Flavia: Our West End Hollywood spectacular isn’t Strictly for dance fanatics

The Strictly Come Dancing star says even reluctant husbands with no passion for Tango will love her new dance show
Flavia Carace and Vicent Simone are steamy lovers in Dance 'Til Dawn: "It’s musical theatre mixed with dance, a storytelling comedy, live singing, live orchestra, big sets."
Louise Jury4 June 2014
The Weekender

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Strictly Come Dancing star Flavia Cacace admits husbands are often dragged kicking and screaming to her new show with dance partner Vincent Simone — but claims they love it when they get there.

The former world champions, who have been dancing together for 20 years, have created a Hollywood spectacular, Dance ’Til Dawn, which is set to hit the West End later this year. It is the follow-up to their previous collaboration, Midnight Tango.

Dance ’Til Dawn is the tale of Forties Hollywood where a leading man is murdered and a romance develops between a beautiful starlet, Sadie Strauss, played by Cacace, and the handsome Tony DeLuca, played by Simone. They lead a cast of more than 20.

Cacace, 35, said: “I don’t think there’s anything it can be compared to. It’s musical theatre mixed with dance, a storytelling comedy, a little bit of narration, live singing, live orchestra, big sets.

“It’s the story of a romance and a crime and a murder set in a film studio, but you also go to the Hollywood Hills and a pool party and a gangsters’ den.

“You don’t have to be a real dance fanatic to come and enjoy it. Lots of reluctant men are dragged along by their wives and they end up loving it.” Cacace, who comes from Surrey, said that after performing Midnight Tango for three years, there had been a lot of pressure to produce something different for people to enjoy. Dance ’Til Dawn, had been “very well-received” on its tour of the regions and she and Simone were “absolutely thrilled” it would now run in the West End.

However, she said neither show would have been possible when she started dancing, before the advent of Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC. “It has become feasible because [now] people relate to dancing in a different way and they recognise dance styles.”

Simone, 35, said when they first danced together in ballroom and Latin competitions, he had joked about being famous. “And now we are famous to the Strictly public. Strictly is a big platform.”

The pair, who left Strictly last year, believe the show will survive the departure of 86-year-old Bruce Forsyth as host. Cacace said: “It will be fine. It will be a different Strictly.” Simone added: “Viewers are always going to be there, no matter what.”

Dance ’Til Dawn is at the Aldwych Theatre from October 23.

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