The Royal Ballet School has appointed Natasha Kaplinsky OBE as its new Chair, effective from 1 October 2024
Previous Chairman Christopher Rodrigues CBE stepped down earlier this year.
Natasha Kaplinsky (photographed by Nicky Johnston)
The broadcaster and journalist Natasha Kaplinsky OBE will take up the post of Chair of The Royal Ballet School on 1 October 2024.
She will replace Anna Birkett, who has held the position of Interim Chairman since January of this year. Previously the position was held by Christopher Rodrigues CBE.
The appointment reflects Natasha’s profound passion and drive to support young people and her deeply held belief in the importance of movement, dance and providing access to the arts for all.
She brings to the School extensive experience in roles in philanthropic and commercial businesses, spanning over 20 years. Between 2013 – 2016, she served on the Board of English National Ballet, crossing paths with the School’s incoming CEO, Patrick Harrison. She is President of the children’s charity Barnardo’s, a Global Ambassador for Save the Children and is President of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and Chair of its Board of Directors.
Natasha said of her appointment:
‘I am overjoyed to join The Royal Ballet School at such a pivotal moment in its history as we prepare to celebrate its Centenary in 2026. It is an honour to lead the Board of this globally celebrated institution, which counts so many leading lights of classical ballet as its 100-year legacy.
The Royal Ballet School is an exciting and ground-breaking place. It works with extraordinary young people, from those in its full-time training to those thousands participating in its many outreach programmes. It is a privilege to see first-hand the holistic approach the School takes to nurturing its students to thrive and its commitment to finding ways to widen access to classical ballet for all, both in the UK and worldwide. Around 90% of the School’s full-time students receive some form of financial support to attend, and the ongoing generosity of the School’s supporters also funds many of their outreach programmes.
I look forward to bringing my experience to this special organisation, working with the highly dedicated and skilled Board and staff to build the School’s sustainability for the next century.’
The School’s Interim Chairman, Anna Birkett, said:
‘I’m delighted to hand the baton to an eminently qualified Chair. The School is extremely fortunate to have Natasha to champion its mission. With her wealth of experience, she will build strong partnerships to raise awareness of the School’s work and help further harness its power as a revered British cultural institution and a world leader in classical ballet training. She brings a profound understanding of the School’s ethos and will be instrumental in preparing the foundation for the School to launch its second century. I look forward to supporting Natasha in her role.’
Patrick Harrison, who will join the School as CEO in October 2024, said:
‘I am thrilled by Natasha’s appointment. Her high-level expertise and devotion to young people and classical ballet will greatly benefit the School and its students.
With her vast experience, Natasha is perfectly equipped to lead the School’s Board through its next phase. I look forward to working closely with her to deliver an evolved strategy and a positive and sustainable future for the organisation, ensuring it thrives through its centenary year and beyond.’
Natasha Kaplinsky is a well-loved television broadcaster and highly recognised figure in British public life. She has presented national news bulletins for ITV, BBC, Sky, and Channel 5 and hosted a range of prestige events, including Children in Need and The Royal Variety Show. Natasha was also the first-ever winner of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Natasha is a patron for several charities, including The Bevern Trust, a charity that cares for young adults with learning difficulties, and Echo Eternal, an arts education programme that brings together children from different social, cultural and religious contexts to commemorate Holocaust and genocide survivors. She was appointed Holocaust Commissioner in 2014 and is a leading member of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation Board. In December 2020, Natasha founded the UK Women’s Network, allowing women and girls to leverage their talents and resources. Natasha was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2017 Birthday Honours List for services to Holocaust Commemoration.
Natasha is the third high-level appointment in a year in which The Royal Ballet School has seen the departures of its Artistic Director & CEO, and Chairman. New Artistic Director Iain Mackay joined the School in September, and new CEO Patrick Harrison will the School in October.
When Dallas Black Dance Theatre was founded in 1976, there were no smartphones. There was no Internet. There was no Instagram.
Now, dancers build personal brands and grow followers for their art on social media. It’s also a way to connect with fellow dancers.
Every season, Dallas Black Dance Theatre has two groups of dancers: the main company and DBDT:Encore!, which is a professional training group. DBDT employed 10 main company dancers before the start of the 2024-2025 season in August.
In July, rehearsal director and main company dancer Sean J. Smith was fired by the company. A month later, management fired the entire main company of nine dancers over an Instagram reel. The video is a behind-the-scenes style skit that introduces the dancers. A company spokesperson said the video violates a number of policies. Dancers say it’s a harmless video and the firings are retaliation for their union efforts. They voted to unionize in May.
The chasm reflects a longstanding cultural divide that’s been brewing in the company for years. Both the company and dancers say they are trying to uphold the dance company’s rich heritage and legacy, but what that means for either appears to be different.
As the company publicly presented itself as united, the fired dancers say internally they faced chaotic management and a lack of communication. They describe a restrictive environment where policies from an outdated handbook were strictly enforced. In addition, they say management upheld rigid expectations of how dancers were to present themselves in order to appeal to white donors and community members.
In response to an interview request, DBDT Executive Director Zenetta S. Drew sent a statement saying the company recently learned of dancers’ concerns from social media.
“DBDT has been – and remains – surprised to hear that the dancers had concerns with the working environment at DBDT,” Drew said in the statement. “The dancers did not raise concerns with DBDT’s leadership before organizing and did not specify any concerns in their letter asking DBDT to voluntarily recognize the union.”
Dancers say they worked in an environment where everything was controlled, from the thermostat in the studio to the way dancers dressed and wore their hair. Terrell Rogers, one of the fired dancers, said he feels the dance company has tried to “look more aligned with the white supremacist culture of America.”
“I feel like for Dallas Black, there’s this idea that somehow we have to rid ourselves of anything that would even remotely remind white people specifically of a bad example of what Black people look like,” he said.
Arts Access spoke to five of the dancers who were fired from the dance company earlier this year to understand their view of the work environment. We also sent interview requests to company management multiple times, which were declined.
Juan Figueroa
/
The Dallas Morning News
The fired dancers say the company has lost sight of its founding principle to be a safe space for Black dancers.
A complicated legacy
Dallas Black Dance Theatre founder Ann Williams launched the company in 1976 nearly a decade after the Civil Rights Movement ended. It marked a time when dance was an exclusionary space for Black performers given the ongoing scrutiny of and discrimination against Black communities. Almost a decade later in 1987, Drew started her 37-year tenure and championed the organization under the motto “relentless excellence.” Under Drew’s leadership, the dance company grew to tour internationally and earn $4.4 million in revenue in 2023.
Dancers say the methods that helped the company grow in the last few decades are outdated. They believe the company has lost sight of its founding principle to be a welcoming space for Black dancers.
“I think there's a clear distinction between what people consider to be old-school dance and new school dance, and just a different type of thinking,” said Gillian Clifford, one of the fired dancers. She says there is a different type of trauma that informs how older generations act today.
“I feel like our executive director is somebody who feels a lot of pride about what she has created Dallas Black Dance Theatre to be. That has manifested into ‘If you're going to jeopardize any part of this big or small, you’re out,’ ” Clifford said.
In an op-ed published in The Dallas Morning News on Aug. 22, Drew wrote, “Our dancers are not just performers; they are stewards of a rich tradition of Black art and culture, carrying forward the visionary legacy of our founder, Ann Williams.”
Rogers, one of the fired dancers, acknowledges there was a time when Black people felt the need to lift their communities by challenging certain stereotypes and perceptions. However, he said times have changed.
“Today, we are no longer in a place where Black people or any people are ashamed of who they are to a point where they're trying to align to someone else's standards just to be accepted,” he said. “We're not there anymore, especially our generation.”
It reminds dancer Elijah Lancaster, who was also fired, of the time he received an infraction notice for wearing a bandana on his head to a company meeting. Company policy states dancers are not allowed to wear “head rags” to class. However, it doesn’t list other spaces but Lancaster received an infraction notice.
“It was so contradictory to know the name [is] Dallas Black Dance Theatre and then go into the building and you can't even be that, when it was made for young adults who are Black and brown,” Lancaster said.
A follow-up request for comment was made to the dance company regarding comments from the fired dancers. The company declined to comment and instead referred to Drew's op-ed and previous statements.
Juan Figueroa
/
The Dallas Morning News
The fired dancers say the dance company upheld restrictive handbook policies but was inconsistent in its enforcement of policies designed to protect dancers.
Sean J. Smith was a rehearsal director and dancer at the company for 14 seasons who was fired earlier this year. He said the company’s handbook reflects policies that are outdated and controlling.
“There's even policy regarding using the company landline. My point is, it's emblematic of the fact that things have not changed for several decades.”
The handbook says that every season, new and returning dancers must go through a 30-day probationary period during which they can be fired without notice. That means Smith, who was with the company for 14 years before being fired, cumulatively went through over a year on probation throughout his tenure.
“I'm sure it's another way to intimidate people,” he said. “You better make sure that you're on your stuff because [they’re] going to be like, we can let you go like this. I think it's all about control.”
Smith added that the company’s enforcement of policies meant to protect dancers was inconsistent. For example, he pointed to a handbook policy stating, “Dancers shall not be required to perform where the stage floor is concrete or wood, resting directly on concrete, or where the temperature is less than 75 degrees.”
However, Smith said that policy has not been enforced in the past 14 seasons he’s worked at the dance company.
“If it’s cold, we have to dance. If it’s a hard stage, we have to dance,” he said. “We have never been vouched for in that sense.”
The handbook also includes a per diem or daily allowance rate of $30 for touring outside of Dallas, $35 for overnight stays in-state and $40 for overnight stays out-of-state. The Dancers Alliance, a nonprofit that advocates for equitable rates in the dance industry, suggests a $90 domestic per diem.
Nile Ruff, one of the fired dancers, said what’s happened at Dallas Black has been “disheartening.” She grew up knowing about the company and its important history.
“It was started by a Black woman, and started by a Black woman in the American South during a time when Black people were not respected and it created a space for Black dancers,” she said. “I want to be a part of making sure that space is in place for generations, and that it maintains being a safe space for Black dancers and for all dancers.”
“It's just kind of weird knowing that these are Black people treating other Black people this way.”
Why dancers unionized
Dancers say they unionized to fight for better wages, working conditions and health and safety protections.
They say dancing for Dallas Black Dance Theatre does not pay enough to live in an expensive city like Dallas. Most dancers have other jobs like teaching or working in restaurants. Three of the dancers we spoke to for the story said they earned $25,300, $30,800 and $33,000 before taxes for contracts covering 11 months of the year. Drew, executive director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre, makes about $157,680 a year, according to 2023 tax documents.
The recent news has shocked many in the dance world given the organization’s reputation. It’s one of the few dance companies in the nation that offers dancers a salary plus medical and dental coverage. Dallas Black Dance Theatre received a “best of leadership” award for the Dance Data Project’s Gender Equity Index that was published in 2023.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre is the second Dallas company to unionize with the American Guild of Musical Artists in recent years, joining Texas Ballet Theater, according to Griff Braun, national organizing director with AGMA. Only three other contemporary dance companies in the U.S. have unionized with the organization: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Martha Graham Dance Company and Ballet Hispánico, all based in New York.
Juan Figueroa
/
The Dallas Morning News
Dancers say they are fighting for better wages, health and safety protections and a voice in their workplace.
LaRue Allen has been executive director at Martha Graham Dance Company for 20 years.
“The recent events are disturbing to everybody in the dance field and we hope that there will be a way to resolve this issue and get dancers back on stage, get the company whole again,” she said.
Allen said there’s been a cultural shift in the dance community.
“I’m not sure it’s been absorbed by the entire field. I think there may still be some companies who think of the dancers as sort of youthful,” she said.
“Dancers were expected to work very hard, to work when they were required to work, to not expect a living wage and all of these things have changed as our understanding of these people as evolving artists has evolved.”
American Guild of Musical Artists is in bargaining for first contracts with Ballet Austin and Texas Ballet Theater. American Guild of Musical Artists also has contracts with the Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera and the Dallas Opera, whose contract includes protections for dancers.
American Guild of Musical Artists filed unfair labor practice charges against the dance company in June and August, which Arts Access gathered through a public records request. In a document, American Guild of Musical Artists lists several policies it says are attempts to interfere with union efforts.
One policy says dancers can be fired for “negative comments external to the organization about staff, dancers, Board or company” or “producing or publishing false, vicious, or malicious statements concerning any employee, supervisor, or Dallas Black Dance Theatre or its operation.” Another says, “All personal problems and grievances are to be discussed privately with an appropriate staff member.”
Grant Hayden, a Southern Methodist University law professor who teaches labor law and corporate governance, said those policies – outside of the firings – are illegal.
“Those kinds of prohibitions on the ability of workers to talk to each other or talk to the public about working conditions are unfair labor practices on their own,” he said.
He said the National Labor Relations Act protects employees’ ability to organize and join a union. Therefore, Hayden said, “it’s a necessary precondition that the employees have to be able to talk to each other about things like wages and salaries.”
After the union filed unfair labor practice charges, Dallas Black Dance Theatre fired its main company dancers.
James Fuller, a spokesperson for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, said one reason dancers were fired was because of an Instagram video introducing themselves to the sitcom theme Family Matters. In the video, dancers take turns doing short skits as their names appear.
“There was some little bit of lewd behavior in the view of our community, a little bit too far for what we represent here,” he said.
Fuller said viewers who watch the video can see dance moves and interactions among dancers that the company “felt crossed the line of appropriate professional conduct for our professional dancers.”
Dancers say that explanation seems like a double standard.
Bianca Melidor danced in "Swipe Left" as fictional character Serena Davis who navigates dating as a Black woman in her 30s in North Texas.
