ARLENE PHILLIPS
Arlene is one of the most respected and well known theatre choreographers in show business. After starting ballet classes at the age of three, she studied ballet and tap dancing as a child, moving to London as a teenager where she became influenced by the American Modern Jazz style of dance, and developed her own version of Jazz dance, and her career started to move towards teaching and choreography. She is now recognized one of our most successful theatre choreographers having won Olivier Awards and been nominated in the Tony Awards as well, and her show credits include We Will Rock You,Starlight Express and The Sound Of Music.
During the 1970’s she created the dance troop Hot Gossip, who became famous for their hit song “I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper” and their appearances on The Kenny Everett Show.
In addition to her work as a theatre choreographer, Arlene has also worked in the film industry on films such as Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life, Legend and Annie and on pop videos for artists including Duran Duran, Aretha Franklin and Elton John.
As a judge on Strictly Come Dancing, Arlene would often pick up on the chemistry of the partnership and the emotion conveyed in the performances, and was famously critical of the hands and arms of some of the celebrities, especially series three winner, Darren Gough. Arlene was a stalwart of the Friday panel feature of the Strictly sister show It Takes Two.