WHEN Johannes Radebe decided that he wanted to turn his love of dance into a career, even he wasn’t sure it could actually happen.
For a boy from a South African township, becoming a professional dancer seemed like an impossible dream.
But, thanks largely to his late aunt, who he credits with inspiring and encouraging him, Johannes became a rising star of the Afro Arimba Dance Company and went on to be a two-time Professional South African Latin Champion and three-time South African Amateur Latin Champion.
Johannes is thrilled to be on tour. Pic: Optical Noise Photography
He was a professional dancer on South Africa’s Dancing with the Stars and, in 2018, he joined Strictly Come Dancing in the UK. Today he’s one of the most popular pros on TV’s hottest show, reaching the final of last year’s memorable series.
Now Johannes is heading out on his first solo tour - coming to Bradford next month - which celebrates his journey so far.
“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to have my own show. It means everything to me,” beams Johannes. “This has been a dream for me - and I hope it will inspire people to follow their own dreams. We all need role models. I wouldn’t be here without my aunt; she saw what dance meant to me as a child and she told my mum to let me follow my ambition. My aunt died of Covid two years ago, I really miss her.
“When I look back at where I’ve come from, and I hear the music of this show, the tears come streaming down my face. It has been a roller coaster of emotion, but they are happy tears!”
His show is called Freedom - “It’s freedom of expression, freedom to be who I am,” he says - and features a range of dance styles, with one section celebrating his South African heritage. “It’s important to me to pay tribute to my African roots, and to share that with audiences.
Johannes pays tribute to his African heritage in Freedom. Pic: Oliver Rosser
"This show has energy and joy, I’m on stage with an amazing set of dancers, we do Latin and ballroom, with top hat and tails, and who knows - the heels and the fan might just make an appearance,” he laughs, referring to his sassy strut in a Strictly catwalk routine that sent fans wild.
Will he be taking Freedom to South Africa? “That was always in the pipeline, then Covid happened. So yes, that will happen now. It means so much to me to take this show home. It will be like coming full circle,” he says. “Putting this show together, I’ve had to really listen to the music and use it to tell my story; where I came from, and my community. I want it to be entertaining, of course, but also inspiring, especially for young people to see that I - the African boy from a township - made it.”
While Strictly managed to continue during the pandemic, albeit with a scaled-down series in 2020, the live entertainment industry was hit hard, and Johannes was delighted to be back on stage with the Strictly Live tour earlier this year, and now heading out on his own tour. “We have missed seeing people’s faces,” he says. “When you see a dance show live, it’s a different experience from watching dance on TV - it’s exciting to share that with audiences in theatres.”
Johannes, 34, is a delight. Chatty and friendly, with his sweet chuckle peppered through our conversation, he’s clearly delighted with dance and the success it has brought him. He partnered actresses Catherine Tyldesley and Caroline Quentin on Strictly then, in 2021, he was paired with former Great British Bake-Off winner John Whaite in the show’s first ever all-male couple. He and John delighted viewers, not least with their dramatic Pirates of the Caribbean Paso Doble, and they made the final, losing out on the glitterball trophy to Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice.
Dancing the Paso Doble with John Whaite. Pic: BBC
While he’s thrilled to be part of Strictly history, Johannes hopes that, now they’ve paved the way, there won’t be such a fuss in future. “It was amazing to dance with John, I fell in love with dance all over again, and every week I felt so emotional that we were getting so much support from the public. People say to me: ‘You will not believe what an impact this has had’. It has been very moving to learn that watching us on TV gave people the confidence to be themselves, and maybe talk to their families. There was nothing like that on TV when I was growing up.
“It was empowering and special. As a gay man, I am proud of that. But I hope it won’t be front page news next year.”
Pic: Zac Cooke Photography
He has described Strictly as “the best thing that ever happened to me” and is proud of the show’s legacy of inspiring people to take up dancing. “Emma, I think the whole world should dance!” he smiles. “Everyone can dance - look at Bill Bailey. He totally embraced it, and surprised everyone. Dancing is good for us, physically, mentally and spiritually, even if you’re just dancing around your kitchen. I love that people are dancing in their kitchens because of Strictly.”
* Johannes Radebe: Freedom show is at St George’s Hall on Saturday, April 9. For tickets call (01274) 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk
* THERE’S more Strictly sparkle heading to town in Here Come the Boys (St George’s Hall, June 23), starring pro favourites Graziano Di Prima, Nadiya Bychkova, Nikita Kuzmin, Pasha Kovalev and former finalist Karim Zeroual. Says Sicilian-born Graziano, an Italian Latin Champion: “The reaction we got during the Here Come The Boys residency in London’s West End last summer was very special. We’re excited to finally bring this show to theatres across the UK.”
Keeping the boys in check is Nadiya Bychkova, World Ballroom and Latin Champion, who says: “It’s been a long time coming, but me and the boys are going to give audiences a night to remember.”
Ukrainian-born Nikita and his family moved to Italy when he was nine, and he became a six-time Italian Champion in Latin and Ballroom before joining the German version of Strictly. Says Nikita: “I heard about Here Come the Boys from my fellow Strictly pros and I can’t wait to be part of it. The energy on stage is electric.”
Pasha’s run of 13 perfect 10s remains a Strictly record, and he reached the finals three times, with partners including Bradford’s Kimberley Walsh. He says: “I’m so happy to be performing again with my friends from the Strictly family. It’s going to be a blast!”
Completing the line-up is TV presenter and actor Karim Zeroual, who danced all the way to the Strictly final in 2019 with partner Amy Dowden. “Dancing has had a massive impact on my life,” says Karim. “If it wasn’t for Strictly I wouldn’t have opportunities like this. To tour an incredible dance show with unbelievably talented people is a dream come true!”
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