Postcard from LA
Strictly Come Dancing The Professionals Edinburgh Playhouse, SEC Armadillo, Glasgow, Saturday-Sunday
While a huge part of Strictly’s success is seeing how celebrities with little previous dance experience improve week by week, there is no doubt the show’s professionals have become stars too.
The Strictly Professionals tour is currently back on the road, and this year there are more pro dancers involved than ever before.
Twelve of the show’s biggest names have been showing off their sequin-studded skills around the UK, and while the dancers love having the chance to perform in front of thousands of live fans each night, some of them are also missing their little ones back home.
Gorka Marquez had a son, Thiago, last summer with partner Gemma Atkinson, their second child together.
“Mia loves to see Daddy dance,” he said of his four-year-old daughter. “When we’re in London or Manchester on the tour, Gemma will bring Mia to see me. I try to get home on odd days the rest of the time. I’m a judge on the Spanish version of Strictly so I’m used to being away from home.
“Thiago’s too young to understand the passage of time. But this is all part of the job and I’m doing something I love.”
Like Gorka, Neil Jones, 42, now has an extra imperative not to be too far from home for too long. Last October, his girlfriend, Chyna Mills, gave birth to their baby daughter, Havana.
“Chyna will bring the baby to see me if I’ve only got one show that day so I can spend time with her,” he said.
Like Neil, 41-year-old Karen Hauer has been with Strictly for more than 10 years.
“I love everything to do with Strictly, and the pro tour has a very special place in my heart. We’re the spine of Strictly and this is something each of us has been crafting since we were children. This is our passion so what better than to demonstrate it on stages around the country? When we’re out there, we’re alive.”
She trains every day to maintain her stamina. “Neil and I are in our 40s now so we’re conscious of keeping up with all the younger dancers. For me, that involves walking my dogs, cycling regularly, working out every day. But there’s no better training than dancing itself.
“Touring makes its own demands. Time and again, though, any exhaustion you might feel simply evaporates when you’re in front of an audience. Nothing is more exciting.”
By contrast, Cypriot-born Michelle Tsiakkas, 28, is one of Strictly’s newest recruits, joining the troupe in 2022 and was part of the arena tour last year. Until now, she has never toured solely with the professionals.
“I’m very excited about it,” she said. “I went to see the pro tour last year, so I know a little of what to expect. What struck me was that it was the pros doing what they love best.
“In the studio, you’re mostly focused on the cameras; in the theatre, the focus is going to be the audience in front of you, which gives you the opportunity to feed off their energy.”
This will be the second pro tour for Vito Coppola, 31, who with actress Ellie Leach won the glitterball last year.
“I enjoyed last year’s pro tour so much; it was my first time ever dancing on a stage in front of an audience. It took me a moment or two to get used to the space restrictions. In a theatre, there’s an edge to the stage.
“But if you’re surrounded by 11 other professionals, somehow you all dance as one body. These dancers are from all over the world but they’re like brothers and sisters to me – and what unites us is our passion for dance. It’s very special.”