Placing on a full-scale manufacturing that’s as elaborate as Strictly Come Dancing is not any imply feat. Every week, there are tons of of shifting components to co-ordinate with the intention to carry the present to our screens on a Saturday evening. And none of it might occur with out the devoted manufacturing workforce, who work around the clock behind the scenes of the present.
They are saying it takes a military, and on Strictly it actually does – there are choreographers, wardrobe, hair and make-up, musicians, bookers, runners, digital camera operators, producers and even an entire faux tan division.
That’s why this yr, HuffPost UK is taking our readers Backstage At The Ballroom in our new interview collection, as we communicate to a few of the names behind the cameras to shine a light-weight on the much less glittery components of the nation’s favorite present.
First up is the present’s inventive director Jason Gilkison.
Jason’s profession with Strictly started again within the early 2010s, when he was invited to choreograph a gaggle quantity, having already earned a reputation for himself on worldwide variations of the present. Throughout a return go to two years later, Jason was requested if he’d prefer to make his involvement extra of a everlasting factor and work on the entire collection.
For the Australian-born choreographer, it was a straightforward resolution to pack his life up within the US and hop throughout the pond.
“It was like planets aligning,” he says. “My husband’s a Scouser, so he mentioned it’d be an amazing probability to be nearer to residence. It was the right job for me, so I used to be there in a heartbeat and I’ve by no means actually regarded again…”
I’ve labored on 4 totally different variations of Strictly…
South Africa, Australia, America and this one – and there’s one thing in regards to the UK model that’s so totally different. I don’t know whether or not it’s the historical past of ballroom dancing on this nation, however there’s one thing actually heat and fuzzy about the entire workforce. And a variety of the workforce have been there proper from the start, and that’s at all times a very good signal.
I often begin work on a brand new collection of Strictly in Could/June time…
I attempt to get began fairly early within the yr. So, as an illustration, if we’ve to get extra concepts about what we’re going to do in a different way, I’ll begin early after which have a month off and are available again to it, nevertheless it means the ball can begin rolling on issues because the workforce begins constructing – significantly on the group dances and issues like that, as a result of they’re ridiculously advanced to get in place and so they’ve turn out to be such a serious a part of the present. There’s solely a really small skeleton workforce of us and we determine, “OK, we’re going to do that themed week, these are our new professionals, that is what we’re going to alter this yr”.
Developing with the dances and ideas is a collaborative course of…
Typically, a professional may need an thought, and the manufacturing workforce at all times comes with a great deal of issues. We put all of them on the wall and see what sticks, and say “ooh, that will be actually topical this yr to do one thing in that route…” My favorite day is when we’ve to pitch it to all the professionals in regards to the group numbers we’re going to do, and their faces get so excited. It looks like a extremely flowy, inventive course of with all of us on the workforce. That’s the one factor I do love about weekly, occasion TV – you truly get to roll this stuff out every week. Some are higher than others, nevertheless it’s all a studying curve.
I don’t really feel the strain to high the earlier yr – I include pleasure…
I believe there are many individuals who go “oh my god, final yr was such a classic yr, what are we going to do that yr?”, however I don’t really feel the strain. I truly really feel the thrill of “what CAN we do that yr?”. There’s at all times a special route. I’ve one of many choreographers who works on the present who says: “Effectively you possibly can at all times discover a new pair of sneakers, can’t you?” There’s a lot stunning music round, that’s the factor. We’re additionally very influenced by issues that occur socially within the yr.
As soon as the present begins, Strictly turns into my life for 13 weeks…
When Strictly begins, I say: “See you on 18 December!” Despite the fact that we attempt to do a six day week, usually all of us are on name as a result of one thing dramatic often occurs on the Sunday – any individual’s sick or can’t do the dance they’re doing, or must be talked off the sting as a result of they hate what they’re doing.
A standard week on Strictly for me seems to be like…
On Monday, often everybody has teething issues with their new dances and are easing themselves into it. Somebody will be fairly delicate in the event that they’ve been within the backside two. Usually, we attempt to be readily available for anybody who’s feeling, “oh God, final week didn’t go so effectively.” But additionally, we’re rehearing the brand new music acts.
As early as Tuesday, we’re getting the director’s tapes in from the {couples} that week. I’ve obtained a workforce of two different choreographers, and we attempt to get to all the {couples} throughout the week. As you possibly can think about, when there are 15 of them and so they’re everywhere in the nation, it will get simpler as they go on.
Wednesday, extra of the identical. Thursday, there’s an enormous manufacturing assembly about what’s going to occur with the roll-out [of that week], after which within the coming weeks, if there’s a theme week developing. Friday, we’re digital camera blocking, so we’re there actually early, after which the cameras begin rehearsing. We begin speaking with every professional about what they’re doing the next week. Able to make props for what’s developing subsequent. So it’s a well-oiled machine.
