Page 27 - Heat_UK__30_December_2017

Spinning
around in The
Nutcracker
The day heat
in 2001

danced with

DARCEY

BUSSELL

We don our ballet pumps for a workout with the Strictly star

ulldisclosure:ourlifewon’tamount
toanythingunlesswecompete
onStrictlyComeDancing.Sojust
F imagine our joy when this beauty of
an email popped up: “We are releasing Darcey
Bussell’s first dance-based fitness DVD and
are holding a class for a few select journalists,
taught by Darcey and her instructors, so you
can see for yourself how much fun You can #27
and good exercise it is.” It may not judge us any
time, Darcey
be the starry ballroom, but
good gosh it’s one step closer.
Sorry, make that a heel pull. real. Next we leap overto
I’m a serious dancer now. Japan,wherewemimicsumo
Fast forward a few days, Having a wrestlersdoingsquatstothe
and heat and 15 other roving chuckle with music.Finally,it’stimefor
Chas in 2004
reporters are being led somerock’n’rollandacheeky
through the winding corridors of Charleston–thisiswhenwe
Sadler’s Wells (because obviously feelatourmostStrictly.And,also,
Darcey’s teaching a class at the UK’s knackered.Turnsoutdancingistough.
premier dance venue. She probably has The class ends, we get our sweaty selfies with
the master key). We’re dressed for action Queen D, and settle down for a chat. She
in Lycra, but our faces read, “Oh God, now explains why she created DDMix. “When
we actually have to do this and our instructor I left ballet, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to
is a national balletic icon. And she scores have a programme with diversity, so you never
people out of ten for a living.” get bored?’” She says her aim was “to keep
We take our places and Darcey springs the body moving and strong”. Her children’s
into action. She’s introducing us to Diverse fitness, meanwhile, was equally important.
Dance Mix, or “I looked at my daughters [Phoebe, 16, and
‘My aim is to keep my DDMix, the aerobic Zoe, 13] and realised all they do at school is
workout she devised competitive sports,” she says. “I wanted them
body moving and strong’ that pays homage to to have something active and not feel like they
26 genres, eras and were being judged.” She’s emphatic on this
national dances around the world. In one point – it’s all a bit of fun.
hour, you can find yourself doing anything That’s all very well, but how did we novices
from flamenco to Greek to ’70s disco. do? Were we a DIS-AH-STER, darling? She
Basically, it’s Zumba on steroids. won’t be drawn. “I promise I wasn’t judging
The music kicks in and we’re off, starting anyone today!” CHARLOTTE OLIVER
with an Arabic number. It’s all winding hips
and inviting arm gestures. But make no Darcey Bussell – Diverse Dance Mix is
mistake, it’s a proper workout the burn is available to buy now on DVD

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