Happy Wednesdays and a Healthy Dose of Hot Gossip

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    Charlie Canniff introduces a fitness instructor with a show stopping past

 

'Happy Wednesday' comes the cry from the fitness instructor as he breezes into a room of bulge battlers. And suddenly that's exactly what it is.

Roy's classes are something of a phenomenon. Wednesday just wouldn't be Wednesday without Roy, but why?!

The infectious smile, the liberal hugs to newbies and his abundant energy were givens, but then I was given a tip off on our Roy that made his charisma slot into place.

You see Roy isn't actually 'our' Roy. He has a past that explains the showmanship. A past filled with women that can actually keep up with his choreography. Sorry girls...

Roy was a founding member of Hot Gossip. Yes, that Hot Gossip. The Sarah Brightman one. Kenny Everett's lot. Arlene Phillips' troupe, before she took up Jon Sergeant bashing.

So what's the story? Well it all began in Kennington, South London, with a school leaver who had a fear of working in grey. The 16-year-old Roy wanted something more colourful for himself than a 9-5 job and set off for Carnaby Street to do just that. By day he worked in a shoe shop. Come sundown he put on his dancing shoes and headed off for a club. Any club.

Of course Roy never believed he could make a living out of his passion for dancing. Luckily for him his friends had far more belief in his abilities. He started classes at Arlene Phillips' xxx, later Pineapple. And the rest is history. What he lacked in training he more than matched in raw talent. And this got him places fast. A part in c xxx led to a call to join the xxx audition process - on x-factor proportions.

"xxxx"

 

 

I can't even begin to think how old that makes him. Well, I might have given it some thought. Suffice to say he looks pretty amazing for it, but there are limits to what you can ask your teacher.

And now? Well Wednesdays he's ours from 10-11 for body conditioning at Virgin Active, Ealing Broadway. But apparently we share him. He also teaches at Esporta, Riverside Studios in Chiswick, another two in Twickenham and for kids there are after school street dance workshops. Unable to stick to the regular day job Roy moonlights in a soul band. You can catch them at xxx and xxx. Choreography is a passion and we will undoubtedly see more of Roy's moves in action.

Last but not least, following Arlene Phillips' departure from Strictly there are rumours that she plans to reform her old dance troupe,xxx. True or merely hot gossip? I for one would love to see it.

 

Charlie Canniff

 

 

 

September 7, 2007