“It's a little contradictory to have these policies and rules in place for those said donors when those also said donors and sponsors are helping us put on shows like Swipe Left,” Lancaster, one of the fired dancers, said.
Swipe Left is an original piece the company performed last year that tells the story of a woman in her 30s trying to find love. The show includes sexual innuendos, twerking, body rolling and butt slapping as the main character performs in a black bra and underwear for much of the performance. Video of the performance is being offered on demand on the dance company’s website.
Allen said she saw the dancers' Instagram video. She had a personal reaction to it, but doubts about how it was handled.
“It’s not my aesthetic to be sure and I would not be happy to see that coming out from the Martha Graham Dance Company,” she said. “Whether or not it rose to such an egregious offense that such an extreme action needed to be taken, I’m not sure that’s the case.”
Dallas City Council member Gay Donnell Willis said the city’s Office of Inspector General Division is investigating the facts and timeline of the firing of dancers at the dance company; she expects a report in a few weeks.
She said the city has an interest in the events at the dance company because Dallas Black Dance Theatre is headquartered at a city-owned and -managed facility and only pays $10 a year for base rent.
Additionally, Willis said the dance company was allocated $3.1 million as a cultural facility through the 2024 bond program, and Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture has annual contracts with Dallas Black, which totaled over $240,000 in the last year.
“There have been some concerning allegations, so it’s important to have an objective examination of the situation. This will help the City make informed decisions where the DBDT and city funds and/or property intersect,” reads a statement from Willis’ office.
The National Labor Relations Board will conduct its own investigation based on the unfair labor practice charges filed and decide whether to issue a complaint. In September, the dance company filed an unfair labor practice charge against the union.
The fight continues
Shafkat Anowar
/
The Dallas Morning News
Union members, elected officials and allies from the community take part in a rally towards Dallas Black Dance Theatre with Dallas Black Dance Theatre dancers in August in Dallas.
In August, nearly 200 people protested auditions to replace the fired dancers. Protesters included local and state elected officials, community members and members of unions like the Dallas AFL-CIO, Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA.
Community support included the Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III, senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church and one of Dallas’ most prominent Black leaders. A statement by Haynes was read at the rally.
Haynes said he “stands in solidarity with the fired dancers of Dallas Black Dance.”
“I am profoundly disturbed by recent events that reflect a horrible injustice. The fine arts have always been an inspiration in the struggle for Black freedom and for the liberation and justice for all. It is upsetting to think that an institution that has benefited and participated in the struggle for freedom is now using tools of oppression.”
Shafkat Anowar
/
The Dallas Morning News
Union members, elected officials and allies from the community rally outside of Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
The company is moving forward with its next season. Tickets are now on sale. The first show, “DanceAfrica,” will take place at the Moody Performance Hall on Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. AGMA has announced it will picket at the dance company’s upcoming performances.
The fired dancers are continuing to lobby for their jobs; however, their feelings about returning are complicated.
“There would need to be a significant change, in either the people that are there or the mindsets of the people that are there, that would make me feel comfortable to come back and continue to make a change. So it just depends,” Clifford said.
Like management, the fired dancers are concerned about the legacy of the dance company. Rogers said that legacy is living and breathing, and must evolve with the times.
“I believe that anybody that chooses to pigeonhole or hold on to something in the name of preserving a legacy is actually killing the legacy,” Rogers said. “It’s actually hindering the legacy from growing, from touching more people and reaching more corners of the world. I think that’s actually what’s happening there.”
Lancaster said the company has to prepare for future generations of dancers who won’t hesitate to speak up.
“Imagine when the generation gets younger, they're going to have to figure it out because they're going to be more vocal,” he said.
Without skipping a beat, Rogers cuts in.
“Frankly, it’s already here.”
Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.
This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, The University of Texas at Dallas, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA retain full editorial control of Arts Access’ journalism.
The Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Kieron McCarronThe Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers 2024,,BBC Public Service,Kieron McCarronThe Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Kieron McCarronThe Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers 2024, BBC Public Service,Kieron McCarronThe Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Kieron McCarronThe Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Kieron McCarronThe Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Kieron McCarronThe Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Kieron McCarronThe Strictly Come Dancing Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Kieron McCarron
The Strictly Come Dancing Songs & Dances for week 1 are :
✨Chris & Dianne Cha Cha to Twist and Shout by The Beatles ✨ Jamie & Michelle Viennese Waltz to Beautiful Things by Benson Boone ✨ JB & Amy Waltz to When I Need You by Leo Sayer ✨ Montell & Johannes Foxtrot to Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby by Dinah Washington ✨ Nick & Luba Jive to We Built This City by Starship ✨ Paul & Karen American Smooth to Vindaloo by Fat Les ✨ Pete & Jowita Paso Doble to Breathe by The Prodigy ✨ Punam & Gorka Cha Cha to Love At First Sight by Kylie Minogue ✨ Sam & Nikita Foxtrot to Where Did Our Love Go by The Supremes ✨ Sarah & Vito Quickstep to 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton ✨ Shayne & Nancy Samba to Do I Do by Stevie Wonder ✨ Tasha & Aljaz Cha Cha to Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter ✨ Tom & Nadiya Tango to Golden by Harry Styles ✨ Toyah & Neil Tango to Ray Of Light by Madonna ✨ Wynne & Katya Samba to Help Yourself by Tom Jones
Michelle Tsiakkas & Jamie Borthwick,Live Show,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyWynne Evans & Katya Jones,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyTom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova ,BBC Public Service,Guy LevySarah Hadland & Vito Coppola,Live Show,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyMontell Douglas & Johannes Radebe,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyGorka Marquez & Dr Punam Krishan,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyAmy Dowden & JB Gill,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyToyah Willcox and Neil Jones,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyChris McCausland & Dianne Buswell,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyWynne Evans and Katya Jones,BBC Public Service,Guy LevySarah Hadland and Vito Coppola,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyPete Wicks and Jowita Przystal,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyTasha Ghouri,BBC Public Service,Guy Levy
Who has all the mobility of a wheelie bin ? Who can’t walk in a straight line ? And a Samba-off.
It’s Saturday night, it’s live, it’s getting darker earlier, and it’s time for Strictly Come Dancing. Oh, and is it possible to have a lucky escape from a birthday cake? Welcome to Strictly Come Dancing 2024.
JB Gill and Amy Dowden ,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyTasha Ghouri and Alja korjanec ,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyNancy Xu & Shayne Ward ,Live Show,BBC Public Service,Guy LevySam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin ,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyNick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk ,BBC Public Service,Guy Levy
For all the Strictly Come Dancing news, click on the image below
Tango is a historic and beloved Argentine art form, but for decades many here felt pushed to the sidelines, not identifying with the strictly gendered dance roles and music that leans heavily on negative stereotypes of women.
Tango originated in the poor and immigrant-dominated port neighborhoods of Buenos Aires and nearby Montevideo, Uruguay. Both the music and the dance were born in the bars and brothels frequented by laborers in the 1880s, and were not widely accepted as a national art form until tango crossed the Atlantic in the early 1900s. Today it’s frequently associated with glitzy formal wear and songs about love and betrayal.
Why We Wrote This
A story focused on
Tango may conjure up images of tight suits and stiletto heels, but an alternative approach to Argentina’s national cultural icon could change that.
For those turned off by the sometimes exaggerated gender roles in tango, it felt like a loss.
Enter “queer tango” – increasingly accepted as the most all-are-welcome way of describing the fluid and open atmosphere of alternative tango events growing across Buenos Aires. There, women can lead men, and same-sex couples are welcome on the dance floor.
“I loved tango and wanted to be able to participate in something that is such a rich part of our national expression,” says Mariana Docampo, one of the pioneers of Buenos Aires’ queer tango scene.
At the glitzy Buenos Aires tango world championship, couples glide across the stage in the classic moves of Argentina’s national dance. Men with smoldering eyes and tight, dark suits lead their female partners – in their obligatory stiletto heels – turning and grasping them close. A woman’s bare leg occasionally rises provocatively up the man’s thigh, as musicians sing of romance and betrayal.
Elsewhere in Buenos Aires, in working-class-turned-hipster neighborhoods of the capital, local cultural centers host tango evenings and master classes called milongas with a strikingly different vibe.
The recorded music and the dance steps are recognizably tango, but the couples, some in jeans and sneakers, hint that this is something distinct. In some, women dance with women, or men dance with men, and in the mixed-sex couples, the women often lead the men.
Why We Wrote This
A story focused on
Tango may conjure up images of tight suits and stiletto heels, but an alternative approach to Argentina’s national cultural icon could change that.
“Now change roles!” shouts a tango instructor at one milonga in the Boedo neighborhood, prompting men and women who were leading their partners to shift physically and mentally. “If you were leading, it’s now your turn to follow!”
The come-as-whoever-you-are tango events sprung up a couple of decades ago, initially as “feminist tango.” In the lead were Argentine women who loved the music and dance they grew up with, but rejected the national art form’s macho, and sometimes violently misogynistic, lyrics and steps.
Dancers participate in a tango master class at the Centro Cultural Macedonia on Aug. 18, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It's common for instructors to call out "change roles" at these inclusive milongas.
Soon, “gay tango” joined in. Today, fliers and social media posts use labels including “dissident tango” and “inclusive tango,” while a growing number of the nontraditional lessons and events use “queer tango” – increasingly accepted as the most all-are-welcome way of describing the fluid and open atmosphere of the events.
Whatever they call it, those promoting an alternative approach to tango say its overarching purpose is to make a beloved national cultural icon accessible to everyone – even those who don’t see themselves or their values reflected in much of the traditional tango world.
“I loved tango and wanted to be able to participate in something that is such a rich part of our national expression,” says Mariana Docampo, one of the pioneers of Buenos Aires’ queer tango scene who first ventured onto the tango dance floor with her female partner in the 1990s.
“Compelled to do something”
During a break from DJing a recent milonga in the Almagro neighborhood’s Centro Cultural Macedonia, Ms. Docampo recalls a time when bystanders would throw things or push people off the dance floor to deter an individual from dancing with a same-sex partner. She says she “rejected some of [tango’s] undeniable elements like misogyny,” citing popular songs that dwell on the male need for a beautiful and subservient female partner. Such lyrics left her yearning “to create the spaces where tango could be for everyone.”
Mariana Docampo selects the music for a milonga at the Centro Cultural Macedonia on Aug.18, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ms. Ocampo co-wrote the first queer tango called "La Marshall" and has been working for decades to make the Argentine tradition more inclusive.
Tango originated in the poor and immigrant-dominated port neighborhoods of Buenos Aires and nearby Montevideo, Uruguay. Both the music and the dance were born in the bars and brothels frequented by stevedores and other laborers in the 1880s, and were not widely accepted as a national art form until tango had crossed the Atlantic in the early 1900s, and became all the rage in European dance halls from Paris to Berlin.
Over the past two decades, Ms. Docampo says, Argentine society has undergone an “evolution in thought” when it comes to tango, alongside a “social revolution” ushered in by the nation’s powerful women’s movement.
Indeed, LGBTQ+ rights have expanded, and Argentina’s feminist leaders – among the most powerful in Latin America – gained attention for organizing the Ni Una Menos movement against sexual violence in 2015 and the successful campaign to legalize abortion in 2020.
This tension between how Argentine women thought of their role in society and how they saw themselves portrayed in traditional tango drove tango singer and musician Camila Arriva to break molds.
“I’ve loved singing tango since I was a little girl, but it was the beautiful songs of some of the great early female singers,” she says of vocalists who reigned in the 1920s and ’30s.
As a young artist emerging in the early 2000s, she realized those songs were gone, “replaced too often by … lyrics about the man killing his unfaithful woman,” she says. “I felt compelled to do something to change that.”
Tango composer, musician, and feminist Camila Arriva discusses tango at the historic Cafe Tortoni on Aug. 16, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Her solution was to create a female (and feminist) tango orchestra called Mujeres, which includes a pianist, bassist, and a bandonionist, who plays an instrument similar to an accordion. They perform across Argentina and internationally.
Around the same time in the early 2000s, Ms. Docampo was pioneering the first feminist tango venues. Later, she joined tango instructor Augusto Balizano to create one of the capital’s best-known gay milongas.
Liliana Furío, another prominent tango innovator, describes a yearslong transition in nomenclature from feminist to “disruptive,” before finally settling on queer tango. “The objective all along was to retain the beauty of tango and its roots in working-class resistance, while removing the machismo and stereotypes that had hardened over time,” she says.
Tango for everyone
Out on the Centro Cultural Macedonia’s hardwood dance floor, Leandro Orellano’s concentration is visible as he switches from leading to following the lead of his female partner.
Leandro Orellano (back right) listens to instructor Augusto Balizano (back left) during an inclusive tango master class in Buenos Aires. Those promoting an alternative approach to tango say its goal is to make a beloved national cultural icon accessible to everyone.
“I think the easing away from traditional roles and a traditional conceptualization of tango can” make tango “accessible to everyone,” he says while taking a break from dancing.
He says shifting back and forth from leading to following is as much a mental process as it is physical. That can make it difficult for some.
Despite the blossoming of inclusive tango, some worry a political climate that ushered in new conservative president Javier Milei could portend a backlash.
“When we have a government that demonizes the feminist and sexual minority movements, there should be no surprise when suddenly we see a proliferation of hostile attitudes and even actions,” says Ms. Furío, who has produced documentaries on queer tango.
“There is a sense of tolerating us. But at the same time there’s a new willingness to consider us strange and somehow offensive to Argentina,” she says. “Unfortunately, we’re already seeing how this discriminatory discourse can have tragic impacts,” she says, pointing to a case earlier this year when a man threw a Molotov cocktail into the home of four lesbian roommates here. Three of the women died in what activists believe was a hate crime inspired by the president’s antigay rhetoric.
