Pro Dancers News from Dincwear Dancewear.

July 2026 Edition

Arlene Phillips awarded Freedom of the City of London.

Olivier Award-winning choreographer and theatre director Dame Arlene Phillips received the Freedom of the City of London at a ceremony at the Guildhall on June 16, 2026. The prestigious honour was awarded in recognition of her outstanding contributions to dance spanning five decades and her continuous support for charitable causes Dame Arlene Phillips receives Freedom of the City of London.

She joins an eminent list of City of London Corporation recipients, including her fellow Strictly Come Dancing stars Len Goodman and Oti Mabuse, as well as director Sir Matthew Bourne Dame Arlene Phillips receives Freedom of the City of London. Arlene, who began her professional career in London more than 60 years ago, expressed immense pride in receiving the award Dame Arlene Phillips receives Freedom of the City of London.

Dame Arlene Phillips choreographed the stage adaptation of the hit 1983 film Flashdance, and Strictly winner Joanne Clifton wore our “Pro” Dincwear on stage every night in the “Flashdance” Tour.

Working alongside director Nikolai Foster and producer David Ian, she brought the iconic, high-energy routines—including the famous water-drenching dance sequences—to the UK touring productions and the West End’s Shaftesbury Theatre.

The BBC has announced a historic shake-up and itinerary for Strictly Come Dancing 2026.

The BBC has announced a historic shake-up for Strictly Come Dancing 2026, completely overhauling the presenting lineup, axing major professional dancers, and confirming the first wave of celebrity contestants for the upcoming autumn series.

Historic New Hosting Trio.

For the first time in the show’s history, Strictly Come Dancing will feature a three-person presenting team. Following the departure of longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the BBC confirmed that TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and beloved professional dancer Johannes Radebe will take over the ballroom. Show executives are reportedly planning a format where at least one of the hosts will actively dance during the live shows.

Massive Pro Dancer Exodus.

The ballroom is facing its biggest backstage clear-out as five high-profile professional dancers have left the show. The BBC confirmed that the following dancers will not return for the 2026 series:

• Karen Hauer (The longest-serving female pro, leaving after 14 years)
• Gorka Marquez
• Nadiya Bychkova
• Luba Mushtuk
• Michelle Tsiakkas

Additionally, spin-off host and former pro Janette Manrara has officially announced her exit, confirming she will no longer be a part of It Takes Two or the main show.

First Four Celebrities Confirmed

According to official updates from the BBC Media Centre, the first four stars heading to the dancefloor this September include:

Lacey Turner: The award-winning EastEnders actress.
Dani Dyer: The Love Island winner returns for a second chance after an ankle injury forced her out of the 2025 lineup.
Delta Goodrem: The powerhouse Australian singer-songwriter.
Chris Appleton: World-renowned conceptual hair stylist to A-list stars like Kim Kardashian

Key Dates & Scheduled Themes

The official itinerary for the 2026 glitterball race has been revealed:

• Launch Show: Saturday, 19th September (Pre-recorded on 9th September)
• First Live Show: Saturday, 26th September
• Movie Week: Saturday, 10th October
• Halloween Week: Saturday, 31st October
• Blackpool Week: Saturday, 21st November
• Grand Final: Saturday, 19th December

Popular theme weeks like Musicals Week, Icons Week, and the high-energy Instant Dance Challenge are all officially confirmed to return alongside a redesigned, sleek set featuring larger visual display screens.

General News & Sighting

• The winners of the National Dance Awards were announced for 2025. Lauren Cuthbertson of The Royal Ballet won the award for Best Female Dancer and Cordelia Braithwaite of the New Adventures Company won the award for Outstanding Female Modern performance for “The Red Shoes”. Paris Fitzpatrick won the award for Outstanding Male Modern Performance for his role in “Quadrophenia”.
• Due to the heatwaves in June, “Avenue Q” introduced hydration breaks for its West End cast.
• Johannes Radebe announced a new UK tour called “Finally Home” which will open on April the 1st 2027.
• “Mean Girls” cancelled its run in Belfast following recent unrest.
• It was reported that “performing arts and creative degrees often leave their graduates worse off financially than they would have been otherwise … with the cost of the courses including loans outweighing earnings.” (The Stage 25/6)
• Dame Arlene Phillips has received the Freedom of the City of London for her “outstanding contributions to dance and charity works”.
• Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons took home the Tony award for Best Choreography for their work on “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” on Broadway.
• Royal Ballet principle dancer Natalia Osipova is to make her West End acting debut in “The Standard of Living”, a new play by James Graham based on the life of John Maynard Keynes.
• “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” has announced its lead casting as the show prepares to return for a tenth anniversary tour. It will star Ashcon Rahmans and Rebecca Trehearn and has choreography by Kate Prince. The tour opens in Leeds on the 15th of January 2027.
• Three performers will be sharing the role of Ali in “Burlesque The Musical” this year. Natalia Jacques will be performing the role in London, while Gracie O’ Brien will be touring the role with Cecilia Petrush as the alternate. The London show opens in Marble Arch on the 12th of September and the tour begins in Woking.
• The “High School Musical” revival has confirmed its full cast. The show will premiere at the Lowry in Salford from the 22nd of August to the 19th of September. It will then move to the Troubadour Wembley Park theatre from the 12th of October. The choreography is by Aaron Renfree and the dance captain is Harriet Caplan-Dean.
• “Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical” will return this summer to Evolution London from the 22nd of July until the 13th of September. The show has choreography by Jennifer Weber and stars Stephanie Costi as Sandy.
• Full casting has been revealed for the new London production of “Death Note: The Musical”. Sian Yeo is the dance captain and the choreography is by Fabian Aloise. The show will play at the Barbican from the 30th of July until the 12th of September.

