Picture the scene, writes KATHERINE MacALISTER. StreetDance champions Flawless and the English National ballerinas are all warming up together, ready to perform for The Queen at Buckingham Palace. They get talking, compare notes, show each other a few moves, suggest joining forces and before you know it have launched an entire new show and five-week tour off the back of it. Preparing to take Oxford by storm, rehearsals for Against Time are concluding when we speak and there’s a real frisson of excitement backstage. Because both parties know they need to get it right, prove their critics wrong, and show that they have a place in today’s world of dance. No-one more than Jenna Lee, ENB soloist for the past four years, and world street dance champion Marlon ‘Swoosh’ Wallen of Flawless, who have created Against Time together.

Jenna Lee is adamant that the ENB needs to keep things “fresh and innovative” which is why she jumped at the chance to collaborate with Flawless. But even though she errs on the contemporary side, nothing prepared her for the amount of work involved in getting the show on the road.

“The one thing we can’t do is compromise on our standards. And that was my main concern,” Jenna admits. “And while it’s been a lengthy process, I think we’ve done that and are still as strong as ever.

“So there is a lot of pressure with a project like this because you know you’re going to get the purists who think ENB should be purely classical ballet, and Against Time isn’t going to keep everyone happy, but then you can never please all the people all the time,” she shrugs.

“And besides, it’s massively important to do things like this. With budgets being cut, ENB needs to attract a new audience. So crossing the audience, and crossing the classes, will also show that there is a middle ground and something to inspire everyone. So I’m really looking forward to the reactions,” she smiles.

To prepare for the show, the 10 Flawless dancers and 10 ENB ballerinas took classes in each others genres, the boys struggling with the ‘pas de deux’ classes while the girls mastered ‘breaking’ which Jenna says was fascinating. “The girls have picked up the new moves very well. But even though they are terribly fit, they have still been sore at the back of their legs,” the 28-year-old laughs.

“Because ballet is all about being light and weightless, while street dance is based on the heel and much heavier, which went against everything they’ve learnt and the ENB dancers have struggled with that.”

As for Flawless, Jenna would only say: “Well they are freelance so weren’t used to how a ballet school runs, while we were used to a much stricter way of life. But even though we come from completely different worlds, we have the utmost respect for each other and have really connected,” she smiles again.

“And more importantly, the experience has been amazing, especially for the girls, and it just works. Flawless are such talented dancers, so we are really excited.”

So will they pull it off? “Against Time is pioneering but there has been so much interest already, that as long as we deliver and it lives up to expectations, there is definitely a future in this,” Jenna says, fingers crossed.

Marlon ‘Swoosh’ Wallen never imagined that when he started Flawless back in 2005, that seven years on he would be preparing to storm the Hammersmith Apollo on opening night with his vision of a duet between the English National Ballet and his own dance troupe. But that’s the reality and one he’s cherishing.

Not that it hasn’t taken a huge amount of hard work, international recognition and world titles to get here, but Against Time is the culmination of everything Marlon’s been working towards – making street dance accessible to everyone.

“It’s a unique collaboration and it’s great for everyone involved in both worlds,” he agrees. “So yes, it’s a great responsibility and all eyes are on us, because people don’t know what to expect and are quite intrigued.

“But they know we are coming together, that it sounds interesting and that they want to see it and people are going to be in for a treat,” he grins.

So what sparked Against Time in the first place? “I had a vision of where to take Flawless and to make sure it carried on growing, because it’s all about taking it to the next level and striving for perfection. That’s part of the journey,” he explains. “So it’s always been my vision to bring something like this to life. And while it’s been harder than expected, on a positive note I hope we’ve succeeded.”

As for the realities, Marlon says: “Ballet is certainly more complex than it looks because it’s so graceful and the ENB ballerinas make it look easy. It’s only when you get involved with the techniques that you realise what it takes.

“But obviously you get challenging days and you have to come back the next day and re-evaluate and try to do it differently. But the ENB boys have been giving us some tips on partnering.”

And then he laughs and adds: “Although I wouldn’t be surprised if the ENB boys are jealous. After all, we have come in, taken their girls and gone off on tour with them.”

All that’s left now then is the performance itself. But surely nothing fazes someone as cool as Marlon ‘the Swoosh’ Wallen? He grins: “This is going to be scary and exciting but we need to turn those nerves into energy and then we’ll be alright. Because the two groups really complement each other, so this is all about encouraging people to push themselves. And Flawless had a great response last time we came to Oxford so we are really excited about coming back.”

* Against Time with the ENB and Flawless arrives at Oxford’s New Theatre on Thursday, June 14 and Friday, June 15. Call the box office on 0844 871 3020