People dance at an inclusive milonga at the Centro Cultural Macedonia on Aug. 18, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
For Mr. Balizano, the tango instructor, the bigger threat may come from harsh economic austerity measures, which he says have hit both cultural activities and health services particularly hard.
After his husband had a stroke, Mr. Balizano worked with the rehabilitation center to develop a tango class for people with disabilities, using public funds.
“Making tango accessible to people who might have never thought it possible had real benefits for mind and body,” Mr. Balizano says. Then came Mr. Milei’s funding cuts; the classes were eliminated.
Still, many participants in the come-all milongas insist it will be difficult to reverse the new inclusivity of Argentina’s iconic art form.
“If you look around this city, you see there are more queer tangos all the time,” says Mr. Orellano. “What I think this tells us is that people do not want to go backwards.”
Claudia Winkleman, Tess Daly, BBC Public Service, Rob Parfitt
Strictly Come Dancing will launch on Saturday 14th September, with our hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman welcoming our celebrity contestants onto the Strictly dancefloor as they make their dancing debut and we discover which Professional Dancer they will be paired with. Once the pairings have been announced the celebrities and professionals will perform an eye-catching group routine, launching the new series in style.
Claudia Winkleman
You have been here since the very beginning, how does it feel to be a part of Strictly’s 20th year? It feels a total honour and privilege. I love working on Strictly so much. I start getting excited in July. The fake tanning starts in earnest on September 1st and there’s no let up until Christmas.
What does Strictly mean to you? Why has it been such a success for 20 years? Strictly I suppose means family to me. So many of the same people who work on the show have been there for years so we all know each other really well. It also means family in the sense that people watch the show with their grandparents or young kids. It’s always felt like a snow globe of a show to me and it’s basically saying “Christmas is coming” and this can only be a good thing in my world.
Describe Strictly in one word/phrase? Dave Arch.
Can you explain the feeling just before you walk out onto the ballroom floor to open the show? Do you still get nervous when you hear the iconic theme tune on a Saturday night? I’m absolutely terrified and I squeeze Tess on the arm and I love her because she lets me.
Do you think there are any magic ingredients that every previous winner has had? Can you spot a winner early on? Or are you still undecided until the night of the final?
I genuinely have no idea who’s going to win. Tess says the name and I find out with everyone else. It’s a magic moment.
Tess Daly
You have been here since the very beginning, how does it feel to be a part of Strictly’s 20th year? It’s such an honour to have been there since the very first show aired back in 2004 and now here we are about to celebrate our 20th birthday. My overriding memories of that first show are of being very nervous and very pregnant! But even then, there was a buzz in the air, like no other I’d ever experienced on a live television show. It felt so exciting, and it still does.
What does Strictly mean to you? Why has it been such a success for 20 years? I have to pinch myself when I realise it’s been 20 years since starting work on this brilliant TV show I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a part of. None of us knew at the time if it would work, and none of us could’ve foreseen its stratospheric success. It genuinely feels like a privilege to be part of such a talented team who work tirelessly to produce a live show of this scale each week.
Describe Strictly in one word/phrase? JOY. That’s it, that is the agenda.
Can you explain the feeling just before you walk out onto the ballroom floor to open the show? Do you still get nervous when you hear the iconic theme tune on a Saturday night? Of course, I still get butterflies, it’s genuinely one of the most exciting moments of the entire show once our brilliant director, Nikki’s count begins in my ear and the theme tune starts up, the air in the studio feels like it’s crackling with adrenaline. The brilliant audience are clapping, cheering, and get so involved, their energy feeds us; it’s contagious.
Do you think there are any magic ingredients that every previous winner has had? Can you spot a winner early on? Or are you still undecided until the night of the final? I do think it takes a certain special something and not just talent alone, to capture the viewers imagination and go on to become the winner of a series. Not only have you got to have learned the necessary dance skills to showcase your talent but you also need to have won our hearts. Sometimes I feel like perhaps I can spot the winner as early as the launch show as it’s clear to see they have the full package; However, more often than not, I’m surprised along with everybody else!
What do you think to the Strictly class of 2024? The class of ‘24 look like a properly exciting gang. As a collective I genuinely cannot wait to see what they’ve got in store for us. Roll on the launch show.
With a wish list of companies and performers in mind, Stanford Makishi, the vice president and artistic director of dance at New York City Center, works with his team to solve the puzzle that is creating its annual Fall for Dance Festival. How they do so is simpler than you might think.
“We literally have companies written on Post-it notes on a giant whiteboard, and we’re constantly moving around Post-it notes,” Makishi says. “It is the most low-tech way of programming that you could possibly imagine, but it’s the most streamlined process.”
Skylar Brandt and Herman Cornejo. Photo courtesy NYCC.
Fall for Dance opens its 21st season on September 18, running through the 29th. It will feature five unique programs highlighting an international array of dance companies spanning multiple genres, including ballet, tap, modern, and contemporary. On the bill are artists and companies like Dutch National Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Boston Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Sara Mearns, Aran Bell, and the New York City premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Wartime Elegy, danced by the National Ballet of Ukraine. And maybe best of all? A ticket will run you only $30.
Makishi says preparation begins as far as two years in advance. He aims to showcase a broad range of dance companies in terms of size, fame, genre, and more.
“We’re constantly thinking about what dance looks like at any given moment,” Makishi says. “A lot of our audience members are new to dance, and we want them to leave loving dance. We want to show them, and even our veteran dance-goers, something that they might not otherwise choose to see on their own.”
Audiences will have the chance to see works by three rising choreographers, two of whom are New York ballet stars and one who is gaining recognition in Canada.
New York City Ballet principal Tiler Peck choreographed Piano Songs, which was co-commissioned by New York City Center and Vail Dance Festival. It will be performed by American Ballet Theatre principal Aran Bell.
ABT’s Herman Cornejo and Skylar Brandt will dance in Cornejo’s world premiere interpretation of The Specter of the Rose, originally choreographed by Michel Fokine in 1911. “He is really thinking creatively about the way he wants to re-envision The Specter of the Rose,” Makishi says. “It’s a generous way to think about reimagining a very famous and classic work. [Compared to] Fokine’s version, he’s giving the ballerina more to do.”
National Ballet of Ukraine’s Anastasiia Shevchenko and Deniil Pashchuk. Photo by Kateryna Yeletskykh, courtesy NYCC.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet in T’el The Wild Man of the Woods. Photo by Daniel Crump, courtesy NYCC.
Then, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet of Canada will perform a new work co-commissioned by New York City Center and the Bard College Center for Indigenous Studies by Canadian choreographer Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe. Fraser-Monroe’s work, šɛgatəm, translates as “to lift someone up” in the language of the Tla’amin First Nation, of which he is a member. “Fraser-Monroe is already starting to make a name for himself in Canada, and we wanted to share that with our New York audiences,” Makishi says.
Whether audiences attend multiple programs or just one, Makishi is sure they will leave with a greater appreciation of dance.
“It really is about what we think we want to present to our audience and what we think is important for our audiences to see,” he says.
Celebrated dancer Lauren Cuthbertson becomes Principal Guest Artist with The Royal Ballet after over two decades performing with the Company. Cuthbertson is regarded as one of the world’s leading ballerinas, celebrated for her artistry, musicality and dramatic flair across the breadth of The Royal Ballet’s repertory. She is a leading exponent of Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan ballets and has created numerous works with some of the world’s leading choreographers including Wayne McGregor, Christopher Wheeldon and Cathy Marston.
An exciting new Season lies ahead for Cuthbertson, beginning with her debut as The Queen of Hearts in Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a ballet in which Cuthbertson created the title role of Alice in 2011. In January Cuthbertson also makes her debut as Tatiana in John Cranko’s Onegin.
Kevin O’Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet, comments: “In her 22 years with the Company to date, Lauren has combined her brilliant technique with a distinctive brand of warmth, wit and lyricism to illuminate so many different roles.
She has inspired choreographers to create new works on her and continues to inspire new generations of aspiring dancers. I am delighted to support Lauren’s continued artistic development in this next phase of her career.”
Lauren Cuthbertson says: ‘I am thrilled to announce my new role as Principal Guest Artist with The Royal Ballet. After over two decades with this incredible company, I am excited to step into a new chapter that will allow me to build on my experiences and develop in new ways, both on and off the stage. The Royal Ballet has been my home, where I’ve had the privilege to learn, grow and be inspired alongside so many talented artists. While my role will change, I look forward to continuing to perform for our cherished audiences and taking on new creative challenges that will shape my future in dance. Thank you to everyone who has, and is, supporting me throughout this journey. I am deeply grateful.”
Paris Opera, Pathé Live and Imax have unveiled a teaser trailer for their upcoming collaboration, the Rudolf Nureyev-choreographed Swan Lake. Check it out above, and scroll down for a look at new images.
This is the first-ever Filmed for Imax ballet, and will be released exclusively in Imax locations globally on November 8, with other theaters rolling out from November 10.
Swan Lake tells the story of Prince Siegfried, who, during his birthday celebrations, must choose a bride. Trying to escape reality, he dreams of a perfect love. His tutor tries to bring him down to Earth and reminds him of his duties. But on a dreamlike getaway, the prince meets Odette, a princess who has been transformed into a swan by the powerful sorcerer Rothbart. Only true love can break the spell. Captivated, Siegfried promises Odette he’ll save her and invites her to his party. To trap the prince, the sorcerer sends his daughter Odile, disguised as Odette, to seduce him.
The movie required four days of filming — two of which were without an audience to allow cameras to be on stage and alongside the performers. Shot exclusively with Imax-certified digital cameras, the film aims to provide audiences with a greater canvas of the images as sequences are brought to life.
This is Paris Opera’s biggest-ever worldwide theatrical release, including roughly 2,000 cinemas. Pathé Live handles global distribution on the film from director Isabelle Julien. The cast features Sae Eun Park (Odette/Odile), Paul Marque (Prince Siegfried), Pablo Legasa (Rothbart) and Paris Opera Corps de Ballet.
Janette Manrara, Fleur East,BBC Public Service,Rob Parfitt
Strictly It Takes Two is back with a glittery bang to give Strictly Come Dancing fans the inside scoop on all things backstage in the Ballroom. The dynamic duo, Janette Manrara and Fleur East, will return to BBC Two and iPlayer at 6.30pm on Monday 23rd September and they’ll be bringing viewers all the behind-the scenes glamour and gossip. As Strictly Come Dancing AND It Takes Two return for the 20th year, once again bringing joy and sparkle to homes across the nation, Fleur and Janette will take a deep dive into what magic ingredients go into making the nation’s favourite dance show. This series of Strictly promises to be extra special with even more glitz, razzmatazz and unforgettable performances and It Takes Two will be right there at the forefront! Strictly It Takes Two is a BBC Daytime Commission. The commissioning Editor is Alex McLeod, the Executive Producer for BBC Studios is Eve Winstanley and the Series Editors are Sonal Patel and Judith Hay. Audiences can watch Strictly It Takes Two every weekday at 6.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Janette Manrara How does it feel to be back and part of It Takes Two in its 20th year? Oh my gosh, 20 years of Strictly Come Dancing and 20 years of It Takes Two, two shows that make people smile throughout the most exciting time of the year. I am absolutely privileged to host It Takes Two alongside Fleur. She’s such an amazing partner to do this with. And, I mean, Strictly Come Dancing is the best TV show on telly. As a dancer myself, knowing the level of appreciation it gets from the audience and fans is so humbling. So for me to be back on It Takes Two, talking about dancing and the couples and their experiences, is incredible. I’m so happy. Since the show is 20 years old this year, what were you doing at age 20? Oh gosh, now you’ve given away my age! 20 years ago, I didn’t even know if I was going to be a dancer. Back then, I was working in a bank, studying finance in Miami, and I had a very different idea of how my life was going to turn out. So 20 years have been 20 years of magic, leading me to this. What made you decide to pursue dancing? I auditioned for a TV show in the US called So You Think You Can Dance, and it went really well, unexpectedly. I had that kind of sliding doors moment where I could either move to Los Angeles and just keep trying to see what happens, or go back to my secure job at the bank. So I moved to LA, lived there for a bit, and ended up getting a job with Burn the Floor, which is where everything else spiralled from. If I hadn’t taken the chance after So You Think and moved to LA, I probably wouldn’t be here. One decision changed everything. What do you think the next 20 years will look like for Strictly and It Takes Two? I’m really hoping we get 20 more years of the same! For me, being part of the show for, I think, 11 years now, it’s been the most magical 11 years of my life. To keep celebrating dancing, to keep seeing people’s faces light up when they learn a new step or get a routine right, or meeting a fan of the show on the street who say, “Oh my god, I loved that dance” or “I loved that moment when such-and-such happened,” it’s so special.
