Afgespeeld
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This week, Kevin talks to Olivier Award-nominated performer, choreographer (and Kevin’s flatmate!) Tommy Franzen, who over the last few years has carved something of a legend for himself in the world of dance.
In this fascinating conversation, Kevin talks to Tommy about the people who have inspired him the most, the origins of the dance styles that have formed his own style, his views on competitive dance, his journey into property investment, and the qualities that make him one of the country’s greatest performers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Tommy’s dance career started at a very young age, when he was inspired by his sister, and visiting celebrity dancers in Sweden, to begin dance lessons. After some initial setbacks, and confidence issues, Tommy never looked back.“Locking" was born from social dances of the sixties, and involves locking your body tight, and is named after its inventor, dancer Don “Campbellock” Campbell. Its proponents since then have included Richard Pryor and Dick Van Dyke.“Popping” evolved when music changed in the 70s and 80s, when locking no longer fit with the contemporary music styles. It emerged as a major dance style on the West Coast.Hip hop style dancing is less regimented, and ever-evolving. People seem to be drawn to the dancing itself, instead of the formalised competitions that surround styles such as ballroom and latin. This means that it can naturally evolve without breaking the so-called “rules” set down by dance organisations.There seems to be a small pool of judges and coaches in the dance-competition world. Often this can be used to a dancer’s advantage, as they can find themselves performing for people they have been trained by, and can plan accordingly.Tommy is not attracted to the concept of using dance to compete against someone else. It affects him emotionally, and affects his performance, and so he avoids it. Many are drawn to performing by the lure of celebrity, by the fact that they can spend their lives earning money from doing something they love. For Tommy, the attraction of dance is the sense of joy he experiences while performing. Companies like Zoo Nation, Boy Blue and Avant Garde, have pushed dance companies from obscurity, into the mainstream. As a result, dancers can now find real employment opportunities.Hip-hop dance theatre is rising in popularity. Spearheaded by a creative generation, stories are being told by hip hop dancing, with as much narrative involvement and dramatic tension as standard theatrical productions.There were concerns when Tommy was offered a role on the BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance, as he was worried in case he was portrayed in a way that he was not comfortable with. He ended up reaching the final, and partnering several times with eventual winner, Charlie Bruce.Choreography is a tiring process, for both Kevin and Tommy. It involves a lot of thinking, mental space, and consideration. Listening to the music over and over again helps the dance to take shape in the mind.The uncertainty of regular employment as a dancer is what made Tommy investigate the world of property investment, seeing an opportunity to give himself a Plan B. It was Tommy who introduced Kevin to this way of investing, which he subsequently did.BEST MOMENTS
‘I felt so exposed’
‘With ballroom and latin, the “endgame” is usually competition dancing’
‘What I love about your style of dancing is that it’s not geared towards that’
’It was my birthday party, and I was the only one not dancing’
’The shows you do are like a story. They’re like a musical’
‘Dance-ical? Is that a word?’
‘I’m so glad that we’ve been given songs and concepts that have really excited us’
‘If you judge what you do too much, that’s when you end up in the trap’
‘A blank sheet of paper is really scary'
VALUABLE LINKS
www.sadlerswells.com
Tommy Franzen Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tommythefranzen/?hl=en
Tommy Franzen’s Website - http://www.tommyfranzen.com/Tommy_Franzen_Official/Tommy_Franzen.html
Tommy Franzen Twitter - https://twitter.com/tommyfranzen?lang=en
Rob Moore - https://robmoore.com
Rich Dad Poor Dad (Amazon) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680194/
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
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Kevin is no stranger to setbacks. In fact, in the past week, he and his Strictly Come Dancing partner, Anneka Rice, left the competition. But as Kevin explains, there’s a way of looking at every setback in life, and it involves using one of two mindsets: fixed or growth.
There’s a place for each of these, but which is the right one to choose and at which time?
