Curse of Strictly? This TV dance routine is magic for marriage!
AS my feet left the ground and I felt myself soar, one thought occurred: I have never been lifted by a man before. What a way to start!
I am 48, a late-in-life mum and recently menopausal. The Italian stallion doing the lifting was half my age at 24, all snake hips and sizzle, with a torso likely to be The star of the show.
Actually, I owe Strictly’s new heartthrob – sorry, professional – a big thank you. Graziano di Prima and I were partnered for the group dance on the first day of training. I could not have asked for a more charming partner.
It was rather surreal though, and dancing with Britain’s hottest new Strictly professional in front of millions, wearing no more than a doily, unleashed a few butterflies.
It’s likely viewers could appreciate Graziano’s smouldering gaze more than I did. I couldn’t meet his eyes, so furiously was I fixated on my feet. And I had to stifle a giggle in rehearsals when he stood behind me, hips glued to mine, instructing me to ‘Scoop scoop’ in a delicious Italian accent.
That particular instruction, for the sake of my husband, is a dance move. I obeyed enthusiastically, but the lift was something else. As Graziano spun me around I found myself whispering in his ear ‘I am sorry, I am so sorry’.
As for Aljaz, now my official Strictly partner – well, I still cannot believe it. As Claudia said, I had, for weeks, been telling anyone who would listen that my dream partner would be Aljaz Skorjanec, the super-smiley, sunny Slovenian.
Why? Because in addition to being a brilliant choreographer and having a great track record (he won with Abbey Clancy in 2013, and got to the finals with Gemma Atkinson last year), Aljaz is fun, cheeky and, crucially, tall. I stand at 5ft 10in in bare feet.
Before Saturday’s show, I had a recurring nightmare that I would be paired with a far shorter man. The wonderful make-up artists had put the fear of God into me when they said that maybe the powers-thatbe would go for mixed-height couples this year for a laugh. So when I heard Tess say ‘Aljaz’ – it felt like Christmas!
IhAVe lost count of the times I have been told in the past 24 hours that I have ‘lucked out’. And I get two for the price of one with Janette, Aljaz’s beautiful wife and a Strictly professional. They’ve been introduced to Mike, my husband, and we’re already talking Sunday lunches.
But first training. We start today in a location near my children’s school. It’s my son Wilbur’s first day, so it will be memorable on many levels. The best bit is that I can be there for the drop-off and pick-up with an added bonus for my fellow mums on the school run as Aljaz says he’ll come with me!
My nerve almost failed me on day one, however, when I met ‘wardrobe’ for the first time. I had been asked to bring a swimsuit, and I put it on while I stood in the middle of the room, being measured EVERYWHERE. It got worse. I had to take even the swimsuit off to then clamber into the ‘dress’.
I think I’ve used bigger hankies. It was pinned and pulled, and then a mirror was presented for me to take a look. ‘Where’s the rest?’ I asked.
‘Surely you are going to add bits on, more material, feathers, a cardboard newsdesk attached to the bottom, you know, just to hide my legs?’ The wardrobe ladies convinced me I could get away with it. That’s the genius of Strictly – the team’s sole intention is to make you feel good about yourself, whatever age, shape or size. The contestants have bonded quickly – fear is a powerful glue. on Saturday night I watched the launch show at Joe Sugg’s flat, celebrating with his friends, family and fellow contestants.
My husband remains slightly bemused. Mike is a military man – a former Royal Marines Commando who runs a business in terrorism and hostile environment training. he is rarely fazed, but he did raise his eyebrows, perhaps because I managed to trip him up during our wedding dance. or perhaps it was because he was considering the so-called ‘Strictly curse’? I did detect a flicker when I told him I had been dancing with Graziano. he’s since sent me texts saying: ‘You looked really hot today babe’, not language my military man often uses, but I’m all for it! I reckon we’ll reverse the Strictly curse. It may even end up Strictly marriage magic!