Do you have any weird and wonderful things that you do, before you do a live show? Any superstitions or rituals? Well, I always call Aljaž and Lyra. And make sure I say, “Okay, love you, I’m about to go on, just about to start. Let’s go!” Although this year, I might be interviewing him, so… How will you feel interviewing Aljaž? Yeah, I’m excited to interview him. Do you know why? Because I’ll probably get his side of the story of how things went throughout the week. So it’ll be my chance to hear how it really went. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? To listen. I think sometimes we get caught up in our thoughts, or caught up in a theory, or caught up in a feeling or an emotion. And then, even when people are explaining themselves, trying to get you to understand something, we just don’t listen – or we don’t listen to ourselves. We don’t really listen to what our body and our minds are telling us. So listening is crucial. So, obviously it was Fleur’s first year presenting last year. Did you learn anything about your presenting styles? Is one of you the good cop, bad cop? Do you know what’s the crazy thing about me and Fleur? We are so, so, so alike. And the more we hang out and spend time together, the more we start finding things that make us similar. So really, I feel like we’re just a piece of each other – literally the same. Whether you’ve got Fleur or me, you’re going to get the same kind of show because… I don’t know, we’re really similar. I mean, we’re both as silly and stupid as each other. We’re both very driven, we both love what we do, and we both love Strictly. Any favourite moments between the two of you from last year? I really enjoyed doing all the trails that we did – like the ones leading up to Halloween Week, or leading up to Movie Week, or going to Blackpool, or for the final.The more we do together, the better. Can you describe It Takes Two in one word or one phrase? I’d say It Takes Two is the best behind-the-scenes you can get of Strictly. You get the real truth of everything from everyone. If you want to know what’s really going on? Watch It Takes Two. You can read a headline in a paper, but with It Takes Two, you watch a couple getting interviewed, and you really get a sense – not just from the interview, but also from the VTs. s I’ve always been a fan of It Takes Two – before I hosted it, I loved watching Rylan or Zoe doing it. And now, to be that person, I’m really happy and proud to kind of keep showing people and going, “Oh, I didn’t know it worked that way.”
Fleur East How does it feel to be part of Strictly and It Takes Two in their 20th year? Very, very exciting to be part of such a huge franchise. It’s my second year on It Takes Two. I was welcomed in the most amazing way last year, so I feel a little bit more at home this time. Yeah, I’m excited to do it all again! How did you find your first year presenting? Any key moments or backstage stories? I love filming all of our silly, jokey trails that we do together. The Shining was a highlight for me for Halloween Week – I loved that. And yeah, just messing about on set. The team just has so much fun, so it’s always a good time. Both Strictly and It Takes Two are celebrating their 20th anniversaries this year. What were you doing when you were 20? I was at university, studying journalism and history, and going to way too many freshers’ parties! What do you think the next 20 years will look like for Strictly? Oh my gosh! I hope in 20 years we’re still here, and that it just evolves. We’ve got so many new generations of stars coming out. We want to see everyone doing a Foxtrot and a Samba, surely! I hope that the magic keeps going. Do you have any weird and wonderful things you do before a live show? Any superstitions or rituals? Yes, I guess it has become a superstition, I’ve got a ring that my sister and I made from my dad’s ring after he passed away in 2020. Everytime I have to go out and do anything, I have to hold my ring and I say, “Let’s go, Daddio,” and it makes me feel like I can do what I need to do. What will make It Takes Two extra special this year? More mayhem, more digging into all the information, as much as we can get to you before the Saturday night shows. We love it as fans of the show as well, so we’ll try to get you as much backstage action as we can.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? No position in life is permanent. My mum always says that, and it’s true, whether you’re in a positive or a negative chapter. If it’s negative, it’s encouraging because you think, “Okay, I’ll be out of this. This isn’t going to last forever.” But on the flip side, it keeps you grounded if you’re having an amazing time, you know things don’t always last, so you make the most of it. What have you learned about your presenting style from your first year? Did you learn anything about your presenting style with Janette? I think we enable each other, like two naughty kids in a classroom egging each other on! We try to keep it cool, try and calm it down but we’re both Scorpios with a lot of energy, and we love to laugh so when we’re together that’s what happens. Can you describe It Takes Two in one word or phrase? Wholesome. Because it’s the place where people connect to the celebs and their partners in a way that they can’t watching the main show. You get more reactions, and especially on Mondays after whoever has left the show, you get to see how much it meant to them.
Cohasset, a Butte County community atop a ridge north of Chico, is home to about 400 residents and the site of a 26-year-old annual dance and yoga retreat. It took place on a 26.5-acre property that featured hand-built huts, lavender fields and manzanita trees they danced with. – San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
The Strictly Come Dancing Celebrities & Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyThe Strictly Come Dancing Celebrities & Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyThe Strictly Come Dancing Celebrities & Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyThe Strictly Come Dancing Celebrities 2024,BBC Public Service,Guy Levy
The new series of the multi-award-winning Strictly Come Dancing and recent National Television Awards winner of Best Talent Show launched tonight (Saturday 14th September) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. As the nation’s favourite dance show celebrates two spectacular decades of dance, the launch show started proceedings off with an extra sprinkle of glitz, glamour and unforgettable performances.
Strictly Come Dancing, produced by BBC Studios, welcomed back our effervescent Hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, along with our knowledgeable Judges, Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.
Vito Coppola & Ellie Leach,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyVito Coppola & Ellie Leach,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyEllie Leach & Vito Coppola,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyThe Strictly Come Dancing Celebrities & Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyThe Strictly Come Dancing Celebrities & Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyKatya Jones & Wynne Evans,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyChris McCausland & Dianne Buswell,BBC Public Service,Guy LevySam Quek MBE & Nikita Kuzmin,BBC Public Service,Guy Levy
As well as revealing which celebrity contestants are paired with which Professional Dancers, the launch show featured five epic performances including: a fun, fancy footwork filled routine from our Professional Dancers (and cameos from the wider Strictly family!) encouraging everyone to get aboard the Strictly Bus; a celebratory welcome back dance to mark Amy Dowden MBE’s momentous return to the Ballroom; a fiery and passionate Paso Doble performed by the reigning champions from 2023, Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola; a stunning music extravaganza from Clean Bandit and Anne-Marie in the studio performing a rendition of their song ‘Cry Baby’ with David Guetta [not in the studio], alongside a mesmerising spectacular dance routine from professional dancers Lauren Oakley, Kai Widdrington, Jowita Przystał and Carlos Gu; and finally a sequin-filled group number featuring our brand new Strictly celebrity class of 2024 treating us to their dance skills for the very first time!
The Strictly Come Dancing Celebrities & Professional Dancers 2024,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyToyah Willcox & Neil Jones,BBC Public Service,Guy LevyStrictly Come Dancing 2024,14-09-2024,Launch Show,Amy Dowden with The Strictly Come Dancing 2024 Professional Dancers,*NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 21:00HRS, SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER, 2024*,BBC,Kieron McCarronStrictly Come Dancing 2024,14-09-2024,Launch Show,Amy Dowden with The Strictly Come Dancing 2024 Professional Dancers,*NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 21:00HRS, SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER, 2024*,BBC,Kieron McCarronStrictly Come Dancing 2024,14-09-2024,Launch Show,Amy Dowden with The Strictly Come Dancing 2024 Professional Dancers,*NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 21:00HRS, SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER, 2024*,BBC,Kieron McCarron
STRICTLY CELEBRITY AND PROFESSIONAL DANCER PAIRINGS
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Firstly, we saw Chris McCausland get paired with his partner Dianne Buswell, who reached the final last year. Claudia said that the pairing was dreamy to which Chris said: “She is absolutely over the moon having me because she [Dianne] really wants November off. You’ve got a holiday booked, haven’t you?!” When asked by Claudia to talk Chris through what to expect on Strictly, Dianne said: “Firstly, I am a big fan of yours. I’m so excited and honoured to be your partner. Secondly, I can’t answer that yet as I’m not sure myself how it’s going to work! But we are going to figure it out together. Chris added: “Yes, we’re going to figure it out together. We’re going to make mistakes and have a laugh about them. Then we’re going to turn up here and show you all of the mistakes that we’ve learnt!”
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Next up to be partnered was Wynne Evans and Katya Jones, when asked by Claudia how he was feeling about finding out who is Professional Dancer is Wynne said “I didn’t have a clue who I was going to get. Obviously, I’m older so I didn’t know who would take me on as it were, then we went to the venue and in walks the cockney Russian!” Claudia asked Katya what her plans for Wynne were, she said: “I think no plan is brilliant. This man was born to win!” They then revealed that their first dance is going to be the Samba to Help Yourself by Tom Jones.
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu, BBC Public Service, Ray Burmiston
Then we saw Shayne Ward paired with Nancy Xu, when asked by Claudia how happy he was about the pairing, Shayne said: “I think Nancy is a phenomenal dancer and I feel so blessed that she’s with me on this journey. On Shayne’s competitive spirit, Nancy said: “Well I will try. Since that’s your goal, that’s my goal!”
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Being paired next was Jamie Borthwick who was partnered with professional dancer Michelle Tsiakkas. Jamie said about his time on the Strictly Christmas Special last year that: “that’s what swung me hook, line and sinker – I don’t quite know how I managed to win that, but this is a whole different ball game! I don’t think I can blag it for a whole thirteen weeks.” When Claudia asked Michelle about how she was feeling being partnered with a celebrity for the first time, Michelle answered: “It’s a dream come true to finally be able to dance on that Strictly dance floor with a partner and what better partner than Jamie to dance with. I’m so happy!”
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Moving on, it was Pete Wicks’ turn to meet his professional partner for the series, Jowita Przystał. On his wardrobe choices for the show, Pete quipped, “I’m in for a penny, in for a pound. I’m never going to be here again, am I?” When asked by Claudia if having Jowita by his side makes it all worthwhile, Pete enthusiastically responded, “Oh, 100%! The little pocket rocket? I’ve got this in the bag now, I’ve changed my mind – I’m going to win it.” Finally, when Jowita revealed his first dance is going to the Paso Doble to The Prodigy – Breathe, Pete looked puzzled and asked, “What’s a Paso Doble?”
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Then it was over to Montell Douglas, who was paired with Johannes Radebe. Claudia asked Montell how happy she was with her pairing, to which Montell said: “How can you not be, I don’t think there is a person on this earth who doesn’t want to be partnered with JoJo, I’m over the moon!” Claudia then asked what their team name was, Montell and Johannes replied: “Strictly Come Dancing, bringing the MoJo.”
Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Next it was Sam Quek MBE’s turn to find out that her partner is Nikita Kuzmin. Tess asked her what viewers can expect from her as a dancer, Sam said: “I’m so nervous. I’ve never felt nerves like it. It’s the unknown. Look at me, this isn’t me. I didn’t recognise myself in the mirror!” Nikita said: “Everybody spoke of Sam so well. She’s so lovely and she’s so caring, I cannot wait to start.”
JB Gill and Amy Dowden,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
After that, it was JB Gill’s moment, and he was paired with Amy Dowden MBE. First off, Claudia asked Amy what it was like being back in the Strictly Ballroom, Amy said: “I’m delighted, it just feels like my first year all over again. I just want JB to have the best time and fall in love with dancing.” Claudia reminded JB that he had his sights set on Amy as his professional partner, JB grinned, “She’s brilliant, plus she’s got experience with popstars, so I know I’m in good hands!”.
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Next up we saw Toyah Willcox get partnered with Neil Jones, Toyah said: “I am channelling my inner Dolly Parton. I want to be totally glam the whole time …Glastonbury was fantastic but I have to say the atmosphere in here is better!” When asked by Claudia about how it feels to be partnered with Neil, Toyah said: “I met Neil and I was in heaven. All of you are beautiful boys but not as beautiful as Neil!” On Toyah’s plans to be “the first pensioner to abseil through this studio”, Neil said: “I’m scared of heights but I’m up for it.”
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Sarah Hadland was then paired with reigning Strictly champion, Vito Coppola. She said: “I am a [Strictly] superfan, I’d be taking it very seriously if I was at home! Depending on which WhatsApp group I was with, you wouldn’t be able to talk during the dances, that’s a very strict rule. You just have to be making lots of mental notes, lots of predictions!” When Claudia asked Vito if he thinks he can win again he said: “Honestly you know I love to enjoy and live in the moment and the present. Sarah and me have the same energy. I see Sarah as sparkling water, bubbly. We are going to live this journey as a bubble!”
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec,BBC Public Service, Ray Burmiston
Next up, Tess asked Tasha Ghouriabout the role of dance in her life. Tasha beamed, “Dance is my pure joy. It’s where I found my inner confidence, and I’m doing this for all the Tashas out there. Disability or not, it’s about celebrating dance and putting smiles on faces. That’s what I’m here for, and I can’t wait to share that with everyone here.” When asked about how delighted she was to be paired with Aljaž Škorjanec – who is back after a two year hiatus, Tasha said: “I am absolutely ecstatic! He’s so fun – chaos, but I love a bit of chaos energy. Honestly, we mesh so well, and I’m so excited. He’s already teaching me little moves, and I’m trying to keep up, but I’ve got a very good one here.” Aljaž said: “Enjoy and embrace every single step of it, honestly, because it’s the most special show that you could ever do.”
Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Marquez,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Our twelfth pair to be revealed was Dr Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez, who Claudia reminded everyone has scored more tens than any other Professional Dancer currently on the show. On her pairing, Punam said: “Oh I’m absolutely buzzing. I think we are the perfect pairing. I feel honoured, because you’ve got so many years of experience. I can’t wait to take you up north to bonnie Scotland.” Gorka said: “I can’t wait to go to Scotland, I love Glasgow…and I love haggis!”
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer, BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Paul Merson had been patiently waiting to find out who is partner was, and before it was revealed, Claudia asked if he’s going to throw himself into the Strictly experience. Paul didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, 100%. I’m going to have fun. If I’m not having fun, it’s not worth doing.” Claudia asked Paul how thrilled he is to be paired with the longest-serving pro, Karen Hauer.Paul responded, “Yeah, I’m well happy. So pleased. You’ve put the two oldest together… and I’m one of them!” Karen said: “I just want him to enjoy himself, I want everyone to enjoy themselves because this is one of the greatest experiences – we’re going to have the most fun!”. Karen then revealed that their first dance would be an American Smooth to Vindaloo by Fat Les.
Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Our penultimate pairing was Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova. Claudia asked Tom about his concerns regarding his delicate feet. Tom explained, “We don’t do any land stuff, no running or jumping, so I’ve never really gone against gravity in my sporting career. Running, jumping, and twisting are all totally new to me, so I’m slowly trying to build up strength in these delicate feet of mine!” When asked about Tom’s Olympic achievements, Nadiya said: “I’m super happy, he’s not just a swimmer..he’s a winner!”
