Strictly Speaking: The Final
December 21, 2020
Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse are worthy champions of this year’s unusual – but ultimately joyous – Strictly.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 8
December 14, 2020
The two-dance semi-final causes trouble for everyone but Maisie, however it’s Ranvir Singh who just falls short of this year’s grand final.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 7
December 7, 2020
A jolly Musicals Week features everything from a Priscilla drag pro dance to Andrew Lloyd Webber and a heartfelt dedication to a shuttered industry.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 6
November 30, 2020
Maisie wows with her quickstep, while Clara Amfo is scuppered by her Tina Turner jive.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 5
November 23, 2020
Hysterical scoring on Staycation Blackpool Week, plus terrible music choices and a Carry On cha cha.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 4
November 16, 2020
Anton du Beke finally ascends to the judging panel, Nicola Adams makes a sad early exit, and Clara has a Charleston breakthrough.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 3
November 9, 2020
Horrors galore on Strictly Movie Week, including a hellish Simpsons dance, but Ranvir Singh supplies a fab foxtrot.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 2
November 2, 2020
Bill Bailey charms with his quickstep, while politician Jacqui Smith heads for the exit.
_____________________________________________________________
Jazz roots
November 2020
An enlightening new documentary explores the true history of jazz dance.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
November 2020
The 2021 Pink Jukebox Trophy is going virtual – here’s how to enter.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 1
October 26, 2020
The competition begins in earnest, with promising debuts by youngsters HRVY and Maisie Smith.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: The Launch Show
October 19, 2020
The BBC’s ballroom staple returns, with Covid safety measures and a promising new cast.
_____________________________________________________________
Socially Distanced Strictly
October 2020
This year’s show looks very different with Covid regulations, but the spirit remains the same.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
October 2020
Dancer, teacher and competition organiser Pete Meager talks pivoting to digital during lockdown.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
September 2020
Dean Thirlwell and Orion Russell on discovering their love for same-sex competitive dancing.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
August 2020
Jacky Logan and Roswitha Wetschka talk hosting classes in lockdown and with social distancing.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
July 2020
Ezekiel Vargas and Carl Terenz Belarmino give us the inside scoop on their triumphant Britain’s Got Talent audition.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
June 2020
Karla Jacobs on switching from same-sex dance photography to competing herself.
_____________________________________________________________
Get your dance fix at home
May 2020
From streamed dance performances to classes and classic film escapism.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
May 2020
New same-sex competitive couple Alyn Johnson and Gino Gabriel talk about the same-sex dance scene in Wales.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
April 2020
Top international competition and new representation at this year’s Pink Jukebox Trophy.
_____________________________________________________________
Message in a Bottle
March 2020
Kate Prince’s new hip-hop theatre show at Sadler’s Wells uses Sting’s music to empathetically explore the refugee crisis.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
March 2020
In a new short film, director Lois Norman and ballroom duo Iron&Sparks challenge gender norms in dance.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly on stage
February 2020
In need of a sequin fix? Here’s our guide to the Strictly Come Dancing-related stage shows.
_____________________________________________________________
With Honour
February 2020
Jacky Logan talks about being awarded the first Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Same-sex Dancing.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
February 2020
The inaugural UK Equality Open competition kicks off in Wimborne.
_____________________________________________________________
New Year, New Dances
January 2020
From circus and boxing crossover to retro with a twist and the ultimate diva moves: new dance styles to try this year.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
January 2020
Looking back on 2019, and previewing some of the same-sex dance highlights of 2020.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
December 2019
Ralf Schiller, Pete Meager, Vernon Kemp and Csaba Csetneki on compering a same-sex competition.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: The Final
December 16, 2019
A strange series ends on a high note as the right winners are crowned.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 12
December 9, 2019
Only one couple really masters the semi-final’s two-dance challenge.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 11
December 2, 2019
Wigs, conspiracies theories and judging bias in Musicals Week.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Fabulous
November 2019
New judge Motsi Mabuse talks ballroom, family and glamming up.
_____________________________________________________________
REDD
November 2019
Boy Blue take a brave plunge into the dark with their latest show at the Barbican.
