Take A Seat, Before They Burn The Floor

Interview: Strictly’s Kevin Clifton & Graziano Di Prima

Strictly Come Dancing heartthrobs Kevin and Graziano talk secrets, their favourite ballroom dances and the UK tour of Burn The Floor – which is coming to York’s Grand Opera House on the 1st of May!

Legend has it, that the inspiration for internationally acclaimed ballroom dance show ‘Burn The Floor’ came to fruition at a humble birthday party. The year was 1997, double denim and dolly the sheep were both alive and a shy and retiring musician named Elton John was celebrating his 50^th birthday, and as the room fell silent a group of ballroom dancers took to the floor and the world of stage performance changed forever.

Burn The Floor has traveled across the globe having been performed in London’s West End and New York’s Broadway and many more venues the world over and this year it is set to dance across the UK! At the helm is BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing’s professional Kevin Clifton who praises the show not only for revolutionizing ballroom dancing but re-igniting his own passions. So with the production due to arrive in our own dear city’s Grand Opera House, we’ve caught up with Kevin and his comrade in arms and Strictly’s newest heartthrob, Italian Graziano Di Prima.

Tell us something people might not know about you?

Kevin: I can’t ride a bike.

Graziano: People don’t know that I am alive for a miracle! I was born premature at six months, but I was strong and I survive! Life is a good gift, and dancing and love makes me feel good!

If you could go back in time to any era that represents a certain dance, which one would you choose and why?

K I would love to go back to either the Fred Astaire era, as there was such romance about dance in those times. Or maybe the 40’s when Lindy Hop was bursting onto the scene, as it’s such an energetic style.

G Jive for me is very inspirational. I especially like the era it comes from.

Why is Burn the Floor so influential and inspiring to the Ballroom dance world?

K BTF pushes the boundaries of what we can achieve with Ballroom dancing. It’s so much more than wearing sparkly shirts and dancing the competition style. It’s years ahead of most Ballroom dancing I see and is constantly seeking to improve and explore where we can take our style.

G Because in Burn the Floor you are free to express the joy of dancing, in the competition you are judged based on a technical skill. In Burn the Floor you become an artist in all it’s aspects!

Any embarrassing moments on stage or live TV?

K On live TV on my first series of Strictly I did an Argentine Tango with Susanna Reid. I wanted to do the Michael Jackson lean from Smooth Criminal. I had the special boots and equipment. In rehearsal it looked incredible, but the live show was the only time I couldn’t get my boots clipped in, so I just leant forward on one leg.

G Not really, but I didn’t expect so much positive enthusiasm from the audience.

Burn The Floor will be coming to The Grand Opera House on 01/05/2019. For more information on Burn The Floor including dates and where to find you’re nearest venue click here! So this year why not revel in the Rumba, come alive to the Jive and succumb to the Samba!