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk, BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
The final pairing of the launch show was Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk. Tess started by asking Nick what made him want to take part in Strictly this year. When asked if he thought theywould be a good match, Nick said, “Yes, absolutely. I wanted someone who’d be patient. She’s a world-class dancer, so how can it possibly go wrong? Although, it’s a bit like taking an F1 world champion and putting them in a beaten-up old builder’s van to race….we’ll see how it goes. I have had a bit of body work done, though – a spray paint, literally.” Luba said: “I’m pretty sure with some time and a lot of practice, I will try and make you into a Maserati!”
After their show stopping performance, reigning champions Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola reminisced on their time last year and Ellie gave this year’s contestants some words of wisdom: “Well I’m so glad to be back. I feel at home when I’m here, but I think my advice is just to take every minute in it goes so so fast, so just enjoy it, guys. It’s the best, best time ever.”
At the end of the show, we saw our celebrities and professional dancers perform their first group number to finish the launch show in style, giving us our first sneak peek at the celebrities’ dancing skills. Strictly goes live on Saturday 21st September from 19.00 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer when we will see each of our couples take to the dancefloor for their first performances.
When David Hallberg commissioned a new show based on the life and loves of Oscar Wilde, he realised that in his own stellar dancing career, despite being a gay man, he had never danced a gay character. Such roles simply weren’t in the classical repertoire, says Hallberg, artistic director of Australian Ballet, “even though there were gay people dancing and creating work since ballet’s beginning”. How does he explain this? “I attribute it to fear,” he says. “But now we can change the course, without apology or fear.”
The choreographer helping change that course, as the ballet Oscar opens this month in Melbourne, is US-based Briton Christopher Wheeldon, one of the world’s leading dance-makers, whose ballets include adaptations of The Winter’s Tale and Like Water for Chocolate. Wheeldon had the first inkling of this idea years ago, after seeing the 1997 film Wilde, starring Stephen Fry. “I thought one day that might make an interesting ballet,” he says, speaking by phone from Melbourne.
The Fry film came a couple of years after some rare examples of gay love on the dance stage: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, with its famously gender-swapped swans and David Bintley’s Edward II, about the monarch’s relationship with Piers Gaveston, both made in 1995. More recently we’ve seen male pas de deux in abstract and contemporary ballets, but – apart from a controversial if rather tame ballet about Rudolf Nureyev made in Russia in 2017 – that shift hasn’t moved into the classical, narrative realm. For Wheeldon, a gay man himself, it was time.
Surprising new ways to orchestrate two bodies … Sharni Spencer and Callum Linnane in rehearsals. Photograph: Christopher Rodgers-Wilson
Wheeldon knew he didn’t want to make a straightforward bio-ballet of Wilde’s life, thinking the Irish wit turned toast of London society turned shunned convict was much too interesting and complicated a character for that. “He is the king of paradox,” says Wheeldon. “You can say Oscar Wilde led a dual life – his struggle with his sexuality and yet his loving marriage – but it was so much more complex.”
Wheeldon and his composer Joby Talbot hammered out the treatment together, even arranging a Zoom call with Fry to get advice on building their character. “We were quite nervous to talk to him,” Wheeldon remembers. “He regaled us with stories of Oscar’s wit and brilliance. I think Joby and I were as intoxicated by Stephen as many were by Oscar.”
What they’ve come up with is a ballet that tells the story of Wilde’s rise and fall and his great love affairs, with journalist Robbie Ross and poet Lord Alfred Douglas (known as Bosie), anchored in two stories penned by Wilde that Wheeldon felt were particularly personal. “I love how his stories and plays are so abundantly full of love but also deeply vulnerable,” he says. “It’s almost like Oscar holding up a mirror and not only accepting his flaws but in some way confessing his truth through the characters in his work.”
One is The Nightingale and the Rose, a fairytale from 1888 about a bird sacrificing itself to create a red rose for a student to give to a girl he adores, only for the girl to reject him. This story of being devoted to and then disillusioned by the ideal of true love forms the backdrop to the first act, while Wilde’s only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, offers a knottier portrayal of desire, vanity and downfall in the second half. It’s there – as Wilde sits in prison racked with guilt, shame and anger, lost in a “maelstrom of memories” – that the main romantic pas de deux takes place.
Wheeldon remembers Bintley’s Edward II as “really startling and quite beautiful” – but poetic and suggestive in its relationships, rather than explicit. Quite how explicit to make Oscar was the subject of much discussion. “How far do you go in the depiction of lovemaking on stage?” Wheeldon asked himself. “Is that going to be acceptable to an audience?” He laughs. “Australia is a very progressive country and it’s a new generation. Nobody bats an eyelid when there’s a pas de deux where two men lock lips. Coming from another generation, where we would never have seen that in ballet, I’m the one who’s sometimes a little bit eyes down.”
We talk about how it’s more normalised to see violence against women on stage – in some of Kenneth MacMillan’s ballets, for example – than to see love between men. “What’s wrong with normalising same-sex intimacy on stage?” says Wheeldon. “There shouldn’t be anything shocking about that.” The cast recently ran the second act for the first time, he adds, “and it was really moving and beautiful”.
‘The king of paradox’ … Callum Linnane as Oscar Wilde. Photograph: Simon Eeles
As it happens, all the dancers currently playing Wilde are straight. Has there been any awkwardness? “No, actually,” says Wheeldon. “These big Aussie blokes – they were all fine with it. They’ve been wonderful and very relaxed and accepting. And they were all saying, actually, how beautiful it was to put themselves in the shoes of their queer friends and colleagues and be upfront telling their stories. That blew me away.” There’s been an intimacy coordinator on set, too, and on the first day Wheeldon sat the cast down to make sure they knew that if they were asked to do anything they felt uncomfortable with, they could tell him, “and I would immediately accept that and find another way”.
Wheeldon is an incredibly inventive creator of pas de deux (his After the Rain duet is an enduring favourite), always finding surprising new ways to orchestrate two bodies and their connections. Making male duets is not so different from making male-female ones, he says, only that the men aren’t on pointe, so the weight balance is different. But it is meaningful to Wheeldon to be able to portray the richness of same-sex love.
“I wanted to explore how love between two men can be very tender and masculine,” he says, “and also feminine and romantic. All the things I love about being in love with a man, I get to put into this piece. Yes, love is love. But love between two men is different from love between two women or a man and a woman, and it’s what I know.” Wheeldon’s been married to yoga and meditation instructor Ross Rayburn since 2013. “So I suppose that makes it much more personal.”
The Yeovil-born choreographer has been living in the US since joining New York City Ballet aged 19. He’s now 51. And while Oscar’s gay storyline seems to be no big deal in Australia, he laments the regressive politics he sees in his adopted homeland. He took up US citizenship in order to have a vote the first time Donald Trump ran for president, and when we speak he’s been glued to watching Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention. “I’m so excited and hopeful about what’s going on now. Let’s get her up there!”
It was at New York City Ballet that Wheeldon began his choreographing career, first with skilful, abstract neo-classical ballets, then moving towards narrative and theatre. His Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, made in 2011, is regularly staged around the world – you can see the Royal Ballet dance it in London from the end of this month. He won his first Tony in 2015 for An American in Paris, which he choreographed and directed, and his second for MJ the Musical, now running in London and New York and soon to open in Hamburg and Sydney.
‘Love between two men is different’ … Christopher Wheeldon. Photograph: Charlie Kinross/The Guardian
Wheeldon had reservations about taking on MJ, both because of being a white director telling a Black artist’s story, and because of the accusations against Michael Jackson himself. “Even my friends, at the beginning, were like, ‘What are you doing? This is career-ending stuff.’” After the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota, Wheeldon really reconsidered his role, but the show’s Pulitzer-winning writer Lynn Nottage wanted him on board and at that point Wheeldon didn’t want to risk the whole thing folding and putting its cast of young Black performers out of work.
He understands why people would object to a show that glorifies Jackson – although he thinks they managed to sew some complexity into the story, rather than it being just a pop concert. “I am completely accepting of people who don’t want to see the show,” he says, “or don’t think I should have done it.” Does he believe the accusations against Jackson? “Honestly?” he says. “It’s very hard to know. There isn’t really any proof and he wasn’t convicted, but many believe it to be true.” His instinct is to separate the art from the artist. “There’s this incredible body of music that isn’t going away, that inspired so many people and continues to give so much joy to people.”
With receipts of $200m and counting at the box office, MJ is by far Wheeldon’s biggest commercial success, but it’s his passion for storytelling, for delving into flawed characters and exploring the endless expressive possibilities of the body on stage that really drives his ever-expanding career. Does theatre work influence his ballets? “It’s definitely morphed the way I tell stories,” says the choreographer, who’s now tinkering with Alice for its latest revival. Each project, it seems, feeds the next. “They’re all wonderful ingredients in a big old stew,” he says, before going off to stir the pot.
Strictly Come Dancing 2024, Sam Quek MBE, Shayne Ward, Tasha Ghouri, Dr Punam Krishan, Pete Wicks, Jamie Borthwick, Nick Knowles, JB Gill, Chris McCausland, Montell Douglas, Toyah Willcox, Wynne Evans, Paul Merson, Sarah Hadland & Tom Dean MBE, BBC Public Service, Ray Burmiston
Strictly Come Dancing will launch on Saturday 14th September, with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman welcoming the celebrity contestants onto the Strictly dancefloor as they make their dancing debut and we discover which Professional Dancer they will be paired with.
Once the pairings have been announced the celebrities and professionals will perform an eye-catching group routine, launching the new series in style.
Watching their every move and making notes ahead our first live show will be our Strictly Judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas.
Our dazzling professional dancers for the upcoming series are: Aljaž Škorjanec, Amy Dowden MBE, Carlos Gu, Dianne Buswell, Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe, Jowita Przystal, Kai Widdrington, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Lauren Oakley, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas, Nadiya Bychkova, Nancy Xu Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin and Vito Coppola.
Chris McCausland
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes? The good thing about stand-up is that a lot of the opportunities that come along on the back of it tend to be things that are outside of your comfort zone. I have found that the further out of my comfort zone I put myself, the more incredible the experience has been. Strictly is so far outside of my comfort zone that it might as well be on the moon. By that rationale, I think it could be the best thing I’ve ever done. Or three weeks I’ll never live down!
Describe Strictly in one word or phrase. Unknown – I’ve never watched it, for obvious reasons, and I don’t get anything really from going back and listening to an episode. I’ve got no idea what I’m getting myself into!
How does it feel to be a part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? It’s such a hugely loved show, it’s nice to be on it as it hits a big milestone like that.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago or what were you doing at age 20? Twenty years ago I was on the open mic comedy circuit. I had been doing stand-up for about a year and was working in a call centre selling employment law manuals to human resource managers – living the dream eh!
What have you heard about Strictly from people close to you? My best mate’s wife is obsessed with Strictly, so she is probably the best source of information that I have. However, when she found out I was doing it she couldn’t breathe properly and her head nearly exploded, and she hasn’t been much use to me since. It’s not a world I’ve ever been exposed to and it’s hard to understate how things that other people take for granted are unknown to me. It wasn’t until three weeks ago that I found out people get fake tans. Then I thought it was just one week, like a fake tan themed week. There was also a point a few months ago where someone mentioned “if you make it as far as Blackpool,” and so I thought that about half way through the series, the whole show just moves to Blackpool for the rest of the series. I thought that for about two months until somebody told me it was just for one week. I’m trying to get as much information as I can but I’m learning as I go. I have no preconceived ideas so I’m learning it all.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? One thing I do like about making TV shows is working in a team. It’s collaborative whereas stand up is really solitary. Everything I do as a comedian comes from my own head, and I’m in charge of all the decisions. So, on Strictly I am really looking forward to working with my dance partner every week, but also to be working as part of a large team who are all just trying to make a great show for people to watch.
Is there a dance that you’re most looking forward to trying? I keep joking that I’m looking forward to mosh pit week. That’s what I grew up with. I grew up with metal and rock and head banging. Let’s see if we can work that in. I’m more apprehensive about the dances where you’re not in contact with your partner because I don’t really know what that entails and how I will be able to navigate the stage on my own with any real degree of precision.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties? No, I don’t dance. I stand in the corner pretending to watch everybody dance.
You said you used to be a bit of a mosher. Do you think you’ll bring that to the ballroom in some capacity? I think what you’re going to get from me is a certain degree of non-conformist dancing because I won’t be able to see the precision of what I’m trying to achieve. I think there’s going to be, by default, a certain degree of my own version more so than other people because how precise can somebody be teaching me in four or five days. It would be so much easier to watch and see what you’re trying to achieve. We’ll see, it might work in my favour. It might not.
You’re best known for your stand-up comedy. Do you think you’ll incorporate some of that comedy into your performances? Or will you be taking it really seriously? I’ll take the show seriously but I won’t take myself seriously. If we can do something funny then I’m all for that. Maybe I can bring some visual comedy into the dances. I’ll be up for having a laugh with the judges, Tess and Claudia, I will be more in my comfort zone for those moments.
Do you think you’ll be competitive with the other contestants? I think it’s really hard to be competitive with other people when you don’t know what they are doing and how good they are. I won’t be standing watching them every week and thinking I need to be better than that. I’ll be able to hear the judges’ comments but I suppose it would be like trying to copy a footballer by listening to the match report, so I think it’s fair to say that I’ll be competing with myself each week instead.
Jamie Borthwick
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes? The one thing that made me say yes was my very fortunate experience of doing the Christmas show last year, which I absolutely loved. And when I was asked, it was a bit of a no-brainer for me to come back and be a part of the fantastic team and the fantastic journey.
