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Flavia and Vincent – It Was Simply Going To Be A Matter Of Time

April 1, 2012 - 11:09 am

It was simply going to be a matter of time.  I have had my sights set on this for so long.  I have tried and tried to get tickets to Strictly but have never been lucky and I will no doubt be trying again this year.

 

Dancing is one of my passions, I love classical ballet and professional dancing.   I am completely addicted to Strictly Come Dancing which I have mentioned in my blog when I recently bumped into Natalie Lowe and Russell Grant.   I am in awe of all those professional dancers.

 

However, I have to say that my very favourite dancer on the show has always been Flavia Cacace.   In my next life (if I am going to be lucky enough to have one), I would like to come back as a dancer and a petite one at that – just like her.   When I watch Flavia and Vincent Simone strutting their Argentine Tango stuff on Strictly the tears stream down my face every time, I find their dancing so moving, so beautiful, the grace and precision of their movements and footwork, accompanied by the music sets me right off.    There is something that looks so effortless in the way these two dance but I know for a fact that it takes years of very hard work requiring practice practice practice.

So what happened you’re asking?   Yesterday I met my sister for coffee at about noon at the Waldorf Hotel Cafe in Covent Garden.   We were waiting an absolute age for my teenage nephew to join us but he had clearly had a very late night with a friend and took hours to reach us – his idea of “I’ll be with you shortly” might not necessarily mean in the same lifetime as ours!    I became frustrated waiting for him.  However, for this I am now very grateful because if he had not been so late, we would not have continued sitting waiting and I would not have decided to take a walk round the block.   Isn’t it funny how serendipity works sometimes?   I walked past the Aldwych Theatre where Vincent and Flavia have been starring in their own show called Midnight Tango which I went to see in February.  We bought those tickets months in advance.    I walked past the theatre in the sunshine thinking to myself “goodness it is the last day of their show, I wonder if there is a matinee performance?”.   I continued walking and passed the Stage Door which was open, I walked in and asked the young lady on reception if the dancers had arrived and she said “well I think they will be coming back at any minute as they are out for coffee”.   Never one to miss the moment, I decided that I would wait outside for no longer than 5 minutes before heading off again.   I started feeling a little bit foolish standing outside the door I must confess.   After a few minutes I decided to get back to my sister and as I rounded the corner there they were, walking up the road towards me.   I was over the moon.    Flavia and Vincent both instantly recognisable, her in her little wooly hat.    I walked up to them and said “you two are my very favourite dancers on Strictly, may I have a photo?”.  They were very obliging and very kind as I fumbled with my phone trying to find the camera which eventually Vincent sorted for me.  I said “whenever I see you both dance the Argentine Tango I am in tears” to which Vincent replied “surely we’re not that bad?”.  Very funny !

Here they are doing what they do best.

And here I am with them both.

As we were fumbling with my phone trying to locate the camera,  several people came up also wanting a pic.   These two must get this all the time and sometimes it must be a right pain but when you become stars, it comes with the territory and they were absolutely kind and charming.

 

Don’t ever stop dancing guys – I absolutely love you !

Strictly Just Another Average Thursday

March 8, 2012 - 7:34 pm

Today was just another normal Thursday morning in London for me – a day full of surprises.   Off I went at the crack of dawn to my Toastmaster meeting in Covent Garden.  I absolutely love Toastmasters.  I get such a buzz from attending those weekly meetings.

 

The 7am kick off is a killer, especially in the winter, it means getting out of my warm bed,  braving the elements to hike myself off to town.  I look forward to these meetings with gusto.   When the public speaking bit is over, we gather for breakfast at Patisserie Valerie on Long Acre.    One could not wish to meet a more vibrant and inspiring bunch of people than my fellow Toastmasters and there is definitely something very special about our club and its Members.  Quite a lot of  conversations take place at breakfast and business connections are forged there on a regular basis – I love it.

 

I had a late meeting in the cafe after breakfast today.   As my companion and I gathered our belongings to leave,  I noticed two people sitting together in the corner of the cafe who looked very familiar.  Non other than Natalie Lowe the absolutely gorgeous Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer and Russell Grant the Astrologer (who partnered with the lovely Flavia Cacace in Strictly’s last season).   I met Natalie briefly last summer at my local bus stop in South London (no less).   Natalie is a knock out, she reminds me of the Baywatch Babes with her lovely blonde tumbling locks and fabulous figure, it is difficult to take your eyes off her.

Natalie was very approachable and chatted to me like an old friend at the bus stop that day.  Today in the cafe was much the same,  Russell, Natalie and I talked about life,  Russell’s new role as The Wizard of Oz, Natalie’s upcoming TV programme and professional dancing generally (on which subject I  have become a somewhat self proclaimed expert in the last years – LOL).   Here’s a little photo I took of them this morning.

 

Strictly Come Dancing has to be one of my favourite TV shows.   It’s the professional dancing and professional dancers that I love best, followed next by the journey those celebs take en route to the final.   The slog is a tough one for the non professionals, the training relentless and I take my hat off to all of them.   They give us great entertainment.    I  hope they all Keep Dancing!

 

Here’s Natalie, how we normally see her, with former dance partner Scott Maslen