In this special, candid episode, Kevin discusses his feelings about being eliminated, as well as other challenging times in his life, and the outlook he takes on these moments.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
There are two types of reaction when it comes to dealing with a setback. Some like to blame, so as to pass off the guilt. Others choose instead to learn and grow from the experience.Fixed mindset people do not like to be challenged on their view of the world. They feel as though life is predetermined. When they fail, they tend to give up. They take criticism as a personal attack.Fixed mindset people tend not to ask for help, even if they desperately need it, because they do not wish to show weakness or vulnerability.Those with a growth mindset see failure as an opportunity to grow. Whenever they fail, whenever they differ a setback, they always ask where the opportunity for growth lies.Kevin credits his mentor, Rob Moore, with helping him to achieve a healthy, growth mindset, a tool that Kevin has always used to become better in his career and life.Those with a growth mindset believe that they can achieve anything. They know that every decision in life is a learning experience. They also seek opportunities that may be outside their normal comfort zone. They see life as an ever-evolving journey.Kevin has never seen himself as the best dancer in the world. Some may choose to look upon other, more talented contemporaries as competition. But Kevin has always insisted that working and being around those with more talent has helped him to become better; have made him push himself harder, and have inspired him to greater success.Mistakes are not negatives. They’re positives from which you can draw huge and valuable lessons. Take responsibility for them. Assess. Learn. Grow.BEST MOMENTS
‘I was real proud of her and what we achieved’
‘What if you learned from it? What if you got better because of it?’
’Failure is an opportunity to grow’
‘Mistakes and setbacks help you to grow’
‘I have an opportunity here to learn from the best’
’The fastest way to get to what you want is to learn from your mistakes'
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
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How do you choose your favourites? your favourite song? your favourite film? your favourite play?
Is it because you loved the technique? Or is it because it made you feel great at some point in your life?
Most likely, you’ve chosen your favourites because you enjoy going back to them or reminiscing about the day you encountered them. It isn’t because of the intricacies and complexities that you got drawn to it in the first place—it was how it made you feel. It may also have an impact in your life.
In this episode of The Kevin Clifton Show, Kevin dives deep in the purpose of art. Is it the technique or the emotions? This has always been a debate, so Kevin gives a light on how different and how the two things actually go hand in hand in creating and consuming art. According to him, it’s always about the emotions we invoke from the audience. Kevin’s advice is to learn everything so you can create a different magic within every individual.
Start tuning in as he explains more on it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya AngelouFor Kevin, it’s emotions that art creates that matter, not the technique. We can forget the lines, the dance steps, the cinematography, but we can never how we felt after we consumed it. Did we enjoy it? Did it make you nostalgic of something? Did you hate it?If you’re asked right now how do you choose your favourite song, most likely you’ll say because you like it. You can dive deep into the technicalities of the song; but, for something to draw your attention and maybe let it linger in your mind, it has to be something special that made you feel great.They might include some arts in the Greatest of All Time/Most Influential/Top Grossing/etc. lists, but does it mean that they’re less valuable? It doesn’t. That particular art has its own audience, even the critics hate it.As performers, we always aim to give the best performance—we want the audience to feel elated, amazed, and satisfied when they exit the doors of the theatre. Techniques are great tools to invoke these kinds of feelings in the audience.Dance techniques have been evolving as they get passed from one generation to another, and they have also created new styles of dances. Techniques, styles, tempo, choreography, etc. will be unique in each performance, and at the same time, the feelings the audience have towards each performance will be different. So, it’s not new that performers want to be consistently great at every little thing.BEST MOMENTS
“The thing that stays is how you were made to feel when the person was performing.”“Art is about feeling and how it makes you feel.”“Everyone loves different things when it comes to art because you bring your own context to it.”“The technique is a tool to produce the result.”“I don’t see the point in technically-gifted performance that inspires nothing on anyone.”“Don’t display the technique. Use the technique to create something that creates emotion.”VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Kevin Clifton Show – Lucas Rush: Conversation with Lonny from the Rock of Ages | Apple | Spotify | OmnyListen to Feel by Robbie Williams on Spotify and DeezerABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
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In this episode of The Kevin Clifton Show, Kevin chats with Lucas Rush, the actor who played Lonny in the UK tour of the musical Rock of Ages. Discover today some of Lucas’ theatre stories (especially his Rock of Ages experience), the nature of performing arts, the training that happens before any performance, and many more.
