Brian and Kristina grace the garden of England
And yes, it was a couple of weeks ago *ahem* but better late than never I say! Those lovely people Faye and Nick at Strictly Dancers once again brought us a wonderful night of entertainment, starring Brian Fortuna and Kristina Rihanoff, and another workshop, this time the jive, courtesy of host Mark Shutlar. But you know I’m just getting over a sprained ankle, so I didn’t attempt it. I would have, honest!
First out were Danny and Kate, our amateur couple (though you wouldn’t think it) number 2 in the country in 10 Dance, for a Quickstep/Jive combo to Steppin’ Out, Danny looking all mean and moody which belied a fun heart; Kate a vision in blue ruffles. Then a Tango to what sounded like the Gotan Project and a Paso, to the same tune the Strictly Pro’s used in my fave Pro Dance
from 2006 – which was on youtube but is no more *grumbles* - I live in hope of it reappearing! Proper samba music for their, well, Samba obviously, and familiar too, if you check out the Showtime vids – Hip Hip Chin Chin – seeing these dances up close is just awesome – Danny and Kate finished their session with an incredible Jive to Proud Mary.
At the time those clips were filmed, they’d only been together a few months!
The main course arrived in the shape of a Cha Cha to Lady Ga Ga’s Just Dance as Brian and Kristina hit the floor in a flurry of red fringe (Kristina anyway!) to a rapturous welcome, their usual exuberance in the Latin followed by a gorgeously smooth American Foxtrot/VW combo to Baby Love and When a Man Loves A Woman, with Kristina sublime in white and gold satin. What made the evening doubly special was Brian’s throwing the floor open to questions while Kristina changed. So this is less review, more interview punctuated by dancing!
Music for DWTS and SCD – is it given to you or do you choose it? DWTS give you the song, you have no choice – in SCD though, you choose your own, it just has to be approved (licensing etc).
What’s more fun, the UK or USA show: The UK show of course! (Good answer, that’s an extra 300 votes!)
Are you in a relationship? Next question!
What’s with all the candles (in his flat)? I love candles but am very good at spilling wax everywhere (at which point the lady who asked the question said she was excellent at cleaning it up, lol – Brian asked what she was doing later!)
Ideal partner? Ali! (cue ‘Awwwwww’s)
Ok, if not Ali? Tess Daly, she’s hot. No-one’s recording this are they? (Er, no – does writing it down count?)
They Mambo to It had Better Be Tonight by The Buble, with Kristina in a killer leopard print suit, so fast, so WOW! Then a lovely lady called Fran, who celebrated her 90th birthday recently and is still dancing, made us all jealous as Brian swept her onto the dance floor!
What do you think of the judges? They’re all lovely – did you hear what I said to Alesha? Yes, we did, crawler!
Do you choose your own clothes? I’m always in Su Judd’s office!
Are your hips detachable and can I rent them? (That was from a bloke, btw!) I’ve no answer for that, it was drowned out in the laughter! *note to self – tweet Brian!*
And Brian told us a little anecdote about Beyonce – how her entourage advised the Strictly people to keep their distance when she appeared on the show – but Brian being Brian bowled up and introduced himself anyway – and then faced down a bouncer! Which was our intro to their stunning rumba to If I Were a Boy.
Brian happily shared the news that his baseball team, the Phildelphia Phillies, made the World Series for the second time in two years, YAY! (The equivalent of West Ham winning the European Championship. Ever. Or actually just avoiding relegation ...*lives in hope*)
Fave dance? Jive – the all-American manic one, and the Foxtrot – grew up listening to Frank Sinatra.
When did you start dancing? At an early age (between 3-6) moving on to inline skating but going off the edge a bit – dancing set me on the right path and I began to take it seriously at age 15/16. I’ve been together professionally with Kristina for 18-24 months since the DWTS tour and we auditioned for SCD together.
If not a dancer, what would you be? A TV Host (that’s Strictly sorted when Brucie retires!)
Tell us more about Dancing on Wheels: Mum will be flying in for the series – we started the dance classes seven years ago and more and more couples signed up. Then we began writing a syllabus three years ago and approached all the major networks – the BBC commissioned the show, which airs on BBC3 in January. There are six couples taking part and the winners will be representing the UK in the European championships in Tel Aviv! The edit of the show is fantastic!
What do you do for fun? Women! Oh, dear, that came across really wrong (amid gales of laughter!) Exercise – barbecue – golf – pool.