Future Dance Events News

• “Jesus Christ Superstar” will tour in 2027 starring Sam Ryder, opening in Manchester on the 11th of February. The show has choreography by Drew McOnie.
• The musical adaptation of “Pretty Woman” will return for a new tour next year. The show will have choreography by Jerry Mitchell and open in Wimbledon on the 10th of March 2027.
• The English National Ballet has announced its season for 2026/7 titled “A Season To Feel More”.
• “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” will return to the UK on a 10th anniversary tour. The show will open in Leeds on the 15th of January 2027. It has choreography by Kate Prince.
• A musical stage adaptation of the film “Coyote Ugly” will come to the West End in 2027. It will be directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.
• “Just For One Day; The Live Aid Musical” is to embark on a UK tour in 2027. The show has choreography by Ebony Molina.
• “Heathers the Musical” will return to the UK from Summer 2026 for a new tour. The show will have choreography by Gary Lloyd.
• A new production of “Fame” will run from the 28th of July until the 15th of August 2026 at the Theatre Royal Plymouth. It will have choreography by Tom Jackson Greaves.
• “Dirty Dancing” will be touring the UK from the summer of 2026. The show will have choreography by Austin Wilkes and open in Milton Keynes on the 27th of August 2026.
• A new revival of “Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” has been confirmed for this year as part of the new season from the Birmingham Rep.
• A musical version of “10 Things I Hate About You” is officially in the works. It will have choreography by Christopher Wheeldon.

Dance Auditions & Vacancies

• Universal Studios is holding auditions for new dancers. Contact: http://www.universalstudiosauditions.com
• Cunard, the cruise line, is looking for dancers. The audition is at Pineapple studios in London on the 7th of July at 9.00 am.
• The Moulin Rouge in Paris is looking for dancers. Visit the company website for more information.
• Burn The Floor is looking for dancers. Contact: casting@burnthefloor.com

Dance Classes

• Gaz Davis offers “The Program” on the 17, 18 and 19th of August. For more details email: the programbygaz@gmail.com
• Strictly star Jowita and Pasquale have a dance workshop on the 5th of July at the Dance Attic studio in London from 1.00 – 4.30 pm.
• Charlotte Tonkinson of The Royal Ballet has a ballet masterclass on the 29th of August at the Royal Ballet studios in Birmingham.
• The annual TGS Summer Intensive will take place on the 20th – 24th of July at the Hemingford Pavilion from 10.00 am – 3.00 pm daily. Collette Guitart and Michael Naylor will be among those teaching. You can book spaces on: jordiguitart1962@gmail.com
• Poppy Radford has a commercial class at Pineapple on Wednesdays from 3.45 – 4.45 pm and 7.00 – 8.00 pm.
• Christina Andrea has classes on Tuesday from 5.00 – 6.00 pm at Pineapple, Wednesday from 7.30 – 8.30 pm at Pineapple and Thursday from 5.00 – 6.00 pm at the Manor.
• Amy Ireland has a Tap Technique class for beginners on Fridays from 12.00 – 1.00 pm at Pineapple.
• Danielle Barton has classes on Wednesdays and Fridays at Pineapple and on Saturday at the Base Dance Studio.

Film & TV

• “Michael”, the Michael Jackson film, has surpassed “Oppenheimer” as the highest-grossing biopic of all time.
• We spotted Charlotte Hawthorne in “Michael”.
• We spotted Sophie Carmen Jones in the new movie “Disclosure Day”.
• We spotted the following dancers performing with Take That at the Summertime Ball in London: Claudia Carlier, Zinzile Tahuma, Aaliyah Sharnell, Joy Duckrell, Rachel Muldoon, Lashay Harvey & Layla Kao. The choreography was by Adrian Gas.
• We spotted Hannah Levitt Collins and Shannah Spry dancing with the Pussycat Dolls.
• We spotted Devon Young, Carmelle Rudder & Ayesha Greed performing with Sister Sledge in London.
• We spotted Claudia Floss, Deja Linton, Lilly Lumm & Grace Stephens in the new advert for Caia Cosmetics. The choreography was by Sammi Lee Jayne and the contract was with AMCK.
• We spotted Danielle Barton performing at the Download Festival.
• We spotted the following dancers in the Argos Spring campaign: Jamie Bell, Jen Stones, Lauren Wadsworth, Hannah Rate & Katie Agarwal. The choreography was by Lizzie Gough.

Pro Dancer News Published by the Dincwear Pro Dancewear Team.

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