Not everyone would notice, but being a theatre actor demands a lot of dedication—you need the consistent effort to rehearse and improve, you need the bulletproof mindset to not get influenced by negative feedbacks, and anything, really, that would help you give a top-notch performance every single time.
There will be uncomfortable situations. But there will also be no pauses. No halts. No excuses. The show must go on, as they say.
Listen to Lucas’ experience and learn more about the performing arts.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the beginning for Lucas. It was the first cassette he bought;It was the first musical he ever watched. This musical opened him to the beauty of theatre and the performing arts. No one can ever downplay what live performers and theatre actors do. They provide entertainment, escape, and happiness to the viewers, aside from the fact that they portray ideas, concepts, stories, and experiences in this world that the viewer might relate to. Just like any professionals, they have some good days and some bad days. But it’s more difficult for theatre actors to deliver when they’re being influenced by some sudden negative pull. The audience can see through the performers, and as much as possible, it’s a 100% performance they want to give every time. Lucas also admits that, on some days, he thrives on the energy the audience gives off. He can be put off when he sees that they are disinterested and unsatisfied, but he’s known long enough not to let others’ perception crash his fearlessness and boldness on stage.BEST MOMENTS
“The more you remind yourself that ‘you can’t hear a smile’, the better.” “Don’t stop yourself from thinking certain things or feeling certain ways. They’re going to happen and you’re just going to learn how to deal with them.” “Accept what you have in that moment.” “I love feeling things… I want to feel strong emotions.”VALUABLE RESOURCES
Happiness Podcast - www.happinesspodcast.org Rock of Ages Musical - www.rockofagesmusical.co.ukABOUT THE GUEST
Lucas RushLucas stepped onstage at The Hackney Empire at the age of 7, receiving his very first acting lessons from Brian Blessed.
He was introduced to Shakespeare at the age of 9 and by the time he was 13 was playing Robin in The RSC’s production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" alongside Leslie Phillips. His West End debut soon followed, as he performed as "Gavroche" in Les Misérables at The Palace Theatre.
At the age of 14, he landed the role of Rowan Neville in ITV Drama Walking on The Moon, a hard-hitting gritty drama about bullying directed by Bafta Award winning Director Peter Kosminsky.
Since those early days Lucas has enjoyed a very successful career, experiencing all corners of the Entertainment industry.
In his 25 years as a professional actor Lucas has found that the thing, he loves more than anything is simply to immerse himself in any character he is playing, regardless of the genre.
(Source: https://www.lucasrush.com/about)
Lucas Rush Official Website - https://www.lucasrush.com Lucas Rush Twitter - https://twitter.com/lucasrushABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram Kevin Clifton Facebook Kevin Clifton YouTube -
‘When I started on Strictly ‘the pasty kid from Grimsby’ everyone was behind me. As I gained more success and a higher profile on the show the trolls came out’
In this insightful episode, Kevin explores why people and the media are unkind to those who achieve any success.
Why are people so unkind to others online and what makes them do it? The questions and answers are all explored in this candid podcast.
Kevin shares with searing honesty his own experiences and explores the reasons why we can all be insecure and how we can all chose to communicate with kindness.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The underdog achieving successWhen people are being unkind, being trolls on social media or just having a go it’s not just the person you are talking about who is affected by it. The people around the person their family and friends are also affected.
In this country, we have a very difficult relationship with success
We like to champion the underdog, we want to be on their side, we want to help them and be part of their journey.
As soon as someone is successful people take up against them. Comments focus on them having forgotten where they’ve come from and getting ‘too big for their boots’
There is a link between being successful and others need to knock them down. People feel insecure when they see other people doing well. It stirs our own insecurities because we want success for ourselves.
When you are feeling insecure you can either see the successful individual as an idol, a role model, someone to aspire to or someone to knock down to your level so you don’t feel as bad about yourself.