Describe Strictly in one word or phrase. Magical.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? I feel very fortunate and flattered that I was asked to take part in a big moment for Strictly’s 20th anniversary.
So the series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago, or what were you doing at age 20? Twenty years ago, I would have been 10, so I would have just been riding my bike around the streets, causing havoc and playing football. When I was 20, I was still in EastEnders, mooching around, causing chaos, probably.
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous series? Oddly enough, I love watching all the Professional group dances, and I remember one particular one with the judges. It started off with Nancy, Nadiya, and Oti, and the girls were doing this mad dancing. It was just really great. It was just a really good judges and pro routine that I still watch back to this day.
Do you have any techniques to learn lines from EastEnders that you might then take into learning the dance routines? Well, with learning lines I’m really lucky, that I’ve been blessed with a photographic memory! But with dance moves, I think I’m going to use the music a lot. So I’ll remember that at that point in the music, there was that jump, or that hand, or whatever it may be. So I’m going to use the music a lot.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? I love the group stuff. I love doing stuff with the group and being in the rehearsal room with all the pros and all the other celebs. I really like being together as a group. Not that I won’t enjoy the other stuff, of course, but I just really like being around everyone. I’m sure the hustle and bustle on the live show on a Saturday is great. Everyone’s so giddy, but it’s really nice. Everyone’s in such a good mood.
Which dance are you most looking forward to trying? Probably the Argentine Tango. It’s dramatic.
Do you have a signature dance move you always bring out at parties? The Donnie Azoff from Wolf of Wall Street, you know, like the finger thing.
Have you been eyeing up your competition? Any thoughts on the other celebs? Not eyeing them up at all, actually. We’ve all met everybody. They’re a fantastic bunch, really nice group, and I’m really, really honoured to be a part of the group. I am competitive, but I’m not looking at this as a competitive experience. I’m not going to be jumping over people to get further. I’m just happy to be here, happy to be in the game.
You said that you’re excited to try the Argentine Tango. Are you hoping that your EastEnders dramatic scenes will come in handy for that? Yes, exactly that. As actors, we can use our dramatic muscles.
Lots of your Albert Square friends have taken part in previous series. Have they given you any Strictly secrets or tips ahead of training? Scott Maslen just said to eat everything. Eat, eat, eat, because I’m not very big anyway, so he just told me to eat everything !
JB Gill
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly 2024, what made you say yes? I said yes because I had such a great time doing the Christmas Special 12 years ago and just absolutely loved it! I love dancing, though I’ve never really done Ballroom or Latin before, so it’s an incredible opportunity to learn something new and have a lot of fun doing it.
If you could describe Strictly in one word, what would it be? Sparkly… like the trousers I’m wearing today.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th anniversary series? It’s an absolute pleasure to be involved in the 20th anniversary, which certainly wasn’t in my plans. I didn’t realise it was an anniversary series when I signed up, but you know what? It’s incredible. I’ve followed the show for many years, and my Mum has always been a massive fan, so I’ve grown up with it just as much as anybody else. Now, it’s nice to be able to do it and share the experience with my kids as well.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago? What am I now, 37? So 20 years ago, I’d have been 17, just finishing my AS Levels and heading into my final year at school. I was probably on a rugby tour or something like that since I was really into rugby at the time. By the time I was 20, I was at university and had already met the JLS boys. We were still in our pre-X Factor days but had huge aspirations of getting into the music industry, so that was my main focus then.
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous series of Strictly? I’ve got so many friends who have been involved in the show, but for me, it has to be Fleur East’s Salsa. I have many friends who are incredible dancers, but that performance is an incredibly memorable moment for me. She’s a good friend of the family, so it’s got to be that one.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? I’m really looking forward to being in that dance floor bubble. I actually enjoy the rehearsal process because I love taking an idea – or rather, my professional’s idea – and turning it into a spectacular performance. Whether I’ll be able to deliver every week, I don’t know, but I’ll certainly give it my best shot. Seeing that transition from day one of rehearsal, to running through it on Friday, and then finally, Saturday when it’s the real thing is something I’m excited about. And, of course, the outfits! Today I’m doing a photoshoot with gems all over my trousers and jacket, and I’m in pleather from head to toe – what’s not to love about that ?
Which dance are you most looking forward to trying? I’m looking forward to learning the Waltz. It’s a classic, isn’t it? And it looks impressive. Whether I’ll be any good at it, I don’t know. I’ll think I might find the Latin dances a bit easier since they’re more ‘steppy’ and have a bit more flair. The Salsa and Cha Cha will be fun too!
Have you been eyeing up your competition? Any thoughts on your competitors? I haven’t been paying too much attention to it. I know Jamie’s very good – he’s definitely got some twinkle in those toes. And Tasha I think will be impressive too. Shayne’s a dark horse, he’s got some movement in those hips. I’m just going to take each week as it comes.
How do you plan to balance your life on the farm with Strictly rehearsals? It will be quite difficult, you know. I’ve got my wife, Chlo, at home holding down the fort, and I’m hoping that with my rehearsal schedule, I’ll be able to spend a bit of time there in the mornings before heading into rehearsals. I want to enjoy the show and give it my all, but some downtime on a Sunday will be really nice as well.
Which of the JLS boys had the best reaction to you revealing that you’re taking part in Strictly this year? Probably Aston, surprisingly – as he initially thought that Chloe and I were announcing another baby (which we’re not!). Having done the show before, he’s full of support and happiness for me. I’m sure he’ll come down to support in person too, which will be amazing.
What words of encouragement have your family and friends given you? I just want to enjoy myself, which I’ll definitely try to do. I know it’s going to fly by, even if I make it through to the Grand Final. I’m going to focus on enjoying every single moment because it’s going to be great fun. The other celebrities I’ve met so far seem like a fantastic bunch, and the Professional Dancers are so full of talent too. It’s going to be great, and I’m really looking forward to it and getting stuck in.
Montell Douglas
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly 2024, what made you say yes? Saying yes to Strictly was an easy decision for me. It was never going to be a no because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do – bucket list energy. I didn’t even need the call; I was practically camped outside until they said yes. And here I am!
Describe Strictly in one word or phrase. Well, to me, Strictly is the biggest firecracker.
How does it feel to be part of the monumental 20th anniversary series? I love anniversaries and big moments in history. This is an iconic moment, not just for the show, but for everyone who watches and has been on this journey. I feel absolutely honoured to be a part of it, especially because it feels like it rounds off another generation of time. The show has grown so much, and I think everyone can resonate with that feeling of growth. And of course, more sparkles – you can never have too many!
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago? Well, 20 years ago, I was 18, so close to 20. At that time, I was probably rehabbing from a back injury I got from sprinting. I had torn multiple hamstrings, so I was on my way back to the top ranks in British sprinting.
I also remember having just turned down the World Junior Championships to achieve my first national title.
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous Strictly series? The biggest thing I remember from watching Strictly is Alesha Dixon. Watching her was life-changing for me. She inspired me immensely, and to this day, she continues to do so. Her attitude was fierce, and it made me want to be like her. That was my Strictly dream.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? Definitely not looking forward to the heels – my tiny ankles are already protesting. But I am excited about the costumes. I was a tomboy growing up, never really into dressing up, so this is a chance to be a completely different version of myself. I’m ready to embrace all the curls, shimmer, and glitz!
Which dance are you most looking forward to trying? The Samba! I love the Latin vibe – the hip flicks, hair flicks, and sass. I think it aligns with my Caribbean background, and the music and rhythm feel very natural to me. I’m looking forward to bringing a lot of my personality to the Samba.
Do you have a signature dance move that you always do at parties? I didn’t realise it, but apparently, I do! It’s a version of the Dougie, which is funny because my surname is Douglas. My mom used to say, “Do the Dougie!” So, I guess it’s become my signature move without me even knowing it.
Have you met some of the other celebrities? Are you eyeing up the competition? Of course! But I am my own competition. I believe in focusing on myself and giving 100% to everything I do. Everyone has their own special talents, and I think that’s our superpower. I’m just going to bring my best self and hope that’s enough.
You’re best known as ‘Fire’ from Gladiators. Are you excited to show people the real you? Do you differ a lot from your Gladiators persona? I’m super excited to show the real me. ‘Fire’ is an amped-up, more fun version of myself – sassy, playful, and over-the-top. But I’m also sarcastic by nature, and I think I can bring a lot of that humour to the show.
How do you think your Olympic achievements and time on Gladiators have prepared you for Strictly? I’ve got 20 years in the game, so I hope that’s more than enough! I’ve trained for Olympic Games, toured in freezing temperatures, and faced incredible physical challenges. If I can handle that, I hope I can handle Strictly. The athlete mindset of hard work, learning, and adapting will definitely help.
You made the switch from sprinting to bobsledding, competing in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Do you think that experience will help with switching from Latin to ballroom each week? Absolutely! Both sports are different, but they taught me adaptability, which I think is my superpower. Being able to switch from one style to another will be crucial, and I’m ready for that challenge.
What was the reaction from your fellow Gladiators when they found out you were doing Strictly? They found out when everyone else did, and it was hilarious. They were all dancing around and singing the theme tune. They’re all super excited for me and can’t wait to see me on the show. They’ve been incredibly supportive, and they’re already asking for tickets !
Nick Knowles
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly 2024, what made you say yes?
I’ve never had the time in my schedule to fit it in. In 40 years on British TV, I’ve never had the space to do it. I’ve been asked to do acting and West End shows, but I can’t commit to being away for three or six months. This year, there was a gap in my schedule, so I was able to take it on. Last year, we did a DIY SOS collaboration with Strictly for an amazing project up in the North East, and I really enjoyed spending time with the dancers and with Anton. They were all encouraging me to go for it, and I was toying with the idea. Then, while I was traveling in Patagonia, Argentina, I met dancers performing the Argentinian tango on a bandstand in Buenos Aires. They taught me a few steps fand I thought it was great. I didn’t move like the honey monster as I’d feared! I’m a big lad, 18 and a half stone, six foot two, with a 50-inch chest. I’ve spent my life playing rugby and running into people, so I’m not sure if I can be light on my feet, but I hope to find out over the next few weeks.
If you could describe Strictly in one word, what would it be?
It’s like a champagne supernova isn’t it?
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th anniversary series?
It’s amazing to be around for the anniversary. I remember when Strictly started, and how Brucey had a kind of rebirth right along with it. It was a magical fit— everybody loved Brucey, and the show instantly caught everyone’s imagination. Families don’t gather around a computer to watch things together, they sit down together for shows like Strictly and DIY SOS. These are feel-good, fun programmes that people watch as a group. So, being part of an anniversary period, even for a short time, is very special.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing aged 20?
At 20, I was working for the Ministry of Defence dealing with mainframe computers. I realised I didn’t like computers and much preferred working with people, so I decided it was time for a change. I went to Australia to play rugby and ended up getting on TV while I was there. 20 years ago today, I was building houses, because DIY SOS has been going for 25 years!
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous series of Strictly?
Ed Balls doing Gangnam Style is obviously a standout moment because it was so unexpected.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to?
I think the discipline of it is key. As a rugby player, I’m used to being solid on the floor and tackling other big guys. Now I need to undo that and become more graceful on my feet. I’m curious to see if I can move this frame around the dance floor elegantly, or if I’ll end up looking like a lump bouncing up and down.
Which dance are you most looking forward to trying?
The Waltz is a beautiful thing, and my mother who passed away 30 years ago absolutely loved the Waltz and dancing in general. The Argentine Tango as well is just that fiery thing. Weirdly, I’m quite a fan of the ballet and musicals. And there’s that fantastic sequence in Moulin Rouge, the Roxanne sequence, where they’re pretty much doing a variation of the Argentine tango. I’ve always thought that was an amazing piece of theatre. To be able to produce something like that would be brilliant.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
I’ve got several moves of my own choreography. There’s the elbow dance and the Devon dumpling, which I picked up from Devon builders I’ve worked with over the past 35 years. The Devon dumpling is a pretty ugly dance. I showed both the elbow dance and the Devon dumpling to Anton last year, and he was amazed. He said he’d never seen anything like it, which I took as a great compliment.
Have you been eyeing up your competition? Any thoughts on your competitors?
The truth is, I’m really competing with myself. I want everyone to do well. One of the biggest joys of Strictly is the camaraderie and support, which matches so well with DIY SOS. I want to do as well as I can. If I train as hard as possible and still come last, but know I’ve given it my all, I’ll be proud of myself. If I come first and know I’ve done everything I can, that’ll be an added bonus.
You mastered the art of TV presenting, but how do you feel about stepping into the Strictly spotlight as a dancer and showing off a whole new side of yourself?
I enjoy new challenges. Throughout my career, I’ve succeeded at something and then thought, “Okay, let’s roll the dice and start again.” I began as a journalist, moved into factual entertainment, did Saturday night quiz shows, wrote seven history dramas, made a film, then tackled a cookbook, and recently did travel shows. The next thing I do will be something different again. So when this opportunity to learn a new skill came up, I was excited.
On DIY SOS, you’ve transformed countless homes, how are you planning to transform yourself into a Strictly sensation?
Well, I’ve already started. Once it was confirmed, I knew I needed to get back to fighting weight. So, I’ve been on a tough fitness regime, losing eight kilos in five weeks, with about 4 or 5 more to go. I’m following my old rugby training routine because I used to really enjoy the off-season, eating and drinking well. That’s the first part. The second part is the actual training, focusing on getting fit and losing weight to be ready to compete.
You’re a very well-travelled man, have you seen any dance styles throughout your travels that you might be using as inspiration on the show this year? I’ve learned some amazing dances in Chile and Argentina with beautiful stories behind them.
