Join the nation’s favourite ballroom couple, Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag, for their epic Swing Time tour. They’ll be waltzing through Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow this weekend, as Gayle Ritchie discovers
Grab your dancing shoes this weekend as Strictly Come Dancing dancers Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag bring their Swing Time tour to Courier Country.
The shows will be filled with choreography to I Could Have Danced All Night, I Got Rhythm, Moondance, I’ve Got The World On A String, Guys And Dolls and Le Jazz Hot, which are sung by vocalist Lance Ellington, who has also appeared on the hit BBC show.
There will also be six world-class ensemble dancers and a 25-piece London Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe, followed by a Q&A section.
The exciting production is at Dundee’s Caird Hall tonight, Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Saturday, and Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall on Sunday.
Anton, 50, told The Courier he can’t wait for the Scottish shows.
“I’ve got a real soft spot for Scotland and I’ve been up there for work and pleasure so many times,” he said.
“I love golf and I especially love golf in Scotland. I played at Turnberry, the Old Course in St Andrews and Kingsbarns last year, and I spent my birthday at Loch Lomond in July.
“This time, it’ll be a case of playing the Dundee show tonight then leaving the next morning for Edinburgh, but I always love an excuse to make it up to Scotland.”
This year’s show, while retaining aspects of previous shows, is the best yet, according to Anton.
“The music is so eclectic. There’s everything from Moon River to I’ve Got The World On A String and That Old Black Magic.
“It’s one hit after another and so far, it’s been very well received by everyone who’s seen it.”
The Q&A section, which comes during the second half of the show, is hugely popular.
“We get so many questions, many of them from people coming along to have a look and see what we’re all about,” said Anton.
“There are often husbands whose wives have taken them along for company and they’re awestruck, saying: ‘I didn’t know what to expect but what a great show and what a fun night!’
“The thing about the show is that if you don’t like one thing, you’ll like something else – that’s guaranteed.
“I’m not on stage the entire time – I need to change my frocks – but there are so many brilliant people involved and there’s always something amazing going on.
“It’s a big show and it lasts more than two hours but trust me, it’s a fantastic night out.
“Erin and I absolutely love going out on tour. We are in our element. We look forward to welcoming old friends and new and hope they will enjoy the occasion as much as we do.”
The dancing duo have worked together for 20 years and it shows, with Erin even admitting they are like “an old married couple”!
“We always give our best,” said Erin. “We love dancing together and we know each other so well.
“You need a relationship like that especially when you are working together most days.
“We are travelling and performing with each other so it is nice we get on so well. We are really good friends and I couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone else.”
This will be Anton’s ninth national tour and Erin’s eighth after she took a year off her to have her son.
There will be plenty of acrobatics this year, with Erin up in the air, falling from great heights and bending in directions she didn’t believe possible.
Featuring dazzling new choreography, sparkling costumes and a sensational show band performing timeless music, Swing Time is sure to get those toes tapping.
The Caird Hall show starts at 7.30pm tonight while the Usher Hall show is on at 7.30pm tomorrow. The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall show kicks off at 3pm tomorrow.
For more details, see www.raymondgubbay.co.uk