SignificancePeople often make decisions based on achieving significance
It's not a bad thing to want to be significant but sometimes it’s a dangerous thing because it is this that can lead to the insecurity and jealousy of ego, which can lead people into trolling
People can feel significant when they have a negative opinion, one that makes them stand out.
The mediaCompetition is fierce and it’s about grabbing attention through ‘clickbait’
The newspapers don’t really care what side you’re on they just want you to be angry, indignant or interested enough to click through and follow their story.
The media drives involvement through negative emotions and the ensuing comments are rooted in anger and lead to trolling.
If you are someone who’s decided to say something unkind to someone stop and think about how necessary it is for you to say it.
Who’s talkingConsider who’s writing – is it a faceless entity or someone you respect?
When a random person writes something about you they are reflecting themselves and their insecurities onto you.
Social media platforms provide no context, you can’t gain any context about the person who is writing about you.
We are all human and we don’t like people saying nasty things about us, but these people are reflecting their own insecurities and you can respond with kindness you never know what they may be going through.
BEST MOMENTS
‘Jesy talking about it creates the opportunity for discussion and hopefully a rethink about how we conduct ourselves online and she should be seen as a real hero for what she’s done’
‘When she got better there was a mix of those who were pleased she had improved so much and those who started to turn on her as she achieved success’
‘There have been times in my life when I’ve been the person searching for significance because of my own insecurities’
‘People who know me, know my exuberance is not attention-seeking but a way of dealing with my extreme nerves’
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Kevin Clifton Show podcast
Odd One Out Jesy Nelson documentary
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
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Part Two of Kevin's interview with Kevin Kennedy, one of the stars of the show ‘Rock of Ages’.
Kevin is most recognisable from TV as ‘Curly’ in Coronation Street but now pursues a successful career in musical theatre. He shares his journey and experiences as a successful performer and some amazing insights into the craft of the actor.
In this episode, Kevin discusses the influence of Coronation Street, the challenges of addiction, the rise of his career in music and the fascinating story of his transition into musical theatre.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Curly Watts, who proved to be a huge hit with audiences in Coronation Street, wasn’t meant to be a character with any longevity. But after proving a hit, the producers were keen to put Kevin under contract.At the height of his success, Kevin fell into an addiction spiral, and was forced to go to rehab. Upon repairing himself, Kevin needed to start again. Kevin credits Coronation Street with taking good care of him and saving his life during this period.Using a pseudonym, Kevin submitted his music to Simon Cowell at Sony BMG, who was on the lookout for TV-led musical talent, and was signed immediately. From here, Kevin embarked on a successful career as a musician, especially in the United States.Having been let go from Coronation Street, Kevin had to make a choice about the future of his career. As he liked acting and music, he decided to marry the two and go into musical theatre. His first role was in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.Musical theatre can be daunting, but each experience is there to be relished and enjoyed. Even auditions, which Kevin enjoys.Many consider soap opera actors to be somehow inferior, but Kevin doesn’t see it that way. In fact he credits them with a set of unique talents, such as carrying a story for months or sometimes years, and the ability to learn and memorise scripts at speed.Fame was never important for Kevin. The important thing was to enjoy his work, and to develop as an actor. His subsequent fame opened many doors, which is far more valuable.When things are going wrong, there’s often a mindset that says “I have to be something different”, but the real lesson is to focus upon who you are. To do the things you want to do. Acting can be a struggle sometimes. It’s not always glamorous. But if you love what you do, then each struggle becomes a lesson, and as Kevin says, “If you’re doing something you love, then you never have to work a day in your life"No problem is insurmountable. Facing challenges down and defeating them makes you a better person, and you can’t run away forever.BEST MOMENTS
’The great thing about that was that it was a home gig’
’That was the first time I ever saw the power of Coronation Street. Her attitude completely changed’
‘Coronation Street were like a family’
’There’s always a positive to look for. Always’
‘Mistakes make you a better actor’
‘You need to get back in touch with the things that you want’
’This business is great if you’re at, or near, the top'
‘No problem is insurmountable’
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
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Kevin is speaking with Jake Wood previous competitor on Strictly and known on TV to everyone as Max Branning in East Enders.