Their last dance is a Disco Hustle to Boogie Wonderland, completely fabulous –
if you haven’t seen any of the professionals dancing live, you must – watching it on the telly doesn’t do them justice! It was lovely to welcome Brian and Kristina to Kent, please come again!
First out were Danny and Kate, our amateur couple (though you wouldn’t think it) number 2 in the country in 10 Dance, for a Quickstep/Jive combo to Steppin’ Out, Danny looking all mean and moody which belied a fun heart; Kate a vision in blue ruffles. Then a Tango to what sounded like the Gotan Project and a Paso, to the same tune the Strictly Pro’s used in my fave Pro Dance
from 2006 – which was on youtube but is no more *grumbles* - I live in hope of it reappearing! Proper samba music for their, well, Samba obviously, and familiar too, if you check out the Showtime vids – Hip Hip Chin Chin – seeing these dances up close is just awesome – Danny and Kate finished their session with an incredible Jive to Proud Mary.
At the time those clips were filmed, they’d only been together a few months!
The main course arrived in the shape of a Cha Cha to Lady Ga Ga’s Just Dance as Brian and Kristina hit the floor in a flurry of red fringe (Kristina anyway!) to a rapturous welcome, their usual exuberance in the Latin followed by a gorgeously smooth American Foxtrot/VW combo to Baby Love and When a Man Loves A Woman, with Kristina sublime in white and gold satin. What made the evening doubly special was Brian’s throwing the floor open to questions while Kristina changed. So this is less review, more interview punctuated by dancing!
Music for DWTS and SCD – is it given to you or do you choose it? DWTS give you the song, you have no choice – in SCD though, you choose your own, it just has to be approved (licensing etc).
What’s more fun, the UK or USA show: The UK show of course! (Good answer, that’s an extra 300 votes!)
Are you in a relationship? Next question!
What’s with all the candles (in his flat)? I love candles but am very good at spilling wax everywhere (at which point the lady who asked the question said she was excellent at cleaning it up, lol – Brian asked what she was doing later!)
Ideal partner? Ali! (cue ‘Awwwwww’s)
Ok, if not Ali? Tess Daly, she’s hot. No-one’s recording this are they? (Er, no – does writing it down count?)
They Mambo to It had Better Be Tonight by The Buble, with Kristina in a killer leopard print suit, so fast, so WOW! Then a lovely lady called Fran, who celebrated her 90th birthday recently and is still dancing, made us all jealous as Brian swept her onto the dance floor!
What do you think of the judges? They’re all lovely – did you hear what I said to Alesha? Yes, we did, crawler!
Do you choose your own clothes? I’m always in Su Judd’s office!
Are your hips detachable and can I rent them? (That was from a bloke, btw!) I’ve no answer for that, it was drowned out in the laughter! *note to self – tweet Brian!*
And Brian told us a little anecdote about Beyonce – how her entourage advised the Strictly people to keep their distance when she appeared on the show – but Brian being Brian bowled up and introduced himself anyway – and then faced down a bouncer! Which was our intro to their stunning rumba to If I Were a Boy.
Brian happily shared the news that his baseball team, the Phildelphia Phillies, made the World Series for the second time in two years, YAY! (The equivalent of West Ham winning the European Championship. Ever. Or actually just avoiding relegation ...*lives in hope*)
Fave dance? Jive – the all-American manic one, and the Foxtrot – grew up listening to Frank Sinatra.
When did you start dancing? At an early age (between 3-6) moving on to inline skating but going off the edge a bit – dancing set me on the right path and I began to take it seriously at age 15/16. I’ve been together professionally with Kristina for 18-24 months since the DWTS tour and we auditioned for SCD together.
If not a dancer, what would you be? A TV Host (that’s Strictly sorted when Brucie retires!)
Tell us more about Dancing on Wheels: Mum will be flying in for the series – we started the dance classes seven years ago and more and more couples signed up. Then we began writing a syllabus three years ago and approached all the major networks – the BBC commissioned the show, which airs on BBC3 in January. There are six couples taking part and the winners will be representing the UK in the European championships in Tel Aviv! The edit of the show is fantastic!
What do you do for fun? Women! Oh, dear, that came across really wrong (amid gales of laughter!) Exercise – barbecue – golf – pool.
Their last dance is a Disco Hustle to Boogie Wonderland, completely fabulous –
if you haven’t seen any of the professionals dancing live, you must – watching it on the telly doesn’t do them justice! It was lovely to welcome Brian and Kristina to Kent, please come again!
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