Strictly star Joanne Clifton promises audiences will be dancing in the aisles when Flashdance comes to the Millennium Forum next week.
As 80s movie fans will know, it tells the story of 18-year-old Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, who dreams of going to the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy and becoming a professional.
“It’s very different for me because I’ve always done quirky, fun roles in the past and Alex Owens is the first proper serious role I’ve done,” explained Joanne.
“I read the script and I was like ‘oh she’s very serious and she has some arguments and things’.
“But then I stared to realise that we actually have a lot in common because she’s not a trained dancer and she’s trying to get into dance school and I’m not a trained in musical theatre and I’m getting that world.”
Joanne is no stranger to being at the top, the World & European Champion ballroom dancer is one of the few pro dancers to have won both the main Strictly glitter ball twice- with Ore Oduba in 2016 and the Christmas Special in 2015 with Harry Judd.
She made her musical theatre debut in the role of a streetwalker in Irving Berlin’s musical Face The Music, for which she was nominated for an Off West End Award and followed this up with a turn as Marilyn Monroe in the Norma Jeane Musical and Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie.
“Being in Flashdance is just another dream come true,” she continued.
“I think everyone in the world whether dancer or non-dancer, as soon as they hear 'What a Feeling', remember that iconic scene at the end of the film and I'm so incredibly lucky that I get to do that every night in a along with fabulous numbers like "She's a Maniac." I'm over the moon.
“It's another amazing opportunity in my musical theatre career and I can once again sing and act alongside dancing.”
“This is the most full on show I’ve ever done,” admitted Joanne.
”I have bruises everywhere all the time and I have to get physio once a week for my neck and my knees.
“But it’s absolutely super it gives you such a buzz.
“After the bows we have a mega mix and that’s just six minutes of dancing and the audience are up dancing with us.
“I don’t get to sleep until about 2.30am after the show because I’m so pumped full of adrenaline.”
Flashdance, proudly sponsored by the Derry News, performs at the Millennium Forum from Monday march 19 to Saturday March 24.
Tickets are now available from the Box Office. Telephone 71 264455 or visit millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.
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