After we first begin, we’ve tried to map out the present till week 4…
We’ve to observe that we don’t have all of the {couples} clashing with the identical dance on the identical week, so we need to ensure that everybody has a completely totally different journey to one another. And we additionally need to ensure that if somebody has ballroom one week, then they’ve Latin the following, and perhaps Charleston the week after.
As soon as we’ve obtained to week 4, we then map it out proper the way in which to Blackpool, and we will begin to see what would possibly probably be our Blackpool episode.
We’d have a extremely nice thought for any individual after which what occurs in the event that they go residence?
We simply must let these go and in one of many years to return, we’ll dig these out once more. We do have issues the place we go, ‘effectively final yr we by no means obtained to do this, that will have been nice,’ so we mud them off.
Neil Jones is the naughtiest professional in rehearsals…
The boys are fairly naughty. I imply Neil… Giovanni [Pernice]… Aljaz [Skorjanec] was once so naughty. Neil’s obtained a really fast, witty sense of humour and typically after I’m attempting to get stuff achieved, I’m like “Neil!” however I like it.
It’s humorous as a result of the women are fairly straight down the road, organised, there on time, however we’re at all times chasing the boys. Carlos [Gu] and Vito [Coppola] are the brand new ones, and they’re fairly good boys, however in a few years, they may find yourself like the remainder I’m certain.
I by no means really feel restricted creatively…
One factor I like is that if there’s one thing you’re captivated with or need to do a same-sex tango or an interpretation of a Rumba, I can go to the workforce. I don’t assume they’ve ever mentioned “no”. We at all times need to discover a technique to make it Strictly, however we’re very fortunate to have this platform to push and introduce our viewers to new issues. So I by no means actually get bored or really feel trapped artistically. It’s a pleasant job to be on for that motive.
I’ve had pals inform me they have been incorrect to doubt the same-sex partnerships…
It’s actually thrilling that we will present anyone that’s sceptial how stunning any mixture of pairing is once they dance collectively, and that’s what’s actually essential to us – to verify we’re not simply box-ticking. In our world, we’re so used to a few with the identical intercourse, as a result of that’s what we do, particularly after we’re coming by means of as children. It’s essential for us to indicate totally different variations of {couples}.
I’ve had pals who’ve mentioned, “I’m unsure about same-sex dancing”, and I’ve had the identical pals ring me up and inform me they have been incorrect, which is beautiful. I believe John and Johannes final yr have been actually groundbreaking – individuals actually obtained on board and related to them as effectively.
When judges swapped over the previous few years, I noticed my identify talked about on a few lists to interchange them…
But it surely’s bizarre as a result of I’ve achieved the Head Choose in South Africa and Australia and I form of like the place my position is right here. I wouldn’t get to do the inventive aspect that I actually get to train with unimaginable professionals. I do imagine this model of the present has the most effective professionals of some other market.
Once I’m not on Strictly, I bounce between a musical or two…
Typically I’m on one other model of the present. I’ve simply completed a musical with Craig Revel Horwood. I’ve simply completed Strictly Ballroom with Kevin Clifton and I often bounce between a musical or two, or one thing on the telly in a special market. I attempt to get again to Australia, the place I’m from, however that window is getting smaller and smaller due to the Strictly excursions, which I additionally do.
A few of my favorite moments from the present are…
Rose [Ayling-Ellis] and Gio’s Couple’s Selection must be one of the crucial unimaginable issues I’ve ever seen. Rose is considered one of my favorite individuals who’s ever achieved Strictly. Simply to see her turn out to be one of the crucial musical dancers we’ve ever had on the present, was simply awe-inspiring.
Then, in the event you return to my very first episode of Strictly, there was Aljaz and Abbey Clancy dancing to Kissing You. I’m a sucker for these sluggish, stunning ones. All of the magic comes collectively.
I believe my favorite contestant, or considered one of them, was Rob Rinder, as a result of he simply liked it a lot and he dedicated. I consider Jay McGuiness, Kellie Vivid… Kellie is an EastEnders actress after which rapidly, you’re speaking to her like a dancer. She was simply nailing each efficiency.
AJ [Odudu] was such a shock final yr as a result of I bear in mind the dance take a look at, she was somewhat bit ungainly and lanky and was like, “I don’t know if I can do that”, however oh my God, she took to it like a duck to water – her Showdance was spectacular too. We’d all seen it on the Monday so we knew what was coming, however she by no means obtained to do it [AJ had to withdraw from the final after injuring her ankle], in order that was unhappy.
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One.