DanceTalk

With the “Strictly” Christmas Glitterball, a new BBC television series and in his life, Brian Fortuna has had a dazzling start to 2010. But how did it all begin for him? Brian talks to Cheryl Angear about his formative years, and why he believes so passionately that ballroom should be taught in schools

rian Fortuna “grew up not became a more acceptable, cool had as much fun as the kids.” like a regular American thing to do”. Brian’s popularity I ask how he teaches children. Bkid”. In what way? “I grew has risen since appearing on “Well, you see kids are different up travelling, going to different two series of “Strictly Come from adults because you have dance competitions, dressed Dancing”, with Ali Bastian last to hold their attention, especially in suits, and it’s a little bit of a year when the pair came within a when they are at the ages of five different experience. For me whisker of the “Strictly” Glitterball to eight. Their attention span is it was always an opportunity trophy. Their disappointment very short and so I like to teach to dance with pretty girls, and was palpable, but Brian says: “I those classes with an incredible I’m a born performer. I love said to Ali in week one, I want amount of enthusiasm and jokes being on the stage, I love to be able to look back on our and really make the kids have expressing myself to music, experience and say that we a good time, because if they’re I love choreography, I love to had done everything that we having fun they’re going to pay teach and I love to travel, so the possibly could. And we look back attention to what they’re doing.” combination worked out for me.” today and say that we did.” Brian tells me how it was for Which is not to say that dance him in dance classes: “I remember was an easy activity to be involved rian loves children and has being a young guy going to in. Brian was teased at school Bbeen involved in youth dance dance class. My mom used to at a time when the only other since teaching at his mother’s send me to jazz, tap and ballet, kids involved with dance were school from the age of 17. He and I remember being the only Russian children from New York, continued working with children boy in the class. It was such a and he describes the experience when he lived in Los Angeles miserable experience for me. I as a real nightmare. “I was never at the Oakwood Apartments was so embarrassed, and I think really accepted as an American complex. “Basically, all the young for me back then if there had male ballroom dancer. It wasn’t kids that want to become actors been other boys in the class that I a thing that kids were doing in Hollywood move out there with was in, it would have been a little in school. It wasn’t easy but I their families, so it’s a group of bit more comfortable for me.” always stayed true to myself.” multi-talented young kids, and I Participation in dance is He says that the success of ran a little programme. I have a improving, but I ask Brian if television dance shows “changed very big passion for working with the perception of a lot of people kids; I think they have a natural Photographs courtesy of Phil who saw guys like Austin Healey enthusiasm that you can lose as McIntyre Entertainment/Stage and , and it you get older, and to be honest I Entertainment/BBC Worldwide

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I have a very big passion for working“ with kids; I think they have a natural enthusiasm that you can lose as you get older”

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he thinks that there is room Brian Fortuna and Ali Bastian for improvement in schools. perform in the “Strictly” live tour His response is heartfelt: “Pierre Dulaine started to implement ballroom and Latin programmes in public school systems in New York to try to keep the kids out of trouble. His programme has absolutely exploded and I think that type of thing really would start to strike a little bit more interest, Even if a kid only learns how to do“ a , they will be learning a tremendous amount by learning to dance at a younger age... if it was something that was implemented within the ”school system as a required course.” The benefits are clear to Brian: specifically social skills and how Brian will be touring with “Even if a kid only learns how to to treat a woman, how to interact : do a foxtrot, they will be learning socially and behave properly. I The Professionals in the a tremendous amount by learning think it’s an activity that all young UK and Ireland from April to dance at a younger age; people should try at least once.” l to July 2010.

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