You know when you do something for the first time and you’re concentrating hard and your senses are heightened?
Then you do it a second time, then a third. Suddenly, you can do it without even thinking.
One of Australia’s most innovative young performers, Joseph Simons, is bringing to Brisbane Powerhouse 'First Things First' – a one-man dance show inspired by the art of ‘getting used to it’. Expect laughs, stories and some seriously impressive dancing. These are some of Joseph's 'firsts' that have stuck with him:
My first day of kindergarten
We all had to bring home a little report from the teachers to our parents on how we handled our first day. Mine said ‘over-confident’.
My first dance class
Was when I was six and my sister and I were sent to a tap dance class. She was wearing newly-painted tap shoes and in the disgusting heat of the summer the paint started melting and leaving sticky globs of brown paint everywhere she walked. I pretended I didn’t know her.My first kiss
Was actually a stage kiss. I was 13 and playing Prince Eric in 'The Little Mermaid'. EVERYTHING had to be directed. Including how much we opened our mouths and which way to angle our heads. Awkward. Very awkward.The first time I performed 'First Things First'
Was an invited audience in Berlin. I was nervous my Aussie sense of humour wasn’t going to cut it for these intellectual Germans, but it turns out they loved it! I think Brisbane will too.My first on-stage injury
Was actually performing 'First Things First'! In the national tour last year I slammed my head into the back wall of the theatre. Blood everywhere. I had to excuse myself from the stage, and a few minutes later I returned with a bandage over my temple, and finished the performance. I think the audience guessed it wasn’t part of the show.
'First Things First' plays Brisbane Powerhouse 10-13 February as part of MELT Festival which runs 3-14 February. 