When you told your fiancé and children about joining Strictly this year, what was their reaction? My kids were like, “Oh god,” because having a dad on TV is cool up until about age eight. After that, it becomes the most embarrassing thing in the world. They’d rather I was a milkman or worked in a factory— anything but be on TV! But despite the embarrassment, they’re excited for me and can’t wait to watch every week. They’ll be cheering me on no matter how well I do.
Paul Merson
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes? It’s because of my Mum. I always say my Dad played a big role in me becoming a professional footballer, but my Mum doesn’t get the credit she deserves. She loves the show, so it’s nice for her.
If you could describe Strictly in one word, what would it be?
Legendary.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th anniversary series? It hasn’t really sunk in yet because I try not to worry about things beyond my control. People ask if I’ll be nervous, but I won’t know until it happens. I prefer to take life one step at a time.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago? Or what were you doing aged 20? When I was 20 I was playing for the best club in the country at the time (Arsenal) and winning trophies.
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous series of Strictly? Watching my captain, Tony Adams. He was my captain growing up.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
Not really. I was brought up in an era where you’d hit the dancefloor at 5 to 2am just to slow dance before the club closed.
Have you been eyeing up your competition? Any thoughts on your competitors? No. God loves a trier and that’s all I’ll say.
Strictly is famous for it’s surprises. What are you most looking forward to discovering about yourself throughout this experience? Being out of my comfort zone which isn’t easy for most people. It’s like flying – I used to hate it, but now I’m alright with it.
Every footballer has a signature move. What’s your plan for making your mark on the dance floor? Can we expect to see any football inspired choreography? Not really, not like Tony’s. I’m not planning to take off my shirt! Hopefully, I’ll be okay on my feet – I’ve been on them all my life.
You’re known for your impressive football tekkers on the field, but how do you think that will translate to the ballroom? Do you think there’s any crossover between football and dancing? Yeah, I think so. You need to have some coordination, just like on a football pitch, and that’s crucial on the dance floor too. A good coach and quality teaching are the most important things. One lesson I learned from football is to always be around good players – and if things don’t go well, you can always blame the coach.
Pete Wicks
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes? The main reason is because almost everyone around me wants me to do it. They’ve been saying I should do it for years. But also my Mum.
Describe Strictly in one word/phrase? Sequins.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? It’s exciting, it’s obviously going to be a big year and it’s nice to be part of something so iconic.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago or what were you doing aged 20? 20 years ago, I was 16, just starting to work in the city. By 20, I was probably at the pub. That pretty much sums up my years from 16 to 20.
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous series? Going to the first live show last year to support my friend Zara McDermott.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? The end, whenever that may be. Probably after week two….
Which dance are you most looking forward to trying? You know what? The classy ones. Viennese Waltz.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties? I don’t have a dance move, full stop. At parties you’ll find me in the corner at the bar.
Have you been eyeing up your competition, any thoughts on that? I have a lot of thoughts on them. They’re a really eclectic bunch, which I love because everyone is completely different. Some are taking it very seriously.
You’ve mastered the art of drama on screen, but how do you feel about bringing that same intensity to the dance floor? Can we expect some fiery routines from you? In terms of drama on screen, I’ve been lucky enough to make a living from just being myself, so I’ll do the same with dancing. It’ll be as me, whether that means bringing the fire or not. And it probably will.
Strictly is famous for its sequins and sparkle – how do you feel about swapping your usual style for some seriously flashy dancewear? Are you ready to embrace the glam and tan? I notoriously love black which is probably off the table for the most part, so I’ve decided that I’m in for a penny, in for a pound Pete. I’ve told the costume team they can be as wild as they possibly want…
Dr Punam Krishan
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly 2024, what made you say yes?
I have been a fan of the show for years. It’s something that my son and I have watched together and we always looked forward to. My job entails quite an intense week, with a lot of pressure. And you feel quite drained at the end of it, so to have something to look forward to that just has magic, sparkle, dance, dreaminess is exactly what I fantasise about when I watch it on the TV from my sofa. So, this year, to have the call to do it, I literally feel like I’m just about to jump from my sofa into a complete dream. And that’s what made me say yes.
Describe Strictly in one word.
Pure magic.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series?
It feels extremely special to be part of it on the 20th anniversary. It’s a show that I’ve loved for so long, so to be part of this feels extremely special. I’m just very honoured to get to spend it with people that I’ve admired for years, the judges, the pro dancers and to celebrate with them.
The series is 20 years old. What were you doing 20 years ago?
Twenty years ago, I was at university. I had not long failed my third-year medical exams and was resitting them. ..how time flies by!
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous series?
There have been lots of moments that have just blown me away, that have made me go “aah” and “ooh.” I’d say the most iconic moment for me was when Rose danced to “Silent Symphony.” I’ve never had a moment give me so many goosebumps. It also became something that me, my patients, and the practice team all spoke about for quite a while, actually. It just stands out as something so formidable, so inspiring. I remember my son watching with me, and he was like, “I can’t believe she just did that. That was magical.” To be able to take people into a whole other world is one thing, but to do it in the way that Rose did really leaves an imprint on you. So that was very, very memorable. And Angela Rippon last year, with the leg lift that just went on and on and on, certainly became a topic of conversation in the GP consultation room for several weeks. Every time we discussed arthritis, people would say, “Did you not see that Angela Rippon leg lift?”
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to it all and am ready to surrender to the magic of Strictly. What it does for me when I watch it as a fan is that it makes me feel excited. It makes me feel hopeful. It inspires me. It makes me want to dance. I love the music, I love the colours, I love the outfits. And now to get to step into that, I’m looking forward to just experiencing and immersing myself in all of it.
Which dance are you most looking forward to trying?
I can’t dance at all, so I’m slightly terrified of every single one of the dances. However, the one that I’m most looking forward to will be the Salsa, because I think that’s really fun. I usually love the whole energy of that. But the Paso Doble is just a really fiery, passionate, dramatic dance.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties?
Unfortunately, I don’t have any signature moves. It’s usually very bad Mum dancing, which at the time I believe is very good dancing. However, footage often proves otherwise.
Have you been eyeing up your competition? Any thoughts on that?
Gosh, it’s a very tough competition, for sure. Everyone’s my competition, so I’m kind of looking out for everyone. But I wouldn’t say that I’ve picked out one specific person at this moment. I’m just going to go in there, do my best, and hope that it’s good enough to pull me through to the next week.
You’re used to live TV and Radio, but how does it feel to be dancing live in front of the nation?
It is terrifying. I have only ever done live TV and radio in a capacity as a doctor, where I’m relaying health information to the nation. I’m talking about things that are very much in my realm of expertise, and things that I can control and know about, whereas this is a complete unknown. So, to kind of step out and just get to be Punam, as exciting as that feels, it’s also very nerve-wracking. I certainly don’t have a clue what I’m doing in that respect, but I’m excited for leaping into it and just going with the flow, embracing the fear, and hopefully becoming comfortable in a whole other way of presenting myself in front of lots of people. But I’m not going to lie – it does feel very daunting.
You’ve said that you’re going to continue working in your surgery as a GP. Why is it important to you to continue to do this whilst you’re in the competition?
Yes, I am going to be working alongside doing Strictly because, first and foremost, I am a GP. I really enjoy my job, and I love being a doctor. I work in an incredible practice with a really lovely team, and they’re all mega Strictly fans as well. We’re going to make it work. That’s what we’re going to do, because as a doctor, especially, your first and foremost duty is to your patients. So to be able to then finish surgery and then take up an entirely new skill, learn to dance, and immerse myself in a whole other experience, I think will be really good for just kind of the mental well-being side of things. So, I hope that one will complement the other. They are completely different worlds, but it’ll be nice to see how they come together. And who knows, along the way, I’ll probably end up prescribing dancing to some of my patients.
Tell us about the reaction from your kids.
My kids are so excited, especially my eldest. My little boy and I have always watched Strictly together, it’s been our Saturday night thing over the years, and it’s a really special time of year because we just get unapologetic permission to sit in our cosies, have some snacks, and watch, cheer and dance. It’s always just been something that we do together, and I very much recognise that there will be a time when he won’t do that anymore. Every year he has said to me, “Mummy, I can see you doing Strictly one day,” and I’ve gone, “Don’t be so silly.” But then it’s come true. So when I told him, his reaction was unbelievable – he was thrilled. My little girl – she’s four – is just excited about the sparkly dresses and keeps asking, “Mummy, are you going to be dancing on the TV in sparkly dresses?” She’s all about sparkles, unicorns, and rainbows. They’re the ones that ultimately I want to make proud. I’m always telling them to reach for the stars, and I’m always telling them to believe in themselves. And it’s now my turn to kind of show them, hopefully, that Mummy does what she says.
You are representing Glasgow and Scotland this year, perhaps we will see some tartan with sequins and glitter? I am a proud Scot, so to be able to represent Glasgow and Scotland – bonnie Scotland – in Strictly feels very, very special. I just hope that I do them proud. To see tartan-infused sparkles in the numbers would be extremely magical. I could take it up a notch. I’m Indian as well, so I identify as being a Glaswegian Indian – a “Glajabi,” as I like to call myself.
So, yeah, a bit of Scottish, a bit of Indian in there – that would just be pure magic.
Sam Quek MBE
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing this year, what made you say yes? What an opportunity. There are so many facets to Strictly. First of all, where else would you be able to learn so many different dances with a Professional Dancer every single week. That was part of the reason. Also, now that I’m a Mum my everyday attire is leggings and a hoodie because it’s comfy. I did used to enjoy going out with the girls and getting done up on a Saturday night, putting my heels on and having a dance. Since having kids, I don’t have the time or energy as much so to come here to be full on Strictly-fied is exciting.
Describe Strictly in one word or phrase. Out of this world.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? Pretty honoured. Also 20 years of a show doesn’t happen by accident. It goes to show how successful it is and how it still maintains a top spot in UK entertainment and across the world. To be part of that 20th series and have my name on the board is pretty cool.
The show is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago? What were you doing age 20? I was completing my Sport and Exercise Science degree, whilst trying to be a full-time hockey player so trying to find a lot of balance. Then 20 years ago, I would have been 15 so still in school doing GCSEs. I was playing football and playing hockey but starting to decide what I wanted to do.
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous series? It’s the iconic moments. We all appreciate the iconic dances like Rose and Gio’s silent routine but for me, it’s also moments that made me smile, Anne Widdecombe, Dan Walker in his lobster suit, there’s so many.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? Learning the dances and hopefully becoming a little bit more coordinated. I go to red carpet events a few times a year and the most stressful bit is choosing the dress and doing my hair and makeup so I’m excited to be at the mercy of the Strictly glam squad.
Is there a dance you’re most looking forward to trying? The Paso doble. The intense ones.
Do you have a signature dance move you always pull out at parties? Yes! I used to do the Victoria Beckham on the sofa with her leg up pose before she did! My mates used to call it ‘the leg’. There are pictures of a group of us and you’ll see my foot or I’ll be on lying down and it’s just at the bottom of the picture. The girls keep saying I have to do the leg on Strictly.
Have you been eyeing up the competition? Any thoughts? I haven’t really. It can be easy to be looking around at who can do what but I learnt quite early in my hockey career that as soon as you start doing that you stop enjoying the process. You have to live in the moment and enjoy what you’re doing.
You must have an athlete mentality. Will you be applying that competitiveness, dedication and determination to the Strictly rehearsal room? Absolutely. It’ll all be there but the ability side is completely different. I knew I could play hockey and I knew if I focused, I could be a world beater. Whereas dancing, I’ve got no experience or no proper rhythm yet. I will give it my all though and hopefully I’ll be coachable.
You have young children. Are they fans of the show, and how excited were they when they found out you were taking part? I don’t think they realise what Strictly is. However, Molly loves sequins and loves dancing so I think her little mind’s going to be blown. They don’t really know what’s coming but I think they’ll be excited.
You’ve talked a lot about how important it is to be a positive influence on younger generations. Are you hoping to continue this by taking part in Strictly? I hope so. On social media there are so many different influences and pressures, especially on young girls. This Strictly glam up is amazing but you also have to remember this has been done professionally and the dress is actually designed to fit my body shape. You have to remember that this is not real life and although we look great and fabulous and it’s great to immerse yourself in, I can’t be like this in my normal day life because it’s not achievable without professional help. I like to stay real and make sure people realise what real is.
Sarah Hadland
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes? Sian Gibson. She was a big part in it. I feel like I’ve been in a Strictly closet for about 15 years and now I’m going, ‘yes, I really, really, really do want to do Strictly, actually’. I’m so ready for it. When I first put my Strictly dress on I cried which has apparently never happened in 20 years.
Describe Strictly in one word or phrase. It has to be fabulous, doesn’t it.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? Really, really exciting. I think what we love as a nation is a feel good show that the whole family can watch. I was a part of a show like that when I did Miranda and Strictly fits that brief too. Families love watching it because the grandparents can watch, parents can watch, kids can watch, and it unifies a family. It’s quite a rare thing, which is why I think Strictly is so popular.
The show is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago? That is a very long time ago. I was going around in massive platform shoes. I honestly can’t really remember but I think never in a million years would I have thought I’d be on Strictly. Ever.
Do you have any standout moments from watching previous series? Angela Rippon’s leg. I want to make a podcast called Angela Rippon’s leg conspiracy theories because I still don’t think it’s real. I think there was a system of pulleys and I will prove it. My other memory was Colin Jackson and Erin Boag when they danced with the puppets for their finale dance and lost the final. Also, I did love Jay McGuinness and Aliona’s dance to Pulp Fiction, that is such an iconic dance.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? The glam. Also the camaraderie of the group as I’m used to being thrown together with other actors but in this job you’re meeting people from so many other walks of life. I’m a massive sports fan, so being with Sam Quek, Montell Douglas Tom Dean – Olympians is amazing. That’s just so exciting.
