Strictly stars in row over whether they have plugged clothes brand against BBC rules

Janette Manrara, Nadia Bychkova and Dianne Buswell have praised Dincwear, who make leggings and leotards, on their social media channels

Strictly Come Dancing stars have quick-stepped into a row over whether they have plugged a dance clothes brand against the rules.

Janette Manrara, Nadia Bychkova and Dianne Buswell have praised Dincwear, who make leggings and leotards, on their social media channels.

A source at the Beeb said they would “look into it and react accordingly” if its stars have crossed BBC lines by receiving “free or reduced cost products” in return for mentions.

Third parties are also not allowed to cash in on BBC programmes.

But the company boasts on its website how “12 of the pro-stars are seen rehearsing in Dincwear” – with several pictures of Strictly stars in their outfits, some while filming BBC rehearsals.

BBC sources said they would ask the company to remove Strictly references. It is not known if the dancers knew Strictly was referred to on the website.

In one of her posts Dianne, in a Dincwear hoodie, uses the firm’s Instagram handle and adds a love-heart.

Nadiya says in a separate post ­“absolutely love my dincwear leggings”, with a link to the brand.

Janette, now hosting Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, posted an Instagram story of her in a Dincwear outfit, saying: “My newest leotard! Love it,” with a brand plug.

Dincwear has other links to Strictly too.

Dancer Karen Hauer this year struck up a commercial deal with Dincwear, creating her own branded KH leotard.

BBC insiders say no rules were broken in this instance. Others who feature in “Strictly stars in Dincwear” on the firm’s website include Katya Jones, Amy Dowden, Giovanni Pernici and Graziano Di Prima.

Post by By Tom Bryant Head of Showbiz Mirror

This post is shared by the Dincwear Dancewear Team.

Burn the Floor – “The Reunion”
At The G Live, Guildford, 14th July 2022

Burn the Floor are simply the best ballroom dancers in the world. To get in to the Company, you don’t have to be a National, International, or even a World Champion – but it certainly helps! Many of these dancers have gone on to become stars with “Strictly Come Dancing”, the UK’s most popular TV show. It is these stars who are performing in the current Burn the Floor 25 Year “Reunion” tour. They truly are the “Harlem Globetrotters” of the ballroom world and “Reunion” goes far beyond the traditional boundaries of ballroom dancing.

“Reunion” has two excellent singers plus a drummer and a percussionist, but it is really all about the dancers and the choreography. The dancers are: Aljaz, Dianne, Janette, Joanne, Kai, Karen, Kevin, Luba, Robin, Gordana, Trent, Ash-Leigh, Anya, Robbie, Arduino and Pasquale. The choreographer is Jason Gilkison, who is also the choreographer for “Strictly”. At Guildford, Jason gave a brief introduction to the show. He set up Burn the Floor 25 years ago with his dance partner, Peta Roby, (Jason didn’t mention this but the pair were also World Dance Champions!) so they had 25 years of Burn the Floor’s greatest dance numbers to choose from. The “Reunion” show is the Burn the Floor greatest hits album playing in front of your eyes!

The dancers perform these greatest hits to the fullest. There are no pauses – each number leads into the next with some remarkably quick costume changes. I have been to dance shows where the dancers perform well within themselves as they are often on long and exhausting tours. But not this time. The dancers are tested to their limits and even the girls are ‘glowing’ by the interval. As Jason says in the programme, the dancers leave “their soul on the stage” – or did he mean sole?

All the dance stars are phenomenal and it is impossible to pick out any particular highlights, as the whole show, like any of the best greatest hits albums, is the highlight. For the ballroom purist you have Aljaz dancing with Ash-Leigh and Janette with Robbie. (Janette explained at her own show, “Remembering the Oscars”, that it is the height difference between her and Aljaz that explains their respective partnerships). Karen Hauer performed in a blindfold for an astonishing expression of faith in her dance partners, the Cliftons know how to wow an audience, Dianne is so expressive and Luba is just perfect.

The last two or three numbers were performed to a standing ovation that was incredibly well deserved. The rest of the “Reunion” tour has rightly sold out. “Reunion” should, somehow, become a permanent fixture in a West End Theatre – using whichever Burn the Floor stars are available from their formidable stable of dancers. I would certainly buy a season ticket.