His acting career began at 10 and spans 37 years, in this podcast he shares stories and the reality of taking part in Strictly and being in a high profile long-running soap series.
Life is all about trial and error and Jake shares the great highs and the lows that he has experienced in a career that spans decades. This is a highly entertaining episode, listen in now and enjoy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The best actors take something from all the different techniques, it all takes time. As an actor, you are always trying to do your best.The only way to learn it is to do it but this is the same for professional dancers.Being on Strictly
The celebrities on Strictly are only doing an impression of the dance.There are skill sets that are similar between what dancers and actors do. There are transferable skills such as self-discipline, work ethic and being able to perform on a stage in front of an audienceBeing an actor meant I was confident about doing a performance.Having previously completed work at the National theatre I had a skill set that helped me on Strictly being in front of a live audience.When I sat in the recording studio I realised this was going to be no fun, it was going to be high pressured scary stuff and I’d better be prepared.Before I came out and danced for the first time I didn’t know what I was going to be in the series – the clown , the serious contender.If I didn’t have the skills that I had as an actor it would have been much more difficult.My approach was to do my best, regroup and then get ready for the next battle.Being an actor
I was involved in acting from a young age and enjoyed improvisation classes very early on.I started at 10 and have been acting for 37 years, It’s about understanding emotions and learning about people.You need to understand a character to be able to be authentic and the best actors draw from themselves. You have to want to understand people and what drives their behaviour.Acting is a bubble and the important part is what you do when you come out at the other end.I love what I do but you have to get a balance because it can be a crazy life. It plays into all your insecurities and everyone makes mistakes.The most important is the dedication to be an actor, the process and loving it.BEST MOMENTS
‘He’s announcing me dancing the Samba and I’m thinking is it the left foot or the right foot?’
‘I’m playing a rock star which is very far removed from me as a person’
‘I’ll give you 100% and do whatever you tell me but I haven’t got a fucking clue’
‘It’s a funny show because you are not really on a level playing field’
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been
performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has
worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come
Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
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Kevin is talking with one of the stars of the show ‘Rock of Ages’- Kevin Kennedy, they are ready to rock and roll the back to back shows and take the opportunity to catch up about all things from the explosion of the punk movement to being in the West End and on TV.
Kevin is most recognisable from TV as ‘Curly’ in Coronation Street but now pursues a successful career in musical theatre.
He shares his journey and experiences as a successful performer and some amazing insights into the craft of the actor.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
I grew up in Manchester and never wanted to be anything other than be a performer and entertain.Across the Arts, the punk movement changed everything it was about people doing what they wanted to do.It was a massive movement, it wasn’t about the quality it was the involvement, the fact you could stand up and do it.I didn’t know what I wanted to do until I went to drama school.I chose The Manchester Poly School of Theatre, it was down to earth, gritty and vocational they wanted to produce intelligent, thinking actors.You were always being pushed out of your comfort zone playing roles you would not be expected to play.I started out as a jobbing actor and got my break in a play which made it into the West End.With comedy, you must be tuned into the audience so you can get the timing right. When it works there is no better feeling in the world.You must never chase the laugh because the audience will know that’s what you are doingEvery audience is different they catch you by surpriseBeing funny is about being honest with an audience. Truth is the key.Straight acting is more intense but you are telling a story. It can be exhausting telling a story to an audience.With musicals, the scenes are shorter with bigger set dance pieces. The art is in conveying the story through the shorter scenes.BEST MOMENTS
‘I’ve been all over the world and the power of Coronation Street is truly global’
‘It was a brilliant grounding; I have enormous respect for the crew because I’ve done what they do’
‘By the age of 21 I’d been in 2 West Ends, on TV and in a rock band’
‘The more truthful it is the funnier it is’
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
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‘It’s all about the work ethic’
Zoe and Kevin are currently both appearing in Rock of Ages and they take the opportunity to sit down together and discuss what it's like to be a performer and manage life in between.
Zoe Burkett, singer, actor and dancer was part of the first Pop Idol series and has continued to develop a successful career working as both as singer and actor and has appeared many musical theatre shows both touring and in the West End.
