Could it be tragic

Quoted from: http://www.thesun.co.uk/


Old but gold ... Take That
Picture: REX

'BODY POPPING has taken on a completely different meaning for TAKE THAT these days.

JASON ORANGE - who was always the band's most impressive dancer - collapsed in agony with a suspected torn hamstring while rehearsing a routine on Thursday afternoon.

He has been told to lay off all energetic dance moves for eight weeks - which could spell disaster for the fourpiece's comeback arena tour which kicks off later this month.

In fact, I reckon the injury will cause the same panic for a generation of female TT fans that blokes suffered when DAVID BECKHAM broke his foot in the lead-up to the World Cup in 2002.

And it is a disturbing sign that the boys' ageing bodies can no longer cope with the strain of their strenuous old dance routines.

After all, it has been 14 years since they first found their way into the Top Ten with pop classics like Could It Be Magic - the boys are now all in their mid-30s.

However Jason's bandmates - MARK OWEN, GARY BARLOW and HOWARD DONALD - are not letting the accident put them off and are still trying to regain their old form.

A source revealed: 'All the lads have really been giving it their all in rehearsals.
They are really keen to get back into peak condition for the shows.'

The band have been poring over videos of their old shows to try to remember the dazzling, and sometimes dangerous, choreography that was their trademark before splitting in 1996.

Jason's injury occurred as he tried out an old move: The source said: 'Jason was getting into one of the routines and over-stretched his leg. He felt a sickening popping sensation in his hamstring and went down like a ton of bricks. He was carted off for physiotherapy straight away.'

It was Jason's abilities as a professional dancer on the club circuit that first caught the eye of manager NIGEL MARTIN-SMITH and won him a place in the group.

He and Howard became the featured dancers in the band, performing the live shows' break-dancing and body-popping routines.

Living up to the standards set at that time had been bothering the lads even before Jason hit the deck.

Gary said: 'When I look back at our live shows we really gave value for money. The dance routines were so energetic and entertaining but now we've got to try to recreate that. I never danced that much anyway, but I'm still nervous.'

Jason added: 'At family parties, if one of our songs came on, everyone shouted for me to dance but I'd forgotten the steps. I've had to relearn everything.'

Rehearsals have been made even more tricky because of the constant interruptions by legions of fans.

They have now been moved to different locations so the boys can be left alone to concentrate.

Here's hoping they have plenty of Deep Heat on hand ... and leg.'