Hello everyone,
Well my Mum and I went to the Cheltenham show yesterday evening and thoroughly enjoyed it. I gave my Mum Pasha's autobiography to read a few months ago. She found it as inspiring and interesting as I did and is now a big fan of his too
I won't detail all the dances as obviously they were the same as the other shows reviewed but once again the Tango, Rhumba and Paso were my particular faves. The cast was high energy and very impressive despite the evening show being the second of the day for them. The ladies in the audience were chanting for Pasha to rip his shirt (and some other layers off) pretty much as soon as the curtain rose. The three ladies who danced with him certainly, ahem, made the most of the situation. The poor man looked quite terrified at one point! Let's just say there was quite a bit of gyrating, rubbing, shimmying and even some straddling going on! He is v comical and Mike, of course, was egging it all on. The dance school was very good and lots of proud parents in the audience. The only slightly disappointing note for me is many of the questions in the Q+A were identical to the ones asked at the West End with the same answers....made me wonder if they really were looking at the texts (but maybe just sour graps as mine did not get asked!). Here in brief are the ones I remember:
Q Who should take over from Bruce
A (both) Anton
Q What is most number of takes you have had to shoot for a pro dance?
Pasha answered that it is sometimes up to three but it depends on the pros involved. Katya made some* funny comments (a little, shall we say, pointed) about Brendan and Aliona. Pasha was his usual diplomatic self.
Q (yawn) what would you be if not dancers.
A (Katya) event organiser or similar. Pasha: firefighter or airline pilot.
Q Who would like to dance with? I am afraid I forget Katya's answer, but P said a member of royalty. Maybe Kate Middleton or the Queen!
Q What is your fave dance?
A Katya - the tango, rhumba, the dramatic ballroom ones. Pasha - the sexy Latin ones.
Q What is worst outfit you have had to wear?
A (K) the skimpy ones if you are having a day where you feel bloated and then have to stand next to Ola! Pasha likes all his outfits, even when he was Shrek.
Katya suggested maybe his red vest for his welcome dance for Strictly was not a good look!
Best line of the evening definitely came from Katya when they first said hello to the audience after curtain-up. She explained that they are driving to lots of places on the tour and Pasha does not have a good sense of direction. Then added:
"But don't worry ladies, he knows what he is doing as long as he is on the floor." Brought the house down and poor Pasha objected to all the double entrendres looking v sheepish.
The ladies in the audience were very vocal in their love for Pasha throughout and there was a semi standing ovation at the end although sadly only about a third of the audience got to their feet (unlike in London where it was the whole lot up clapping and dancing.) Maybe Cheltenham people are more reserved but Katya, James and Ryan all commented afterwards (at the meet and greet) that* they loved the show and K said they would definitely come back to Cheltenham next year. Here's hoping. If you look at her Instagram she shot a little video as the curtain went down of the audience. James was a total sweetie when he came over to chat to us in the queue for the meet and greet. Oh and I talked to Pasha too and he signed my book. I remember him being sweet and gorgeous and very polite and earnest about spelling my name correctly. I remember gazing at him and not being able to take my eyes off his beautiful brown ones. He is even more handsome in real life than he looks on screen and stage. How is that possible! Oh and* my Mum repeatedly told him she loved his book and* thinks he's amazing, and he was sweet with her too, but beyond that it is all a complete blur. I was floating on air for the rest of the evening! So there you are. If you get the chance to see the show, then GO. It is marvellous. Now I just* have to resist the temptation to book tickets for another one before the end of the tour
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!! Thanks... 