NEW SHOW FOR STRICTLY STARS
Strictly stars Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington had so much fun touring their Once Upon A Time show last year that they have decided to hit the road again. RICHARD BARBER reports.
NADIYA, 34, says of their new dance extravaganza Behind the Magic: “We felt we had much more to say and show to our lovely audience.
“The point is to lift the curtain on what goes on behind the scenes – in a dance studio, in how the team comes together, in wardrobe and so on.
“I’m particularly passionate about the costumes, not least because my mum, Larisa, creates most of the designs.”
The month-long tour will feature three auxiliary dancing couples and a singer, who also plays various instruments.
Rumour has it that Nadiya might even burst into song. With a coy smile she reveals: “I might – I did a Marilyn Monroe routine in last year’s show and that included a bit of singing.”
What about Kai? “I think you might see me pick up my guitar,” he says.
As with Once Upon A Time, the choreographer will be Scott Caldwell.
“I worked with him on the Here Come The Boys stage show at the London Palladium,” says Nadiya, “so I know how good he is.”
The tour finishes in Southampton, much to the delight of Kai, 28, who says: “That’s a particular thrill for me, because it’s my home town.”
While any tour is demanding for pro dancers, it will be more so for Nadiya who uniquely among Strictly’s professionals is a mother.
Daughter Mila, now seven, lives with her in London. “She’ll be in school every day throughout June and being looked after by my mother – Mila calls her Babushka.
“Although I will come home as often as I can if we’re not too far from London.
“It’s tough and, every year, it gets tougher. I want to spend as much time as possible with her but we’ll finish the tour and then – I hope – the call will come to get involved in the next series of Strictly, although of course that will make more demands on my time.”
Nadiya and Kai first met on Strictly when he joined the troupe of professional dancers in 2021 and they fell in love.
‘I could see right away he was a real gentleman’
Nadiya had been part of the 2017 intake along with Amy Dowden and Dianne Buswell.
At that stage Kai was a backing dancer on the show. When he met Nadiya he says: “I thought she was absolutely stunning and that’s when we started to talk. But it wasn’t until we danced together that the magic happened.”
Nadiya explains: “We just fitted together – everything worked. That’s the only way I can describe it. Dancing with Kai felt like the easiest thing in the world.”
Kai says: “When I’d watch Fred and Ginger on the big screen, it seemed like they were made for each other. Well, that’s how it felt with me and Nadiya. It was an American Smooth and everything just clicked into place.”
By then, the two had started talking.
“I could see right away that he was kind, a real gentleman,” says Nadiya.
“We shared the same values, but it was a slow burn.we were friends first – and don’t you think that’s the best way? I’m very careful before I allow someone to get close to me.”
Kai says he realised early on that something special was unfolding: “Then, when we danced together for the first time, that was it. Our fate was sealed.”
Mila has a strong relationship with Kai. “She used to call me Kai Lemon Pie but it’s changed now,” he says, “to Candy Cotton Kai.”
Surrounded as she is by two dancers, might Mila follow them into the profession?
“We’ll see,” says her mother. “She’s a very tal