What a fabulous way to come back to the theatre! If you’re a Strictly Come Dancing fan, you’ll love it. If you’ve never heard of Strictly, you’ll still love it! Here Come the Boys comes to The London Palladium for a short run, reminding us all of the joy of sitting watching live performance.
Strictly superstars Aljaz Škorjanec, Pasha Kovalev, Graziano di Prima and Robin Windsor, along with Strictly finalist Karim Zeroual, are joined by special guest star Nadiya Bychkova. They each have feature dances, many in competition with the others. Robin’s vigour, precision and sense of humour highlight how glad we should be that he is back performing. Graziano is the King of spin, executing so many fast, perfectly pointed turns it makes you dizzy. Pasha shows his flair with a cape which contrasts dramatically with his sultry rhumba. Aljaz excels in the ballroom, with powerful yet delicate work.
Karim is a revelation. Not only does he compere with charm, but he holds his own in many dance sequences. It’s hard to separate him from the professionals.
Nadiya stands out as the featured girl amongst the boys. As she says, “behind every great man…” She dominates No Time to Die whilst the boys all vie for her attention. One of the highlights of the show!
The other dancers deserve special recognition for their contributions. Ash-Leigh Hunter, Giada Lini, Grace Cinque White and Rose Wild partner the boys with grace and fervour, apparently effortlessly matching their skills. George Michaelides and Mick Scott must be the hardest working pair in the show. Their acrobatics and drive add dynamism to the routines as they work with the main boys and shadow Karim. Brilliant work.
As the UK’s most energetic all round beatboxer , Bass6 makes a confidently charming compere adding a contrast to the dance and a great sense of fun. With a cutting-edge soundtrack of dance-floor anthems, club classics and pleasures from the Forties, the mood switches deftly from fast and furious to slow and sexy.
Aljaz, Pasha, Graziano, Robin, Karim and Nadiya, and the spectacular ensemble of international dancers show their delight at working together, being back where they belong. Aljaz strikes a serious note as he regrets the lack of government backing for independent entertainment workers through the lockdown. What better way to show our support than to buy tickets and get in the auditorium with them. It’s a bubbling, clap-along, tap-along delight!
Derek Benfield