_____________________________________________________________
Mamma Mia! The Party
November 2019
A surreally kitsch, ABBA-themed musical staycation at The O2 – with a hefty price tag.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
November 2019
Vernon Kemp looks back over 15 years of the UK Fun Competition.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 10
November 25, 2019
Post-Blackpool comedown, another strange elimination, and BRUNO SINGS.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 9
November 18, 2019
Blackpool over-scoring, a criminally good jive, and Michelle falls victim to Couple’s Choice injustice.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 8
November 11, 2019
Ginger Neil returns, Mike Bushell departs, and Saffron supplies a simply beautiful waltz.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 7
November 4, 2019
Same-sex dancing, injury report, and somehow Mike Bushell is still here.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
October 2019
High temperatures and hot competition at the EuroGames Rome.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 6
October 28, 2019
Halloween Queen, frightening music, and the invasion of the dance-snatching dad-dancers.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 5
October 21, 2019
Guest judge shenanigans, red carpet magic, and Alex’s breakthrough.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 4
October 14, 2019
Insane scoring, Dev departs, and Johannes does Beyonce.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 3
October 7, 2019
Movie madness, first 10s and Teethgate.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 2
September 30, 2019
Second week comedown, flag couture, and a sportsbloke dance-off.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 1
September 23, 2019
New judge Motsi impresses, plus super-sub Kelvin Fletcher wows in his samba.
_____________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Launch show
September 9, 2019
Meeting this year’s pairs, Kylie dazzles, and an early celeb casualty.
_____________________________________________________________
Two’s Company
September 2019
As It Takes Two returns with a new co-host, we examine the history of Strictly‘s companion show.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
September 2019
Looking back on 25 years of north London’s Waltzing With Hilda.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
August 2019
Joshua Keefe talks dancing with Courtney Act on Australia’s Dancing with the Stars – the show’s first same-sex pairing.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
July 2019
Pete Meager previews a new same-sex dance competition: the UK Equality Open.
_____________________________________________________________
There is nothing like a dame
June 2019
Examining the legacy of departing Strictly judge Darcey Bussell – and wondering who might replace her…
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
June 2019
More same-sex dancers venture into mainstream competitions.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
May 2019
Same-sex dance meets sport, as new affiliations expand the form’s boundaries.
_____________________________________________________________
Creative energy
April 2019
Strictly‘s Oti Mabuse discusses her musical theatre choreographic debut, Ain’t Misbehavin’.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
April 2019
Exciting battles, new entrants and UK success at the Pink Juekbox Trophy.
_____________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
March 2019
Santra Rinne and Piia Korpi discuss their Greatest Dancer experience.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
February 2019
Celebrating 20 years of the Pink Jukebox Trophy at the Rivoli Ballroom.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
January 2019
Looking back on same-sex dance in 2018, and previewing this year’s highlights.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking
January 2019
All the highs and lows from an action-packed – and at times controversial – Series 16.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: The final
December 17, 2018
Irrelevant repeats, puzzling results, and a truly joyful cast reunion.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 12
December 10, 2018
Two-dance lottery, levitating lifts, and a classy exit for Lauren and AJ.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 11
December 3, 2018
Big lifts, big feelings and (dubiously) big scores: it’s Musicals Week.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
December 2018
Mainstream success, and all the news from the Vienna Dance Contest.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 10
November 26, 2018
Blackpool hangover, Joe’s balls, and the absolute carnage of the lindy hopathon judging.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 9
November 19, 2018
Blackpool brings props, 10s, glorious Gloria and Joe’s nan.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 8
November 12, 2018
Blackpool plugs, wacky scoring, and this series’ unpredictability.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 7
November 5, 2018
Loopy judging, Couple’s choice shenanigans, and lovely Dr Ranj fizzles out.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
November 2018
Meet the Philippines’ new same-sex dance star.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 6
October 29, 2018
Frightful Halloween theming, scary scores, and the departure of Sean(n).
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 5
October 21, 2018
Virtue signalling, 7s for all, and Sean(n) and Katya cling on.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 4
October 15, 2018
Virtue signalling, 7s for all, and Sean(n) and Katya cling on.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 3
October 8, 2018
Movie madness, karaoke ringers, and the Curse strikes early.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 2
October 1, 2018
Week 2 comedown, duelling ringers, and (let’s hope) the end of Anton.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
October 2018
New countries and fierce competition at the 10th Gay Games in Paris.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 1
September 24, 2018
Surprise hits, pro missteps, and (shudder) the BBC gets hip to the kids of today.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Launch show
September 10, 2018
New pros, new pairings and a new vocation: it’s Series 16 and our first vlogger…
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
September 2018
Iron&Sparks discuss their explicitly queer, gender non-binary performance project.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
August 2018
Everyone from leading dancers to starter couples attended the inaugural Norwegian Equality Open.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
July 2018
Introducing California’s April Follies competition, featuring everything from ballroom to Country Western.