Which dance you most looking forward to trying? Jive. I like quick, hoppy things, I don’t want to do anything slow which will be problematic.
Do you have a signature dance move that you always do at parties? A lot of stomping around, it’s quite an angry sort of dance. I like jumping around quite a lot.
Have you been eyeing up the competition. Any thoughts? I think everyone looks really good.
You started your career on stage in musicals, so you’re used to performing to a live audience. Do you think that will help you ahead of dancing live to the nation every Saturday night? No because of the number of people watching. When you’re in a live theatre, you’re in control and it’s not being filmed so it’s just in that moment. The only people watching are in the theatre so 2,000 people maximum. Also, when you’re acting on television you can do another take so you’re always in control. You can’t do that on Strictly. I might be the first person to stop and ask to start again.
In Miranda, Stevie’s impression of Heather Small singing Proud is iconic. Would you dance to that song if you had the opportunity? I think I probably have to. I’ve had so much on social media about that.
Your mum is a big fan of Strictly. What was her reaction when she found out you’re taking part this year? My Mum is so happy I’m doing it. I think this is the happiest she’s ever been about a job I’m doing. That was another factor in me saying yes to the show because I feel really lucky that I can do something to make her happy at this age, it’s really special.
Shayne Ward
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly this year, what made you say yes? I always had this voice in my head saying Strictly was out of reach because it’s a completely different world for me. Something strange happened this year, maybe it’s having two kids, but my gut was saying, this is the year to do it. It’s 20 years since I did X Factor next year and I feel as hungry now as I did back in 2005. I’m a massive believer that everything happens for a reason and so this is the right time to do it.
Describe strictly in one word or phrase. A beautiful being!
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? Super exciting. I’m completely honoured. It’s an extra bit of pressure but I feel blessed. I’ve watched for so many years and many people I know have done it. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most over the years is watching people progress when they start really out of their comfort zones. The fact that I’m one of those people now is exciting.
The show is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago or what were you doing age 20? I had just applied for X Factor. I turned 21 on my first performance singing Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx. I can’t believe it was 20 years ago.
Do you have any stand out memories from watching previous series? I think Danny Mac was great. Harry Judd, Rachel Stevens, Bill Bailey. There’s too many to mention. I love watching when somebody let’s go and doesn’t worry about how they look.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? Is it cliché to say all of it? This is so out of my comfort zone. I’m super excited because I want to challenge myself.
Which dance are you most looking forward to trying? So many. I’d love to try something like Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Zorro. Like a Tango or just something where it’s really intense.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties? I’m still figuring it out so you’ll have to wait and see!
Have you been eyeing up your competition? Any thoughts? Of course, I know JB Gill as we obviously went through the same journey on X Factor and I’ve played football with Jamie Borthwick. I was on Catchphrase with Paul Merson years ago. What’s nice is that we are all there for the same reason. I want everybody to do well and you instantly become a family. I felt that from the first day we all met, you could see people were nervous, but I knew instantly that we’re going to put on a great show.
As well as screen acting, you’re used to performing on stage. Do you think that will help prepare you for different styles of dance? Definitely. Dancing is a bit like playing a part, I guess, so I should be able to tap into whatever that character is.
You have two young children. Are they excited to see you on the Strictly dance floor? Were they excited when you first told them you were taking part? My son is too young really. He’ll be in bed and watch replays which he’ll be super excited for. He’ll see his own curly hair bouncing on the screen as well. My daughter is beside herself. She wants to be a singer and also a dress designer so when I showed her the Strictly outfits she was so excited.
We noticed that you’ve grown your hair long at the moment. Is that an indication of how much you’re going to embrace the Strictly glam? I’ve been playing a detective in a crime drama and wanted to be like Don Johnson in Miami Vice. My hair has got a mind of its own. I’ve kept it long purposefully now for Strictly because I never want to look the same. People have their opinion on it but I’m excited about having hair.
Tasha Ghouri
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes? Taking part in Strictly is something that I’ve dreamed of ever since I was little as I’ve always been a massive fan of the show. It’s something I’ve always had in my goals, in my manifestation. To take part is really a dream come true.
Describe Strictly in one word/phrase? Glitterball.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? I feel like this year is definitely a big year to be part of it, and it feels like the right time to be part of something so special. It’s going to be really magical.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago? / What were you doing aged 20? I was five years old so I was very young, I don’t remember much from when I was five. Maybe I could look ahead to in 20 years’ time? In 20 years I’ll be happy with Andrew, hopefully with more dogs, hopefully married and maybe living abroad which is a goal as well!
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous series? Yes, I absolutely loved Hamza Yassin’s Salsa. I always watch it back and think it looked so joyous and it was just an incredible moment. Ashley Robert’s contemporary routine was epic too. There’s been so many standout moments.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? I think dancing on the Ballroom floor is the most exciting part for me. Getting out there with my professional partner and dancing in the moment together for however many minutes.
Which dance are you most looking forward to trying? The Tango, every time I’ve watched it on TV it looks so passionate and so strong. You have to be very in the zone together so I feel like that would be a really cool one to learn.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties? I do, Andrew always says that I have my mouth open and bob my head from side to side. He’s always like, ‘what are you doing?’
Have you been eyeing up your competition, any thoughts on that? For me, I like to say that I’m competitive with my feet. Everyone I’ve met so far is amazing. We’re a Strictly family of course but it’s also a competition, so I’ll try my hardest every week and just do my best.
You’ve mentioned previously that doing Strictly is your dream come true. Why is it so special to you and what does it represent? When I look at Strictly, it means representation. Rose [Ayling-Ellis] was on there and she was absolutely incredible. To follow in Rose’s footsteps means a lot to me. I’m doing this for myself and the deaf community, and for people who struggle with their confidence. I’m here to help them find self-love and confidence. To me, this is really about raising awareness and doing something for myself, because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
How do you plan to bring your unique story into powerful performances? I mean it’s all down to the choreographer’s choreography but I’ve always said that I’d like to challenge myself doing a dance completely deaf. I’d love to give that a go.
Tasha, you’ve inspired so many with your journey so far – what message do you hope to share with your fans through your performances on Strictly, and how do you want them to feel when they see you dance? I want people to feel seen and heard and understood when they see me dance. I want to bring people along with me on my journey and feel it all with me. I really hope they feel represented and heard.
Tom Dean MBE
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes? I was really looking forward to trying something completely different. And you probably can’t get much further away from swimming than doing some Ballroom dancing.
Describe Strictly in one word/phrase? Really exciting. Really, really exciting.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? I think I’ve landed on my feet being part of that one so I feel very lucky. I know it’s going to be pretty amazing.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago? / What were you doing aged 20? Well, 20 years ago, I’d have just turned four. I can’t remember what I was doing, but when I was 20, I was training. It was the year before the Olympics, so I was training hard.
Do you have any standout memories from watching previous series? I remember watching quite a few of my colleague Adam [Peaty]’s dances. It’s helpful to see what to do as a swimmer.
Which aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? I’m actually most looking forward to the training because I think it’s going to be physically tough, but in a different way.
Which dance are you most looking forward to trying? I quite enjoy the Salsa.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties? I can’t say I do, but I’ve picked up a few already, so maybe I’ll choose one of those as my signature move. I always get pinned for a few swimming moves.
Have you been eyeing up your competition, any thoughts on that? Everyone seems raring to go, so I think it’s going to be a tough competition this year.
Tom, you’ve already struck gold at the Olympics – how do you plan to bring that winning mindset to the Strictly dance floor and aim for a gold-standard performance? Well, it’s gold or nothing, really. It’s kind of the same as what I’m used to—training hard for a big competition at the end of it.
How has Adam Peaty’s journey on Strictly influenced your expectations and approach to the competition? Has he given you any advice? Yeah, he has. He basically said, “Prepare yourself because it’s tough,” and his feet were really hurting for quite a lot of it, so I need to get ready for that.
Toyah Willcox
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly this year, what made you say yes? I’ve always wanted to do it. I love the idea of dancing. I think dancing is one of the most extraordinary things about being a human being. I just love it. I think it’s the greatest way of expressing and getting in touch with your emotions. Music has always made me want to dance, so it feels very natural to have said yes to Strictly.
Describe strictly in one word or phrase. Uplifting.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? It’s a heavy weight to carry. I want to be brilliant. I want to be my best. I’m not necessarily a dancer but I am definitely a mover. I just don’t want to ever let anyone down. It’s fabulous being part of the 20th anniversary, but also it has huge responsibility as well.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago or what were you doing aged 20? I was a punk rock singer. I was touring. I made the movie Jubilee, then the Tempest, then The Corn Is Green with Catherine Hepburn, then Quadrophenia. That was a huge year for me.
Do you have any stand out memories from watching the previous series? Ann Widdecombe. I loved her strength of personality, her conviction, her selfconfidence. I mean, that’s a real focus point for me. If I’m feeling I can’t do something, I just channel my inner Ann Widdecombe.
What aspects of Strictly are you most looking forward to? I’m looking forward to the flowing movement of dance. There are certain dances that flow like water and I’m really looking forward to that. The more frenetic stuff is going to be quite challenging, just because of my age, but I know I can do it. I move on stage still now, but the stuff that flows, that has a kind of zen about it, I’m really looking forward to.
What dance are you most looking forward to trying? The Foxtrot. I’m very tomboyish, I’m very boisterous, and I’ve never felt feminine so I’m looking forward to doing something that makes me feel feminine.
Do you have a signature dance move you always do at parties or on stage? I do a kind of wacky Salsa. I’m not a hip hopper but, you know, forwards, backwards, forwards, backwards. It always works.
Have you been eyeing up your competition? Any thoughts? Oh, yeah. I think Sarah Hadland is fabulous. She looks fabulous. She’s a wonderful person and great fun to be with. She’s a great mover too, so is JB Gill. Jamie Borthwick is one of my favourite people in the world. I actually saw him on a plane before I knew him, and I’ve seen how he behaved. He’s a genuinely fabulous human being. I love Tom, he’s so sweet. I really think Pete Wicks is going to throw the cat among the pigeons. I think he’ll make great TV. I’m so excited.
You’re used to performing on big stages but how are you feeling about dancing live on TV to a huge audience every Saturday night? Part of me will absolutely excel because I’m a natural show off. I must admit, when I arrived for our first day, I couldn’t even speak. I was so terrified I sat in my dressing room, thinking, ‘what have I done?’ I think there’s a sense of imposter syndrome as well, which I’ve always had to battle with. Even on stage at Glastonbury, I was like, ‘why am I here?’
Would you be keen to dance to one of your songs on Strictly? If so, what would you pick? I was in a crossover period from the late 70s into the 80s so I went from high energy punk into almost ploddy rock. I Want To Be Free is an anthem and almost like a waltz. It’s that slow. It would make a great statement about self, identity, confidence and power. It’s A Mystery is a waltz, so that’s possible. I’d probably laugh my head off. I’d find it very funny but would certainly be up for it.
You’re known for your iconic looks and outfits throughout your career. That must mean you’re excited for the sequins and glam of Strictly. Absolutely, it’s fabulous. Love it.
Wynne Evans
When you got the call inviting you to take part in Strictly Come Dancing 2024, what made you say yes? It’s the best show ever and I used to watch it when I was a little boy. I’m talking about the original Come Dancing, we used to watch it every weekend.
Describe Strictly in one word. Sparkly.
How does it feel to be part of the momentous 20th Anniversary series? It’s incredible. When I look around the room, I feel like a competition winner. I’m just taking it all in and enjoying myself.
The series is 20 years old this year. What were you doing 20 years ago? What were you doing at 20? I wish 20 was 20 years ago firstly. I was 32, 20 years ago, and I was principal at the Welsh National Opera. I had a two-year-old daughter and I was just singing all the time. At 20, I was at the Guildhall School of Music, studying music and having too much fun probably.
Do you have any standout memories from watching the previous series? Bill Bailey because I admire him as a musician. I think he’s not somebody that you would expect to have done so well on Strictly so he is my standout. You could tell that he understood the musical side as well as the dance side.
Which aspect of Strictly are you most looking forward to? All of the costumes. I’m also really looking forward to the musical arrangements because I think Dave Arch and his team are amazing. I’ve been on a bit of a weight loss journey, so I’m looking forward to doing more training. I’m looking forward to pretty much everything.
Is there a dance you’re most looking forward to trying? I’ve sung in a lot of Viennese concerts, especially the famous New Year’s Day ones, so I’m looking forward to the Viennese Waltz. Although the more I see of it the more difficult it looks.
Do you have any signature dance moves you always do at parties? Yes. The slug. It’s like the worm but less energetic. In fact, it’s practically static.
Have you been eyeing up your competition? Not really. I’m the old, tired one at the back. I’m fine with that!
You’re a trained opera singer and used to performing to big crowds. How do you think that will prepare you for dancing on Strictly? I’m used to the live element but I’m well trained at opera singing so I can keep my composure. I think that composure goes out the window when you’re doing something that you’re not trained to do. I’ve always found the middle of a stage, no matter how many people are watching, to be quite a calming place because I know what I’m doing, but I think that could change.
Do you have any dance experience? None.
You’re representing Wales this year. Do you have any special tricks up your sleeve to make sure you do Wales proud? No, but I’m hoping we can get big Welsh music in at some point. Also, whoever I get as a partner I want to show them a bit of Wales and give them the full Welsh experience.
If you could dance to any Welsh band or song, who or what would you choose? There are so many, Catatonia or Stereophonics and the Manic Street Preachers but it has to be Tom Jones or Shirley Bassey.
