Final Portfolio Piece 3

(NB. The words that are underlined are indications of where I would link back to relevant parts of the intended outlet website if the piece was developed further for the web. They are not working links.)

Arlene Phillips – competition judge, dancer, choreographer, teacher, producer, director….

Herself

Arlene Phillips was born in Manchester on 22^nd May 1943. She is a professional Jazz and Musical Theatre choreographer and the only female judge on the Strictly panel. She lives in London with her husband Angus and has two daughters Alana and Abi. Her passion for choreography has added zest to many productions whilst maintaining strong technical elements of various dance styles.

The Early Days

At the age of three Arlene started tap and ballet dancing at the Muriel Tweedy School. Her aims to be a professional Ballet dancer were diminished by her own knowledge and her teacher’s telling that such a dream was unachievable for her. She moved down to London and became a successful teacher and choreographer at the renowned Pineapple Dance Studios in Covent Garden. She had reached the glamorous hub of the dance world.

The official big-break for Arlene came when she was asked to direct an advert for ice-cream. Director of Gladiator, Ridley Scott, approached her after she had been babysitting for him. From here she gave her career a true kick start forming the British Dance Troupe, Hot Gossip in 1974 that subsequently became a regular feature of the Kenny Everett Show throughout the 1980’s. Arlene selected the members of the troupe from dancers whom she had previously worked with.

Work and Achievements

Arlene has choreographed for pop videos and West End musicals as well as 14 films, including Annie and over 100 commercials from Burger King to Vidal Sassoon. Singers she has worked with include Duran Duran and Whitney Houston. Some of the West End Musicals are Grease, We Will Rock You, Matador and the 2006 version of The Sound of Music. Arlene worked closely with the US National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express. She was also director of Saturday Night Fever, notorious for its powerful and punchy dancing.

Other achievements include assisting with the choreography of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. In the TV show Dance X she went head-to-head with fellow Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli in creating a successful dance troupe. Viewers at home decided the winner. In the first series and despite much support, Arlene just missed out on winning glory to Bruno.

Most recently she was creator and producer of hit TV shows Britannia High and Fame. Britannia High follows the fictional lives of six Performing Arts students as they work hard to reach fame and stardom. As for Arlene herself, she never stops working. When there is time to relax a sit down with a good magazine, preferably in the South of France, would be her ideal.

Arlene’s toughness, often seen while judging the contestants on the show, she believes comes from the strictness that she encountered during her early dance classes. Many see her, along with fellow judge, Craig Revel Horwood as the harshest of the four judges. But as a result she is a well focused, driven perfectionist – essential assets for her career. In 2001 she was awarded an OBE for services to dance – prolific proof of her passion and determination.

 

Trivia

-Arlene has always had a strong sense of rhythm and ability to react to the atmosphere around her – she admits that she even speeds up her eating rhythm if fast music is played in a restaurant.

-Her predominantly disco choreography often has a refreshing twist – elements of ballet are introduced into a wider range of styles – her passion from an early age.

-She prefers to leave the set of Strictly soon after filming in order to spend more time with her family.

-Holidays are not essential for Arlene – the build-up is often too much when it can just lead to disappointment.

-She judged in the Strictly spin off show Strictly Dance Fever to find dancers for a new chorus of a West End Musical.

-And just for the record, Arlene does believe she has mellowed since earlier years.