Erin just loves to dance
Anyone who thought that learning ballroom and Latin dancing is easy has beeen proven wrong by countless athletes buckling under the pressure of Strictly Come Dancing.
Over seven series of the prime time BBC dance contest, we've seen weekly tears in training, a host of painful injuries and even the professional dancers have struggled to keep their places on the show.
So it comes as a surprise that one of the show's biggest stars says that being in Strictly is easy.
New Zealand-born dancer Erin Boag says Strictly is a breeze compared with appearing on a live tour.
'On Strictly Come Dancing you're with an amateur partner and it's about going out there and having fun. If something goes wrong, you are forgiven. But when you're appearing in a professional live tour, people expect more. Nothing can go wrong,' says 34-year-old Erin who now lives in Kingston Upon Thames.
'But, whether you're touring or on Strictly, it's still a seven day a week job, and they are both a lot of fun,' she continues.
Erin is the only female professional dancer to have appeared in every series of Strictly Come Dancing. Her celebrity dance partners have included comedian Julian Clary, athlete Colin Jackson, rugby player Austin Healey and, most recently, EastEnders actor Ricky Groves.
Erin's professional partner of 13 years is Anton Du Beke, another Strictly survivor who is now also a television presenter on Hole In The Wall.
Anton and Erin embarked on their debut live tour, Cheek To Cheek, last year and the pair enjoyed it so much that they're back with an all-new show for 2010.
Steppin' Out kicked-off last Friday and Erin admits that she was 'slightly nervous' ahead of opening night.
'If anything's going to happen, it'll happen on opening night. We opened in Northampton which has a really large stage and, though we were prepared, you never know what's going to happen when you do it live for the first time,' the dancer reveals.
'But the show will go on, whatever happens, and now we've got through the first few nights we're getting into a pattern,' she adds.
Erin says that, though Strictly fans will be familiar with the dances in her new show, they will see them in a new light.
'People who come along to the tour have usually seen Strictly, but when they see it right in front of them, they can't get over the amount of energy that goes into the dance.
'After the show people say things like "I had no idea that the quickstep was quite so quick".
'When I dance it with Anton, we fly. It's so much fun to dance it full-out,' beams Erin.
The pair mixed Latin and ballroom in their last tour, but Erin says the new tour will be completely different.
'It's like ballroom on Broadway,' she explains.
'The dancers we have on tour with us are all from Broadway. What they do is incredible – there's lots of flips and throwing partners around.
'It's a fun-packed show, full of dancing and entertainment from a 26-piece orchestra and wonderful singers like Graham Bickley,' continues Erin.
She also divulges that, like fellow Strictly star Brendan Cole (who comes to the Kings Theatre in Southsea on Sunday), Anton has decided to sing, as well as dance, in his show.
Erin says: 'We went to see Brendan's show, because we're friends. When he sang it was the best part because it was so unexpected... and the boy can sing!
'Anton will be singing Me And My Shadow in our show. He's no Andrea Bocelli, but he can hit a note or two.
'We have to get the microphone back from him pretty quickly though, or he'll be there all night. You know what he's like.'
After seven years on Strictly, the viewing public have got to know Anton and Erin well, with Anton becoming known as the joker of the pack and Erin gaining the nickname Miss Whiplash for her strict approach.
As veteran dancers on the show, the pair hope their Strictly experience will continue.
Erin explains: 'From year to year, you don't know whether you'll get to come back or not. Why they haven't got rid of us yet, I don't know, but I'm glad. It's a wonderful show to be a part of.
'I started as one of the youngest and now I'm the oldest female dancer. But with age comes wisdom.
'It's not just about the dancing on Strictly. It's about how to get best out of your partner as well.'
Erin says she's been lucky with her partners and is still in touch with them all, except for Peter Schmeichel who moved back to Denmark.
'I've had wonderful partners, whether they can dance or not. I've not clashed with anyone yet,' she says, ominously. Then adds: 'I'm going to be really honest here – sometimes you go out there on the live show and your partner dances really badly. You know they're going to get it from the judges, so you just hold your breath, smile and take whatever they're going to say.
'I don't mind criticism and we all get along fine and have a drink at the bar afterwards.'
'Whether all the judges come all depends on where we are in the season.
'For the first few weeks Len and Bruno won't be there because it clashes with the American version of the show and they fly out the next day.
'Even Bruce and Tess come along and give their congratulations and commiserations. It's a lovely atmosphere,' continues the sprightly star.
It was during a Strictly social night out that Erin met her new husband, businessman Peter O'Dowd.
She recalls: 'I was out with Camilla (Dallerup] on a girlie night and later that evening her boyfriend at the time arrived with a few of his colleagues.
'Peter sat down beside me and the rest is history.'
They married last year at a ceremony on the Amalfi coast, to which all Erin's celebrity dance partners and Strictly friends were invited.
'It was the most beautiful place and the most wonderful day of my life,' says Erin.
As for highlights in her career, Erin says there have been many.
She remembers: 'I was only young when I got my first break.
'Anton and I had been dancing together for six months and we made it into the final 50 in the world and got to dance at the Royal Albert Hall.
'I remember walking down the stairs with tears rolling down my cheeks. It was a really proud moment.
'The second moment that comes to mind is dancing with Anton on Strictly Come Dancing when Andrea Bocelli and Katherine Jenkins sang.
'I can't begin to tell you what it's like to dance in front of someone like that. Listening to him sing was incredible.
'It was the same this year when Shirley Bassey was on. We get to watch the rehearsal and it's like an intimate live concert. We're so lucky,' she continues.
When asked what's in store for the future, Erin says 'nothing apart from dancing. That's my life'.
'Hopefully it'll be onwards and upwards with another series of Strictly for 2010.'
And what if she's the next dancer to be axed? Ever-ambitious Erin says: 'Then I'll have to start my own opposition TV dancing show.'
Steppin' Out with Anton and Erin comes to Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday, January 30, at 7.30pm.
Tickets cost 30 and 33.50 from (023) 9282 4355 or portsmouthguildhall.co.uk.
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