Strictly’s Du Beke defends the BBC One show’s live tour
Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton Du Beke has defended the show’s live tour from criticisms that it deprives professional dance companies of audiences.
The dancer was speaking to The Stage at the launch of the eighth series of the BBC One series last night, saying Strictly Come Dancing’s live tour provides viewers who cannot be part of the studio audience of the TV series with the opportunity to “feel the energy” of the show.
His comments follow criticisms made by Ballet Boyz founder Michael Nunn, who told The Stage last year that the Strictly Come Dancing arena tour does not do the dance industry “any favours” and sees TV viewers choose to see that over the work of his own company and other choreographers, such as Richard Alston.
Responding, Du Beke said: “I am not sure entirely about that. The [Strictly Come Dancing] tour does not go on all year, it only goes on for a short period of time. And there are only about 350 seats in the studio here and ten million viewers at home. That is a lot of people who can’t come and see it – so they go to the live show and get to feel energy of the show.”
He added: “Really it’s an opportunity to see the show everyone wants to watch.”
The new run of Strictly Come Dancing launches on Saturday, during which the celebrities taking part - including Felicity Kendal and Patsy Kensit - will find out who their professional dancing partners for the series will be.
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