An interview with the amazing Arlene Phillips

An interview with Arlene Phillips CBE

Sue Wybrow, from Popdance World and Dance News Worldwide caught up with the amazing Arlene Phillips, CBE to talk about her incredible career, how they fi rst met and what Arlene’s up to at the moment. Never a dull moment with this amazing lady.

Hi Arlene, it’s so lovely to chat with you - can you believe that it’s been around 10 years since we fi rst met at Pineapple Studios in Langley Street, London? You were auditioning in the next studio to us when we were working with some new Popdance Teachers.

I feel like I’m forever auditioning in Pineapple and suddenly the pandemic stopped all of that. Luckily I went back and began auditioning again and I’m feeling positive about the future. I was delighted to meet you and so intrigued by Popdance with a method of teaching where everyone can become a dancer.

And it’s been 7 years since we “Danced My Street” for Alzheimer’s Society. It was great fun making the launch video and seeing the videos that came in with donations going to the charity.

Alzheimer’s Society is a cause very close to my heart and I am proud to be an ambassador for the charity. Working together with you on the project was such fun and of course the realisation that dance can help and support charity which we need more than ever right now. I can’t wait for our next one together. I had no idea I would have a career as a choreographer. I only wanted to dance and became a teacher. Eventually my career turned to me becoming a choreographer when I took the best students from the class I was teaching, created a dance group called Hot Gossip, which became a revolution in TV dance because they were so different, and sexy, and there was an uproar that made the front page of all the newspapers… and my new career was born!

What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far? Perhaps some of your favourite moments?

You’ve led such an amazing career in the dance world, did you always know you would make a career doing what you loved? I have many highlights in my career – my fi rst ever musical was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express, to working with stars like Whitney Houston and Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury and Elton John. But also creating a contemporary dance piece for the brilliant Ed Watson from the Royal Ballet company. More recently one of my dream jobs, an immersive production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Bridge Theatre where the whole audience could join hands together and be a part of the magic.

And you are also an author - can you tell us a bit more about “Alana Dancing Star”?

I love writing this series of children’s books, named after my eldest daughter. In each

book Alana travels in a dream to each country where the genres of dance came from, like Vienna for the Viennese Waltz, Los Angeles for Hip Hop, Brazil for the Samba, and lots more.

Do you have a favourite style of dance, or a favourite routine that you love to do? Do you still dance on a regular basis?

My favourite style of dance is contemporary dance. Prior to the pandemic I think Sadlers Wells Theatre in London felt like my home. They always have such an incredible programme. I dance when I choreograph but I don’t dance at weddings, when everyone expects me to jump up and do pirouettes!

What’s next on the horizon for Arlene Phillips?

I’m thrilled to say that the future is looking really bright and sunny.

As a a director, I’m working on a concert production of Hair the musical which will show for one night only at the London Palladium on 13th June and Southamptom Mayfl ower on 27th June. Then in April next year I’m directing a new version of the Broadway production of The Cher Show.

I’m choreographing a new production of Grease which is going on tour around the UK, opening in Leicester at the end of July. Then I’m straight on to the Tom Jones musical What’s New Pussycat, opening at Birmingham REP mid October.

What piece of advice would you give to all the amazing dancers out there, whether they are teachers or participants?

Anyone who is involved in dance, either teaching or those who see it as their future, have to be passionate about it. Dance isn’t an easy career so you have to know you cannot live without it. As a wonderful example, what you have created shows your belief in dance for all and you have put your heart and soul into it. You are the absolute proof of what is necessary to succeed.

Keep up to date with Arlene on instagram here

Or visit her website here