Zoe has a passion for life and a positive approach, there is something for everyone in this episode, listen in now
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Dancing was my early passion but an injury at 14 resulted in me changing my focus to singing.It wasn’t until others recognised and were positive about my singing that I started to think I could be a singerBeing rejected at auditions was a devastating experience but my mum and dad were always there encouraging me to get back up and get on.People from the outside may perceive it as an overnight success but most people have been working and being rejected repeatedly before they find any success.When I made it through to pop idol I started to think I might be able to make singing a careerWhen I was in the big brother house I stopped for the first time and thought about what I had achieved and had time to think about what my legacy would beIt was life-changing, for the first time I thought about family and after leaving the house my life changed, I got married and am now mum to a little girlWhat I’ve learnt as a singer and actor is you get better with experienceWhen I sang as a teenager I wasn’t thinking about the emotion and telling a story because I hadn’t experienced it.Now I’m able to connect with a song emotionally because I have experienced life and I’m a better singer because of it.The best performers in the world can change how you feel, and it’s because they are invested.Our job as performers is to deliver a truth to the audience so they believe it,in order for them to believe we also have to be invested.
Luck is when hard work and determination meet an opportunity, It is about preparing for an unknown opportunity.I feel I am successful; money does not define success for me it’s about how I feel.BEST MOMENTS
‘I do a lot of my work late at night, I come alive at this time’
‘Often creativity comes when you create space for it’
‘As performers saying ‘no’ to something is quite scary and we worry about losing momentum’
‘Getting knocked back is part of the game’
‘The support I have in the North is phenomenal’
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
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Kevin is best known as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing and in this first episode of the Kevin Clifton Show, he sits down with his mentor, Rob Moore and they talk all things from performing, dancing and Strictly to understanding yourself and why being in the spotlight has more than one side.
This very personal podcast is an insight into the man who is the current glitterball champion and the journey he is on. He is someone who wants to entertain and has achieved this through Strictly but if you want to get to know the real Kevin Clifton then this podcast is a must.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
My vision for the podcast is to bring people from all areas of performing life to talk about what it is really like.When you have the chance to listen to successful people and hear about their journeys and vulnerabilities then you are able to identify more closely with them and imagine it is possible for you to do it as well.As a performer, your worth in your career is entirely based on the opinion of the judges or an audience.I have always worried about other’s opinions, have constant imposter syndrome and suffer from anxiety across all areas of my life.Instead of thinking I love entertaining and I'm going out to entertain my thought process is focused on feeling I am not good enough, It’s the paradox of being successful.If there is no void there is no drive.My demeanour is co-dependant on how an audience reacts, in relationships, it’s based on what my partner thinks.You can’t help but notice how the crowd are performing and I can be very reliant on the energy of the audienceWinning Strictly was an amazing moment that I’ll never forget but there was that thought about this success being a result of the people voting and so you are dependent on the approval of others.I've always had this need to prove myself and it has resulted in me having an incredible drive for work and to achieve.I went through a stage of total self-hatred and I didn’t know how to deal with itI didn’t know how to function as a person, and I don’t know how to label it. I was constantly a ball of stress and emotion.I had been convinced I needed to change but it was about not becoming something different but getting back to who you are.As a kid, you live to your best values but as you grow up you put labels on yourself and then fight for the labels because they have become your identity.It’s vital to get rid of all the stuff and get back to what makes you feel happy and your values.Getting back in touch with who I am as a person and concentrating on what I really want to do in life and being clear about my values has moved my life from darkness and self-hatred to a much better place.You must be true to yourself and not be ruled by the expectation of others.You must be the person you are not the person you think others want you to be.BEST MOMENTS
‘I’ve just never been that confident and worry about whether people like me all the time’
‘I was constantly this ball of stress and emotion, constantly sad and emotional’
My mum and dad invested in me and my sister they did anything to help us along in our careers
‘I am starting to understand it doesn’t matter and most people don’t care’
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
CONTACT METHOD
Kevin Clifton Instagram
Kevin Clifton Facebook
Kevin Clifton YouTube