______________________________________________________________
Breakin’ Convention
June 2018
A sensational 15th edition of this celebration of hip hop.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
June 2018
Bradley and Sören Stauer-Kruse look back over their incredible showdance career.
______________________________________________________________
Gender fluidity
April 2018
The dance world grapples with a new flexible approach to gender.
______________________________________________________________
Simply the best
April 2018
Adrienne Warren discusses playing Tina Turner in new West End musical Tina.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
April 2018
New couples and fierce contests at the Pink Jukebox Trophy.
______________________________________________________________
Time After Time
March 2018
The creator and stars of a stage musical version talk Strictly Ballroom.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
March 2018
A night to remember at the Nordic Open.
______________________________________________________________
Tango connection
February 2018
Argentine tango superstar Germán Cornejo discusses his new show Tango after Dark.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
February 2018
Gail Freedman’s documentary Hot to Trot creates a beautiful portrait of same-sex dance.
______________________________________________________________
Thank you for the music
January 2018
A new exhibition celebrates ABBA – the band that gets everyone dancing.
______________________________________________________________
Fighting fit
January 2018
The best dance classes to help with your New Year’s fitness resolution.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking
January 2018
The story and highlights of Series 15 of Strictly Come Dancing.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
January 2018
Looking back on last year’s same-sex dancing and previewing 2018.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: The Final
December 18, 2017
A close-fought final, surprising showdance, and winners crowned.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 12
December 11, 2017
Two dances, Ye Olde Ten Second Rule, and a fair elimination heading into the final.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 11
December 4, 2017
Musicals (auditioning) hostile takeover, strange judging and another surprise dance-off.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
December 2017
The Vienna Dance Contest returns, and new faces at the UK Fun Competition.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 10
November 27, 2017
Mad music, paso bafflement, and a lovely exit for this year’s spirit of the show.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 9
November 20, 2017
Human Props, nostalgia overload, and a criminal waste of the Blackpool dancefloor.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 8
November 13, 2017
Technical ambition, actual training footage, and daredevil lifts from Debbie McGee.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 7
November 6, 2017
Major drama in the ballroom, with the shock exit of early favourite Aston Merrygold.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
November 2017
Pete Meager discusses the future of same-sex dance.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 6
October 30, 2017
A frightful Halloween Week, as everyone raids the dressing-up box.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 5
October 23, 2017
Bruno Tonioli goes AWOL, a dance-off of Dad Dancers, and Anton du Beke goes fully retro in the samba.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 4
October 16, 2017
Emotions abound, from Susan Calman’s wedding dance to Alexandra Burke wishing her mother could see her 10s-scoring jive.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 3
October 9, 2017
Movie Weeks sees an avalanche of over-theming, plus the arbitrary application of The Ten Second Rule.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 2
October 2, 2017
Errors, bizarre scoring and a sad first elimination as Strictly suffers from the Week 2 Blues.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Shirley
October 2017
New head judge Shirley Ballas discusses what she looks for in a routine and who she’d like to dance with on the show.
______________________________________________________________
The future is female
October 2017
Kate Prince, Kloé Dean and Emma Houston discusses women in hip hop.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
October 2017
ESSDA celebrates its 10th anniversary in style at the European Championships.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 1
September 25, 2017
Impressive debuts from new judge Shirley Ballas and surprise paso queen Debbie McGee.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: The launch
September 11, 2017
New pros, new pairings, and new Head Judge Shirley Ballas as Series 15 of Strictly Come Dancing kicks off.
______________________________________________________________
Judgement time
September 2017
As Shirley Ballas joins the Strictly panel, we delve into the world of ballroom judging.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
September 2017
A fantastic debut for a new same-sex competition in Brighton.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
August 2017
The show must go on at an eventful Miami Outgames.
______________________________________________________________
Movers and Shakers
July 2017
Three leading practitioners discuss the thriving field of movement direction.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
July 2017
Local champions and a growing community at the German Open.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
June 2017
New partnerships and Grand Slam action at Le Rendez-Vous de Paris.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
May 2017
Competitor-turned-teacher and judge Frank Ropke discusses the evolving same-sex dance scene.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
April 2017
Returning champions and new partnerships at London’s Pink Jukebox Trophy.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
March 2017
Trailblazing DJ Jacky Logan’s changing experiences in same-sex dance.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
February 2017
The options and opportunities for same-sex dancewear.
