This week we learn that Len Goodman requires a new knee.
Last year Craig Revel Horwood required surgery to his hip.
The latest is Darcey Bussel requires a hip replacement:
http://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-n...ssional-ballet

Is professional dancing so harsh on the joints? What age range is realistic for professional dancing? Footballers and tennis players generally retire in their mid-thirties. Is it the same for the dancers?

Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis, professional latin dancers who have won at the British Open in Blackpool for the last eight years running retired at the Blackpool festival last year. They're in their mid thirties.
Seems like a reasonable age to retire from any professional pursuit that requires you to batter the living daylights out of your body on a regular basis, I reckon. Especially when you're at the top of the tree - retire undefeated.

Don't forget your hi-vis and warning triangle (no, not Kristina's)

I suppose the professional dancers that appear on SCD would have retired from competitive dance (?) - I can't imagine they would have time to appear on the show and prepare for competitions outside of SCD.

Mid to late 30s

Although Anton Du Beke must be much older than that as he was on the original come dancing and he was not a child then.

To the best of my knowledge, none of the current pros still compete, but Darren and Lilia certainly did in their time.

The Strictly show at Blackpool Tower is most usually on the same weekend as The British National Dance Championships at the Winter Gardens. They won the professional Latin at Blackpool in 2005 and in 2006.
And 2006 was the year that Lilia won Strictly with Darren Gough. No mean achievement to win SCD and the National Championships when you have to prepare for both at the same time, with a different partner!


I seem to think that Anton and Erin might have still been competing in the early days of Strictly. And Ian and Camilla, too- but I could't swear to it.

And to think the only judge who hasn't needed surgery is the one who flings himself off his chair onto his arse half a dozen times a year. Mind you, I'm sure the crash mat they've installed under there always helps.

Would he be over 50 now? His stated age is 49, but he might have shaved a few years off.


I'd love to see Bruno doing a proper Ballroom/Latin dance. His clownish nonsense is just irritating now and he can be quite nasty at times.

Thanks for the link Mina . Gosh never thought Darcey would need a hip replacement . I wonder when is Len getting his knee done and will it affect his place on SCD .

I'm amazed Craig seems to have made a complete recovery from having his hips done . He's even appearing in Annie at the moment and i think doing a few turns in the show . Hope he doesn't overdo it .

My brother was telling me a doctor friend of his had his hip done but it hasn't been a success and he's still in pain .

He said on the show he's having his operation Monday (today now) and when Tess asked if he'd back next week he said we'd be seeing his "crutch". So so, it won't affect his place on the show!

2005 to correct you with Gough. Yes it was a tough week, I think they did the jive that week and Gough said later Lilia hadn't slept for at least a day before the show (Blackpool was Fri) and was absolutely exhausted.

Yes, it does catch up with you

Mid thirties is about right. After years in dance I have to have surgery on my right knee and the left now crunches horribly too. I've had SI joint hassles, slipped discs, rotator cuff injuries and numerous sprains. It all goes back to a lifetime in dance - ballet, flamenco and jazz, salsa - and then ballroom.

I cannot speak for ballroom dancers, but ballet and flamenco will catch up with you eventually. I've had brilliant osteopaths in my life for over 20 years. They know my body inside out and have saved me from having surgery until now.

I know the price of dancing now, but I would not have done it any differently It's the price we pay!

Any physical profession takes it's toll on the body. Coventry player David Busst is still suffering from a 20 year old leg break!

shouldn't it get back to work now?

General question: is anything being done with regard "health and safety"? Are there aspects of ballet that are "barbaric" (pushing the body to its limits and beyond in a past less safety conscious era). With normal dance when the foot catches or gets stuck on the floor then that can give a massive jolt to the knees leading to damage.

You'd think he would take at least 2 weeks off to recover .

Seems like they're all terrified of taking any leave in case someone better will take their place .
I'd love to see one of the ex-Pros take over for a couple of weeks . Would be interesting to see another female judge like, Erin, Lilia or Karen .

Any occupation in which strenuous physical exercise makes up most of the activity is bound to take its toll on a person's joints. Take out less physically demanding sports, like golf, snooker and darts and not many sports people last much beyond their mid-thirties. Dancers seems to go longer, however. Anton is nearly fifty. Dances tend to last a few minutes, of course, and then the dancer can rest. Still physically demanding, though.

All types of dance can (and does) cause problems with joints. Ask any ballerina to show you her feet and you'd probably be disgusted!

Ballroom and Latin affect the feet as well, and even more so the knees, but mostly with competitive dancers, who train for all hours under the sun. And not just older dancers - I know of at least 2 pro Latin dancers who started having serious knee problems in their early 20s.

When it's said that a professional couple have "retired" (frequently around the age of 30-35'ish) it usually means they have retired from competition. They still have to earn a living, which means they will probably carry on doing demonstrations for at least another 10 years, . And continue teaching and coaching, which while it might not be as demanding as competing, it still means endless hours standing and showing their students what to do, etc etc.

You don't even need to be a pro dancer to suffer with this kind of thing, even long term hobby dancers can find issues from their mid 30s onwards.

I'm 39 and have problems with my left knee - I've spent the last 2 years working with a personal trainer to rebalance my leg muscles and stop the strain on my knee (years of Tap and Swing dance have given me crazy strong quads - I now have to spend a lot of time and effort on my glutes and hamstrings to prevent further issues).

It probably goes a long way towards explaining why the judges' opening dance is so lame.

Pun not intended...

Agreed, none of you will want to see my feet haha!

Speaking as somebody who dances, mid-thirties is usually the age of retirement - honestly it depends on your physio and other medical support. As well as how careful you are in general.

That is quite true. Hobby dancers can and do suffer injuries, as do, of course, Amateur Competitors, many of whom compete many more years than the professionals. To be fair, though, the amateurs can subsequently adapt their routines etc to suit their age group (i.e. 16-35, then Over 35s, Over 45s, Over 50s, Over 60s) while professionals have no competitive age distinction, which is why they normally retire from competitions around age 35. But as I said before, they seldom retire from dancing, just competing. One of our favourite coaches was over 80 when we had brilliant lessons from him.

No, there is nothing in ballet that is barbaric. You can push yourself too hard sometimes, but you are surrounded by fellow dancers, teachers and mentors who will tell you. Ultimately you take responsibility for your own body - and your body will often dictate just how far you can go.

All of our training from a very early age is about building that body - from the feet to the ends of your fingers - training it to work to its utmost potential, which is why ballet dancers are very strong and supple. They train every single day - up to 6-8 hours.

The great Carlos Acosta is about to perform for the very last time. He has a lot of projects going on so he is giving up performing but not working. 'The one thing I will not miss' he said, 'is the pain'.

When you dance as a pro, pain is part of your every day life.