Strictly Come Dancing pro Neil Jones shares key dancing tips for beginners
Less than 24 hours after announcing the birth of his daughter, Strictly Come Dancing’s Neil Jones is back on the dancefloor and raring to go.
It’s hard to tell the fresh-faced 41-year-old has just become a first-time dad with Love Island fiancee Chyna Mills, 24, who announced their exciting new arrival earlier this week. But, dressed in ripped jeans, a checked blazer and crisp white tee, Strictly pro Neil is ready to go and put me through my paces in his dance masterclass.
Standing in a funky West End studio in London, I feel like I am behind-the-scenes in the Strictly Come Dancing studios as Neil starts to teach us the steps. We are learning the basic cha-cha - starting with our feet together before stepping the left foot down in its place, and then right foot down. Then we step the left foot out to the side before moving the right foot beside it and sidestepping the left foot out again - before repeating on the other side.
Neil Jones gives Louise Lazell some dance floor tips (Tim Merry/Sunday Mirror)
Louise joined Neil's masterclass in London (Tim Merry/Sunday Mirror)It seems relatively simple until we add in the arms - crossing them straight in front of us with a finger click before bringing them out wide with another click and repeating with each move. Then comes the Cuban break - placing the left foot forward at a diagonal then placing the right foot going behind, before doing the same on the other side.
Finally we finish the routine with some true Strictly pzazz - adding a classic shimmy shoulder shake at the end and piecing it all together to Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You. While Neil moves effortlessly and suavely, I slightly fumble my arms and feet - but it feels amazing watching and feeling simple steps turn into something fabulous.
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Much of it comes down to confidence, Neil advises me: “If you go on that floor and you dance and you’re nervous, we will feel your nerves. But if you go on that floor and you’re dancing and you’re confident and having the best time of your life, we feel that at home and we feel amazing.”
The professional dancer has just become a dad (Tim Merry/Sunday Mirror)
Neil has shared dancing tips for beginners (Tim Merry/Sunday Mirror)Neil is speaking as the new celebrity ambassador for the new male beauty brand Shakeup Cosmetics, launched by twins Shane Carnell-Xu and Jake Xu - which sells products created to help men improve the appearance of their skin. Keen to spread word, he has even dragged the Strictly boys into self-care evenings on tour.
“We had the boys night, when we were just having our haircuts, watching TV, wearing masks,” he says. “I think it started off with me, Kai and Tyler sat on the bed and put the mask on and then next, Nikita or Vito walked in and were like: ‘What are you guys doing? Can I try?!’”
Neil's top tips for beginners
1. Listen to music all the time
Neil says: “Play music around the house as much as possible. Places like Cuba, music is everywhere, so that’s why it’s so important and that’s why music is so involved.”
2. Never be afraid to look stupid
“Whenever we go to learn anything, anything in life, we're so worried about what's around us rather than actually what we're doing - and that's the quickest way to learn.”
3. Learn to enjoy rehearsal
“It doesn't matter what you're going to be learning, just don't think about the outcome. If you learn to enjoy the process, the outcome will be there.”
4. Take away the ‘perfect’ in practice
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“I always say take away the word perfect. I use the term the Japanese use, ‘wabi-sabi’, which is about finding the perfection in imperfection.
5. Make it fun
“Learn to use different body parts at the same time as doing things, even like when you’re cooking.," Neil said. “Like if you’re stirring something, find a movement you’ve been practising at the same time with your feet.”
6. Take it slowly
“Don’t think: ‘Oh my God, I need to learn all of this.’ Learn it bit by bit and that will help you.”
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