Episode 1 of Season 5 of Strictly Come Dancing has come and gone and there I was thinking that after we broke the ice things would probably get a little easier, YEAH RIGHT!
Now the tough stuff really starts. We had a fairly good first week with our waltz to "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Simply Red - as you'll know, finishing just 2 points behind Rob and Mary on the judges scorecard. So that means we have to step up the pace and work even harder than we have been doing - which is a little difficult seeing as Hayley and I have already been putting in about five hours a day and we both have other commitments.
I'm currently shooting a new 26-episode Afrikaans drama series called Getroud Met Rugby which will be aired on Kyknet from around April 2009 and Hayley is starring in Jubilee at the Odeon Show Bar (Emperors Palace) from Wednesday to Saturday nights. Guess that means we are going to have to work twice as hard in half the time.
DAMN, like my feet, knees and back weren't taking enough strain as it is.
Actually asked Hayley today whether the foot pain ever goes away when you dance - damn, she could have lied but NO, she always calls it straight, so that means I've got another 10 weeks of intense pain to look forward to.
Hey, it's not like I'm complaining - I mean I am extremely glad to be WALKING never mind dancing seeing that I fractured three vertebra in my neck many years ago as a teenager and spent months in traction. Broke both my legs when a vehicle I was travelling in rolled over me in an accident and have broken at least one of every type of bone in my body at some stage or another in my short 41 years on this amazing planet of ours.
Anyhow, I seem to be digressing somewhat and besides there will be NO EXCUSES - we will be giving everything we've got to keep everyone watching entertained and to keep on improving so that by the time this is over Hayley and I will be the king and queen of Strictly Come Dancing.
So back to the task at hand which is to give you all some kind of insight into what is going on behind the scenes without actually letting the cat out of the bag.
I started my training with Hayley on the 26th August and couldn't even grasp the absolute basics of the waltz no, REALLY, 1.2.3. is easy believe me but "lower on the right leg, step to the heel on the left, then gradually raise up through the next 2 steps which are on your toes to feet together and lower onto last leg then swop it all so that you first step is now with the right leg ...." etc
- all the while making sure that your top line stays straight, your head stays left, your butt stays under your shoulders and you stretch through you sides, contra body. Oh, and don't forget to SMILE!! (And I probably still didn't get it all right here did I Hayley?)
It's no wonder that Tyrone and Lillian suggested that I was a "little" tense
- no sh*t Sherlock! I was like the proverbial deer in the headlights - Hayley did manage to get me to keep my head left but there was just no way my eyes were going to focus off towards my wristwatch.
If you looked carefully - ok, ok, you didn't have to look carefully, it was quite obvious that I was trying to peer around "corners" to see where we were supposed to be heading. Hell if the British had eyes that big America would have gained independence at Bunker Hill. TENSE? Me? Of course I was tense guys - that was the first time I've danced in my LIFE!! And I had to go and do it on national television.
So our goals now are to take what the judges suggested and work on it as we prepare for Thursday 9th October which will be a group dance for all the male competitors.
We will be rehearsing together for the number which is being choreographed by Brendon Pollock, the 1995 world freestyle dance champion and undefeated SA Latin American champion - so get ready to lose your socks.
Each couple gets a few bars of solo dance and you can be sure that Hayley's going to have some incredible moves choreographed for us there so don't forget to sit down in front of the box on Thursday night at 19h30 and tune in to SABC 2 for Strictly come Dancing.
And please don't forget to vote by sms. Send the number 10 to 34766 Remember you can vote as many times as you like.
Catch you all again next week.
Garth
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