The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
I never wanted to be famous...I wanted to be the best
CARLOS GU TELLS MARION MCMULLEN HE IS READY TO STRUT HIS STUFF AS THE STRICTLY PROS GO ON TOUR
How did you get into dancing growing up in China?
I was a bit of a naughty boy when I was young. I was very active and energetic. I wasn’t good at school, but I always moved when I heard music. My mum sent me to different dance classes and at the end of the day she chose Latin dance for me because my first Latin teacher was a goodlooking man and my mum fancied him. (Laughs)
But I’m so fortunate and happy that I chose this journey. It changed my life and shaped who I am today. I am born to perform.
How much training do you do? The training is endless. Chinese New Year is a big holiday, but from 15 or 16 I never had a chance to celebrate with my family because that was the time to travel to Denmark and Germany to train.
Holidays are the only time you can improve more because more people are resting and enjoying the break... I never really had two weeks off in my life until I joined Strictly.
I want to have some time for me now because dancing takes all of my life.
How long did it take you to accept the Strictly job? Instinctively I said yes straight away. I’ve been coming to the UK since I was 15. My coach lived in the UK, so I travelled here four or five times a year to train as a professional dancer.
The UK is so famous for ballroom and
Latin dance, so everything is happening here. That’s why I think
Strictly has got so big, it is where everything has come from. That’s why going to Blackpool is one of the biggest, proudest things for every single one of us on the show.
Dancing is such a small circle and I was a professional competitor within the industry and doing quite well, I think Strictly always wanted someone from Asia. They contacted me to see if I was interested and my best friend Nancy (Xu) is also on the show. Strictly is an explosion and there is so much you can do as a dancer.
Do you ever get used to people asking for autographs? It’s such a beautiful thing that people recognise your work and what you do on TV as a dancer.
It is a gift.
I never wanted to be famous. I never wanted to be well-known. All I wanted to do all my life is be the best at what I do.
Are you looking forward to the Strictly Come Dancing - The Professionals tour?
There are 12 pros for the tour for the first time and everyone is so buzzing about it. The Pro Tour is where we can showcase our ability to our limit. With the celebrities you need to compromise because you need them to look good not you look fabulous, but the Pro Tour is the opportunity to show the best bits of ourselves.
Can anyone be taught to dance? Dance is a language that everyone can speak. It’s a great form to express yourself – dance like no-one is watching.
Of course, if you are teaching someone with a little bit or rhythm in their bodies, a little bit of co-ordination, it is easier to look good. I think everyone can dance, we can teach everyone, it then depends what you want from that. If it is just a bit of fun, why not?
Is it hard to listen to criticism from the Strictly judges?
I think I take criticism quite well because, in the competition industry, you don’t get much harder than that on the show.
I respect every single one of the judges, it’s a show, and you meet them in person and they are lovely spirits and human beings.
But it can be hard for celebrities because they don’t understand. As the partner, we have to take all that criticism and try to explain to them that they can’t let it get them down. Judges only see one side of them, that dance in that week, but we know how much work they have put into everything.