Martin and Facundo Lombard: The Rest is Still Unwritten
We all have dreams. Sometimes, however, we shut them out in search of something we perceive to be more realistic. Sometimes we doubt ourselves and pursue a more careful destiny. And sometimes, in the monotony of the workweek, we simply forget how to dream, passing it off as a mere childhood pastime not suitable for adults. But for identical twins Martin and Facundo Lombard, the ability to dream was never forgotten or left behind. The Lombard Twins, as they are known throughout the world, dance, choreograph, model, write, and compose, but first and foremost, they dream.
Martin and Facundo were born to dance. They discovered their talent at only seven years when they began "moving" around their bedroom in Buenos Aires, Argentina, copying the steps of the great entertainers of their day, including Michael Jackson, their long-time inspiration. Only six years later, at the age of 13, they received their first professional gig on an Argentinean television variety show called "Rhythm of the Night." Even before they completed their 32-episode engagement, they knew that dancing and performing was their true calling. Surprisingly, the twins had never even set foot in a dance studio.
Unable to see themselves as "prodigies," the Lombard Twins are refreshingly humble. They exude the kind of raw, artistic honesty that so many of today's biggest performers lack. Martin and Facundo explained that they left "Rhythm of the Night" at the age of 16 not because they became too talented as I insinuated in our conversation, but because their hunger to create music and movement compelled them to keep looking for and seeking out more opportunities. Facundo smiled genuinely and said, "We wanted to do many things like make music. We wanted to act. And also find a way to... express ourselves as dancers."
In 1998, after gaining recognition from the legendary James Brown, the twins moved to New York City where there were discovered for their unique style, which is often characterized as a high energy, tap/hip-hop fusion. Ironically, Martin and Facundo never considered themselves to possess a particular or definitive style at all. "When we started dancing," Facundo told me, "we didn't think about any style. We just started to copy any guy on the street, or any guy anywhere. I saw somebody who made a movement I liked, I would just take it."
In New York City, then at the age of 21, Martin and Facundo began attending late 1990s "jam sessions" with the guys from "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk" as well as some of the great tap dancers like the late Buster Brown and Jimmy Slyde. It was at these "jam sessions" every Sunday night that the Lombard twins really broke in their tap shoes.
According to Martin, he and Facundo knew nothing about tap before moving to the United States. He said, "I would take steps from TV, but I didn't understand about a shuffle, cramp roll, anything. I just took steps from movement and sound." But when Buster Brown invited the twins to jam with him on stage a few years later, they wasted no time watching and listening. They laced up their tap shoes and just "started doing it" alongside their new mentor. The only way to really learn the art of tap dance, Martin believes, is by improving and jamming with the old masters.
In 2001, at the age of 23, the twins moved back home to Argentina to focus and channel their artistic pursuits into filmmaking, acting, and music. Their efforts came to fruition in a full-length stage show in which they were not only the dancers and actors, but also the choreographers, composers, and directors. Martin and Facundo called it "Dreamers," an autobiographical production that chronicles their initial struggles and ultimate successes as artists chasing after their dreams. "Dreamers," which took only three months to create, was picked up in 2004 and the twins toured throughout the globe.
When the Lombard Twins opened "Dreamers" in Barcelona, Steve McNicholas, the founder of Stomp Dance Troupe, came to see their show. According to Martin, McNicholas had shown previous interest in the twins, but without the proper working papers, they were unable to perform with Stomp in the United States. So when McNicholas informed the twins that Stomp would be performing in Argentina, their home country, their excitement began to build. McNicholas took them on board for Stomp's Argentinean run, which Martin described as "a dream come true."
The "Dreamers" tour was an artistic journey for the twins, helping them develop not only as dancers, but also as musical composers. Self-taught musicians, Martin and Facundo composed the entire "Dreamers" soundtrack completely "by ear." Although the twins were satisfied with the production's soundtrack, they were far from done with their music career.
Shortly after "Dreamers" began touring, Martin and Facundo, inspired by Argentinean tango composer Astor Piazzolla, decided to place their efforts into learning more about music. While they knew exactly what kind of music they wanted to compose, they lacked the technical skills they needed to do it. "I knew how I wanted it to sound," Martin expressed. The twins wanted to create what they call "HipHopKestra," a musical style in which popular, hip-hop music is infused with orchestrated arrangements replete with horns, trumpets, and violins. With a clear-cut goal in their minds, Martin and Facundo enrolled in music lessons. They exclaimed in perfect unison, "The first thing we ever studied with a teacher!"
With their newfound knowledge of music, the Lombard twins are now ready for their next all-encompassing work of art - a movie. By making a movie, the Lombard twins believe they will be able to add a completely new dimension to their work. "We want to make the music, we want to be the actors, we want to be the directors, the writers, and also edit the movie, like how Charlie Chaplin used to do. We want to do the same thing," explained Facundo. "It's the only way we can express ourselves 100%," he continued. Martin quickly added, "I'm talking 100%."
During my conversation with the twins, I realized that self-exploration and self-expression are integral parts of their lives. Driven by their search for artistic authenticity, Martin and Facundo believe that for art to have a voice, it must come directly from the artist's heart. "I want to be real. I don't care if it's good or bad. I just want to be me," explained Martin.
Despite their current success, their journey has not always been easy. Martin admitted that at one point he and Facundo, broke and with nowhere to go, found themselves sleeping on the floor of their friend's apartment. But no matter how many obstacles stood before them, no matter how penniless or hungry they were, the twins never considered giving up. "It was a risk," admitted Facundo. "But we believe that life is made by dreams and the search for oneself."
With an international Versace ad and a Whitney Houston video already under their belts, the Lombard twins are perfectly situated to dive headfirst into their careers as performers. And for right now, they have plenty to keep them busy. In addition to working on their movie, they perform and tour regularly with Anti-Gravity, a New York based company that merges "athleticism and ascetics into its own art form." While they are unsure what their futures will ultimately hold, they are certain about one thing - they will never stop dreaming. For Martin and Facundo Lombard, every day is a new artistic adventure in which their passions lead and their feet follow.