Strictly Come Dancing's Oti Mabuse Talks to Marianka Swain About Her

Creative energy CREATIVE Tyrone Huntley and Oti Mabuse. EEENERGY Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse talks to about maybe performing in a musical, someone is singing and acting for two Marianka Swain about but I was always nervous about the hours, and for a lot of shows. I couldn’t singing part. Then Paul asked if I’d make it too difficult, but at the same her theatre choreography like to create something instead, and I time I wanted to make it interesting.” debut, Ain’t Misbehavin’ said absolutely. So now I’m doing my Mabuse notes that doing her own project outside of the ballroom tour with Ian Waite gave her world, which is very exciting.” experience creating for the stage. Ain’t Misbehavin’ celebrates jazz “The extra element here is the o say Oti Mabuse is busy would legend Fats Waller and the raunchy performers really interact with the be a vast understatement. nightclubs of 1920s Manhattan – an audience directly, so I got to think T “I’m working three jobs at the era of liberating experimentation in about that.” Taylor-Mills gave her moment,” she admits, “but loving both music and dance. Was it daunting “absolute freedom”, she reports every second!” The South African taking on a whole stage show, as – “he wanted it to feel completely came to these clubs to have fun, relax. bigger and better, more intricate.” delight of the viewing audience. “It’s ballroom professional, who swiftly opposed to a comparatively short new. He’s been so supportive, and I It feels very relevant to today, and with Has it helped that actor Tyrone similar but also completely different to became a favourite on Strictly Come Strictly routine? “Actually, it’s amazing really want to make him proud.” our production, we want the audience Huntley is also making his debut, as Strictly,” she declares. “I’ve learned a lot Dancing, has been venturing into new on Strictly – if you’re lucky, you have The era of the 1920s felt like familiar to feel involved, like they’re a part of director? “Yes, it’s really nice. I know about myself, as a teacher and mentor. territory: as a judge and mentor on 13 weeks, around 15 numbers, and territory, Mabuse explains, “since a it – and to be taken back in time.” he wants to do a good job, and I do I knew how to push myself, but on this new BBC talent show The Greatest each dance has its own character, so I lot of Latin dances come from there The dancer is excited to bring her too. It’s the first time stepping out of programme, I’m working with kids, the Dancer, and as a choreographer for can adapt easily as a choreographer. – dances I spent years competing ballroom experience to this new our everyday roles, and we’re doing future of dance. It’s great to give them the stage musical Ain’t Misbehavin’. “With this musical, what’s special is in. I know about people who were medium. “Everything I’ve learned our best to make this a success. He’s this platform, and some insight into Getting involved with musicals that the story is all told through song, influential with these styles, and how in my dancing, those elements of clear, he knows what he wants, and I what they’ll face when they grow up.” has been a long-held ambition, she so I did have to be aware with my they changed dance. It really became Charleston, jive, Lindy, it’s new here – know what I want – it’s amazing that Formation dancers KLA, eight girls explains. “I love creating, and my numbers that someone is singing as well about people expressing themselves it’s more from the competition world, we want the same thing. That’s really aged from nine to 11, “have great agent kept saying, ‘I really want you – and they need breath! My thought through movement.” That’s a key rather than musical theatre. It’s my rare. It’s a brilliant partnership.” personality, and they’re also pure to be involved with a West End show process was partly incorporating element to Ain’t Misbehavin’: “It’s style, and then marrying that with ballroom,” enthuses Mabuse. She’s – I feel you could do more.’ I’d been the story and relationships into the all about relationships and how, the language of the show. I’m still abuse has also explored a new equally proud of her other young talking to [producer] Paul Taylor-Mills movement, but also being aware that whatever’s happening outside, people learning – I always want to make it M role on The Greatest Dancer – to the charge, 14-year-old contemporary ➣ 72 • DANCING TIMES Photograph: MARK SENIOR. WWW.DANCING-TIMES.CO.UK • APRIL 2019 • 73 Creative energy dancer Ellie Fergusson, who “has to rehearse the number. It was The cast of Ain’t Misbehavin’: Carly Mercedes beautiful power when she’s dancing, particularly meaningful coming soon Dyer, Adrian Hansel, Renée Lamb, Wayne Robinson and Landi Oshinowo. and her flexibility is amazing. She’s after the announcement that long- a shining star.” Unlike her Strictly time professional Pasha Kovalev partners, “who don’t know what was leaving Strictly. “It’s really nice I guess it’s a lot of ballroom. Probably they’re doing”, Mabuse’s Greatest to share this with him – his last TV because they all had storytelling Dancer acts “need a different kind of appearance with all of us together. – that’s what I really enjoy.” nurturing. I’m still choreographing, He’s been a vital part of the show for What about dream future celebrity and working in the studio night and so many years, and we all love him.” partners? “Everyone is a dream day, trying to motivate them, but they partner, when you get to know them. already come in with their talent and ovalev and Mabuse have both It’s amazing – you push them, and work ethic as dancers. The KLA girls K wowed audiences with their then it pushes you. I’m constantly practise until nine in the evening, choreography on Strictly. How do thinking about creating something because they want to. They don’t think you keep it creative and fresh with so that’s not only special for my partner, of it as work – they just love dancing.” many routines? “It’s hard,” proclaims but that hasn’t been done before and She is particularly proud to Mabuse, “and you never know who that looks different from the other showcase ballroom in an accessible you’ll have as a partner. If it’s someone contestants. It’s been a lot of learning way. “It’s not as popular as street or good, you want to push them – and if and bettering of myself. I’m very contemporary, but it’s special. It’s it’s someone learning, you push them grateful for that, because I’ve grown an amazing dance form, involving twice as hard. I get inspiration from a lot – that’s made me ready to take a lot of discipline and technique, other classes, and working with my on these new challenges.” Would and if you start young you can do husband [Marius Lepure], and I do a she like to do more stage shows in incredible things. KLA make it look lot of research into different styles of future? “Yes! More and more. More fun because they have fun, and they’re dance to put into my choreography.” dancing, more choreographing, so brilliant that it becomes interesting Any favourites among those more judging, more everything. and cool for people watching.” many Strictly numbers? “I loved the I’m having the best time.” n Mabuse’s two worlds came together, American smooth and samba with with the Strictly pros making a Danny [Mac], the American smooth Ain’t Misbehavin’ runs at Southwark guest appearance on Greatest Dancer; again with Jonnie [Peacock], and the Playhouse from April 19 to June 1. when we spoke, she was just about waltz and tango with Graeme [Swann]. See Calendar for booking details. Photograph: PAMELA RAITH. WWW.DANCING-TIMES.CO.UK • APRIL 2019 • 75.

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