***** 5/5

Rob
Dincwear Dancewear Team

When Oti Mabuse was paired with Bill Bailey in 2020, I remember thinking that it would be quite an achievement for her to win Strictly for the second year running. Of course, Oti and Bill did win the series! Now Oti has produced another remarkable achievement with her new show “I Am Here”. The show traces Oti’s story in dance from the present day back to her childhood in South Africa. It features ten superb dancers (I was delighted to recognize Sasha Woodward, who has been a remarkable junior dancer with the Dane Bates Collective), four musicians and two excellent singers in Nic Vani and Natalia Brown. As expected, the dancing, choreography and costumes were all first class. The show is also punctuated with insights from Oti who believes, correctly in my view, that the best dancers are to be found in Britain.
(A strength that should be recognized and acted upon by the powers that be). After an explosive and colourful opening number, the remaining first half of the show depicts Oti’s time with Strictly, through dancing in Germany, to
leaving South Africa at the age of 21.

Oti began to feel that “life was really changing for her in 2016” when she was partnered with Danny Mac. Although they didn’t win, there were some incredible performances and Oti recreates the electrifying samba routine with
Stephen Woods stepping in for Danny. We are then taken across to Germany where Oti was a professional dancer on
its equivalent of Strictly and met a fellow dancer called Marius. (I was confused for a moment when Oti said that she was about to bring on stage “the man who takes half of my money”. Why would you invite the tax man on
stage? But of course Oti was referring to Marius who is now her husband). The pair of them, who were sensational together throughout the evening proceeded to dance a romantic tango to Nina’s classic “Red Balloons”.
Oti is passionate about musicals and hopes one day to produce her own. (She has indeed taken the first step by recently choreographing “The Cher Show”). This fact introduced a high-powered dance medley to classic songs from
“Hairspray”, “West Side Story”, “Singing in the Rain” and some “Fosse”. It was great to see the girls dancing to so many numbers throughout the show free of crippling heels.

The second part of “I Am Here” is even more personal and centred around South Africa. It combines traditional African song and dance with some familiar western pieces. The dark history of apartheid is illuminated by Oti and Marius trying, but not being allowed, to dance together. Traditional African dances such as the Pantsula and hope-giving Gumboot song are performed joyously by the dancers.

There is a strong feminist theme running throughout the show, or as Oti referred to it “a celebration of women”. One of the most striking dances of the evening, to Alicia Key’s anthem “Girl is on Fire”, is dedicated to Oti’s mother
and two sisters. All three made tremendous sacrifices to allow Oti to pursue her dream of dancing.

The finale is purely a celebration of dance and of life itself, with Oti performing in a multi-layered gold costume and crown, to songs like “Conga” and “Lets get Loud”. “I Am Here” is both a fantastic show and also Oti’s name in Setswana. Hopefully Oti will remain here, producing wonderful entertainment like this, for many years to come.

Reviewed by Rob @ Dincwear Dancewear
(and yes, I have managed to write this entire review without using
the word “journey”)

Sadler’s Well’s theatre, home to dance in London and for one week late September it is also home to Hofesh Shechter Company as they showcase a trilogy exposing different takes on intimacy, passion and the banality of love.

The opening piece ‘The Barbicans in Love’ reveals the six dancers in their most vulnerable and innocent form. Dressed all in white, they move simultaneously to an eclectic score of classic music and an electronic voice over interview between Hofesh himself and an intimidating interviewer. The conversation questions Hofesh’s take on love and its simplicity. The dancers are a unit of accuracy; they glide through the space as one moving in Shechter’s signature hunched shoulder posture and grounded movements.

However innocence is soon forgotten as the second piece begins, ‘tHE bAD’. Splattered with violent outpours of frustration from the dancers to dubstep music, this piece creates a very chaotic environment. The five dancers dressed in gold cat suits seem awkward and obstructive by the notions of love.  The sporadic structure connotes that of a confused mind. Which coincidently ties in nicely with the title ‘tHE bAD’ (read the capitals!).

The third and final piece is called ‘Two Completely Different Angles of the Same F***ing Thing’. A duet between Bruno Guillore and Winifred Burnet-Smith, this piece seems very personal and intimate. The two dancers share passionate embraces and mimic each other’s movements showing empathy for one another.

The work comes to an end as Hofesh’s voice is heard once again and all the dancers come on stage to join the duet. They form a chorus of unity, a reminder of the frustration, innocence, and passion bought by love.

For more information visit www.hofesh.co.uk

Thursday 1st October 2015 – Author – I.P. Dincwear Dancewear Team.