It’s A Funny Old World: Gary Edwards
When I took up dancing at school in Essex, my careers teacher said I needed to focus on getting a proper job. But I’m so pleased I didn’t listen and pursued my dream. My career has had some highlights, but the most incredible of them happened when I was working for the Sultan of Brunei a few years ago.
I had been installed in a palace as Prince Jefri’s dance teacher and I taught a range of people – from members of the royal family to celebrity guests. I never knew who might come in, as guests could choose to laze by the pool, play polo or have dance lessons. But on one occasion even the Gurkhas who guarded my door had a look of surprise on their faces, and for the first time in my life I was speechless because Michael Jackson, who had flown over as a guest, turned up wanting me to teach him.
He asked a multitude of questions about my dancing – perhaps surprisingly he was fascinated by ballroom and salsa – then came the request, ‘I want to learn the cha-chacha! Can you teach me?’
I felt instant fear – apart from anything else, what music would
I play for the King of Pop?
In a piece of wonderful luck I happened to have his greatest hits to hand, so I played Billie Jean, which reverberated around the studio.
Once the music started, he beamed me a smile and I started to relax. I showed him some steps and he loved it, picking up the moves instantly like the great dancer he was. I’d never had a student like this before – or, if I’m being honest, since then. He put his own spin on the moves and it was truly incredible to watch. We ended up with a really funky cha-chacha. How I wish I’d videoed it!
As it turned out, I also got to work with Michael’s sister Janet. I absolutely fell for her and spent hours dancing with her and her group.
Other fun memories include trying to teach Barry White, the ‘Godfather of Soul’ a few steps. He was a big guy and he wanted to learn to waltz, of all things. As we twirled around I just couldn’t help thinking about his hit songs, and he was a great sport.
While I was there I gave lessons to former England cricket captain Ian Botham and his friend, West Indian cricket legend Viv Richards, but the guys were having too much fun to take it seriously. The closest I got was being involved in a food fight with the pair on a private jet, sort of the mashed potato dance with chocolate cake – or was it a samba roll?
Finally, MC Hammer was one of the best students I’ve had, with incredible style and timing. After I had him in the studio for a session he persuaded me to join his party in the disco and restaurants and we had a ball for a few days. We even went go-karting together and somehow I still have a pair of his trousers somewhere – don’t ask!
I’ve always been happy to stand out from the crowd and perhaps that’s as well, because at 6ft 4in I’m known as ‘the Ballroom Giant’! I feel I’ve had a blessed life and career and now divide my time between my home in Florida and my lovely house in Essex – if my old teacher at school could see me now!