! We have just three for days of learning and then it's a process of building the show and picking out what looks good and what doesn’t.'
There's a physio room - are you in there every day?
'Pretty much! We try to. I always have a rib out of place so the physio is my best friend.'
Do you have hours of hair and makeup before a show?
'We do our own hair and make up because Beyonce likes everybody to look like the sexiest version of themselves. She knows what makes everybody comfortable.'
How do you perform in such high heels?
'We try to do the learning process wearing flats, but by the end of rehearsal we have on our heels. The movements change from a flat to a heel so you want to make sure you are well prepared. Most of our personal shoes are high heels so by the time we go to the show, it’s a piece of cake.'
How do you unwind after a show?
'A glass of wine usually does the trick! And we watch* Sister Act*.'
Have you had a night out in London yet?
'Yeah, we've had two so far. We love Mahiki and DSTRKT. We saw Luke James perform there, which was really cool.'
What have you learned from Beyonce?
'You learn so much just from watching her and looking at how beautiful she is. Her look is always so natural even if it’s for on-stage. She's always flawless so we try to emulate that.'
How does working with Beyonce compare to working on other tours?
'It depends on the artist, but it’s just such a different show with Beyonce. From the thought process to the art work and the lighting, it’s just a whole different scale. Beyonce is magical. She brings magic to the stage and we just want to make sure that we are an extension of her magic.'