______________________________________________________________
A Man’s World
January 2017
The founder of Gay Men’s Dance Company talks classes, community and charity work.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
January 2017
Looking back on a busy year of same-sex dance and previewing 2017.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
December 2016
Competition and New Year’s celebrations at the Nordic Open.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: The final
December 5, 2016
Ore is crowned champion and Len Goodman finally hangs up his “Seh-ven!” paddle.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Semi-final
December 12, 2016
A closely fought battle over two dances, with erratic judging and a sublime standout.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 11
December 5, 2016
A lacklustre Musicals Week sees theming distractions and more human prop interference.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 10
November 28, 2016
Danny dominates, the judges plays favourites, and Balls finally bows out.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 9
November 21, 2016
Blackpool heralds sky-high scoring, forced VTs and the return of the human props.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 8
November 14, 2016
Training footage, Mary Berry and Balls goes Gangnam Style.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 7
November 7, 2016
The music lottery continues, and another “shock” bottom two sees Laura eliminated.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 6
October 31, 2016
A frightful Halloween is felled by props and scary scoring.
______________________________________________________________
Young at heart
November 2016
Family audiences are becoming a priority for dance companies and creatives.
______________________________________________________________
The Last Tango
November 2016
Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace bring their final show to the West End.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
November 2016
Debuts at the UK Fun Competition, and a new Brighton event.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 5
October 24, 2016
Gorka’s return, invasive disco and Ed’s memorable lift.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 4
October 17, 2016
More injury drama and the 10s come out early.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 3
October 10, 2016
Movie Week thrills and spills, including the early exit of Tameka.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking: Week 2
October 3, 2016
Injuries, field trips and dance-off controversy.
______________________________________________________________
Lights, camera, action!
October 2016
Matthew Bourne and BalletBoyz discuss the rise of dance on screen.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking
October 2016
Lo-fi sci-fi and meeting the couples of 2016.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
October 2016
Same-sex dance ventures into music videos.
______________________________________________________________
Vamos Cuba!
September 2016
Nilda Guerra’s new Sadler’s Wells show is oddly uninspired.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
September 2016
Tackling the thorny topic of switching lead.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking
September 26, 2016
Ringer debates, capricious scoring and the debut of Ed “Glitter” Balls.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking
September 5, 2016
Lo-fi sci-fi, baby pros and a stellar 2016 line-up in the Series 14 launch show.
______________________________________________________________
How to cure dance phobia
August 2016
Tips for welcoming more audiences into the fold.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
August 2016
Close battles amid a friendly atmosphere at Helsinki EuroGames.
______________________________________________________________
Ten Big Years
July 2016
As the final Big Dance festival arrives, a look at its history and legacy.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
July 2016
New nations and close rivalries at Le Rendez-Vous de Paris.
______________________________________________________________
Breakin’ Convention
June 2016
Hip hop heritage and boundary-pushing work at Sadler’s Wells’s annual festival
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
June 2016
A preview of this year’s Helsinki European Championships.
______________________________________________________________
The master storyteller
May 2016
As Jekyll & Hyde opens, Olivier Award-winning choreographer Drew McOnie discusses the value of narrative dance.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
May 2016
Same-sex European champions Stefan Lehner and Axel Zischka venture into new spaces.
______________________________________________________________
Motown the Musical
April 2016
More spectacle than soul in this overstuffed Berry Gordy biopic at Shaftesbury Theatre.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
April 2016
German domination, new pairings and 20th anniversary celebrations at the Pink Jukebox Trophy.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
March 2016
The pros and cons of senior age reclassification in ESSDA same-sex competitions.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
February 2016
From historical Argentina to today’s international festivals: the development of queer tango.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
January 2016
We look back on a busy year and preview 2016’s same-sex dance highlights.
______________________________________________________________
Talking Point
December 2015
How do you navigate your first ballroom social? Top tips for survival.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
December 2015
The UK Fun Competition organisers explain its vital importance as the bridge between social and competitive same-sex dancing.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
November 2015
A triumphant return, future stars and political support at the 10th anniversary Vienna Dance Contest.
______________________________________________________________
Strictly Speaking
October 2015
My verdict on the new class, from ringers and dark horses to comedy contestants, plus play Strictly Bingo.
______________________________________________________________
Stepping Out
October 2015
Is it time for a same-sex couple on Strictly?
MARIANKA SWAIN ~ WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW 