Dancing is a bit different
Duo perform in Birmingham and Leicester next year
STRICTLY stars James and Ola Jordan are about to be seen uncensored.
Marion McMullen finds out what to expect.
James And Ola: Uncensored will be your first nationwide tour as a couple. How did it all come about?
James: We’ve been asked to do shows for the last 10 years, but have never said yes before. This is perfect for us. We have total artistic freedom and it is just going to be so good. We can do whatever we want the way to want to do it. We can choose the music, choreography and can push ourselves to the limit.
Ola: We’re very excited about it. We’ve never been on tour together before and it’s a bit different and a bit sexy.
The show tells your own love story. What can audiences expect?
James: It’s our life story told through dance and it’s going to be quite emotional for us. It’s about Ola coming from Poland, then a communist country, and our partnership, competitive dancing and Strictly.
We were regulars on Strictly for 10 years. This is going to be more edgy. Ola was one of the sexiest dancers on Strictly.
Ola: (Laughs) Thank you darling. show This want James: Ola: James: has audiences that’s We more I’m Happy, just didn’t only emotion. dance to sad, saying. leave want after angry... the to dance. show do we a feeling targeted How all are as their well. preparations emotions have going? been started James: to (Laughs) get in shape. We’ve I’ve already not been on Strictly for three years and Ola for two and we know we need to get back in shape.
We’ve got six months before the tour starts. That sounds like a lot of time, but it’s going to fly by. So, no more alcohol, Ola is not letting me drink, and no sugar in tea or coffee. And I have stopped smoking.
Ola: I’m doing a bit of everything to get fit for the tour. We support each other and that’s quite nice as well. We’re really looking forward to dancing together again.
What food will you miss the most?
James: Indian, Chinese, pizza, burgers, fizzy drinks – anything bad that tastes amazing. It’s going to be hard at Christmas with no mince pies and no alcohol. We’ll be sitting at home watching sad movies.
Ola: I will miss my Mum’s cooking.
James: I would say I will miss my just a friends the big Ola: The wife’s ballroom moved Christmas. tour Oh, and cooking, begins so going so world we naughty. won’t We’ll to but in the in the I Black- be won’t. be gym. We heart having seeing have of pool. special James: Does memories I the went town for twice hold you? a year from stopped the competitive time I was 15 dancing. until I We’ve done so many championships there with each other. Ola: I remember seeing James at Blackpool. I suppose in a way it was the start of our story. James, you flew to Poland 17 years ago to try out with Ola as a new dance partner. When did you feel the chemistry was right between you? Ola: I think from the beginning. I liked James when I saw him. James: Well, it’s understandable. Ola: I thought I would come to England and see what happens. I loved my dance, it was the most important thing in my life, and I came here to dance ... and a year later we started dating. We got on so well. James: And we’ve just celebrated our wedding anniversary as well. Were you prepared for the success of Strictly Come Dancing?
James: I joined in series four when it was starting to get bigger, but we never realised how many people would end up watching. It’s just a juggernaut of a show and I think the format is good for many more years.
Ola: We would always support and help each other a lot on the show.
James: When Ola won in 2009 I was more happy than if I had won the glitterball trophy myself.
Have you suffered any injuries over the years?
James: We’ve both had lots of injuries. It’s part of the life of a dancer. It not like footballers who get paid when they are off. Dancers carry on and we are quite resilient. Ola’s had a stress fracture in her hip and you get joint problems.
Ola: It’s just general wear and tear. Can anyone learn to dance? James: No. Ola: Yes! James: OK, yes. Everyone can learn moves, but there is a limit. You have to have a little bit of something. Some people have natural ability.
James and Ola: Uncensored is at New Alexandra Theatre, Birming ham, on March 5, and De Montfort Hall, Leicester, two days later.