Strictly Come Dancing 2016: Guru Gary Edwards takes on Ed Balls' cha cha challenge

Edwards took the Standard for a spin at the Arthur Murray dance studio 
Best foot forward: the Standard’s Lizzie Edmonds learns the cha cha cha with Gary Edwards
Alex Lentati
Lizzie Edmonds @lizzieedmo25 November 2016
The Weekender

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Ed Balls calls the cha cha cha his worst “nightmare”. But if he fails to master it in this weekend’s Cha Cha Challenge, the Strictly underdog could finally be going home.

He will be under extra pressure as he and his partner, Katya Jones, will perform the dance at the same time as the five other couples remaining.

To discover just how difficult the cha cha cha is, the Standard enlisted ballroom guru Gary Edwards, the man who taught Michael Jackson the dance.

Edwards, a favourite to take Len Goodman’s spot on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel when he steps down after this series, took the Standard for a spin at the Arthur Murray dance studio in Baker Street. He demonstrated a simple routine that all those learning the basics of ballroom must complete to get a bronze award in the dance.

Taken for a spin: Lizzie Edmonds with Gary Edwards
Alex Lentati

He explained how the cha cha cha is two steps followed by three — the “cha cha cha” — in quick succession. Once I had mastered that, Edwards built in a spin, a “New Yorker” — a forward step with extended arm action — and a “Dead Man’s Drop”, where I ended up on the floor. Voila! The cha cha cha.

The former shadow chancellor and his dance partner Katya have finished bottom of the judges’ leaderboard week after week but have been saved by the public vote. They are battling it out with Judge Rinder, Claudia Fragapane, Ore Oduba, Louise Redknapp and Danny Mac to go through to the final five.

Work it: Our writer attempts the Dead  Man’s Drop
Alex Lentati

The Cha Cha Challenge will make this week’s show tougher, because contestants will perform the routine on top of their usual rehearsed numbers. The judges will vote each of them off until they have a winner, with the best dancers receiving extra points.

Edwards, 50, believes the competition remains wide open. “I think anyone can win,” he said. “When I first saw who was going on [the show] Louise Redknapp stood out. I thought she has everything it takes to win this.

Strictly Come Dancing 2016 - who's been eliminated so far?

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“Has she reached where I thought she would be at this stage? Not yet. Anyone can win.” Asked if Balls was getting a hard time from judges Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Goodman, he replied: “I would say yes and I would give him higher scores.” He added: “It is hard to say until you are behind the table. But I value that element of entertainment. For me, more than Len, I am looking for the entertainment element. It is an entertainment show based on a dancing competition.”

Edwards, from Romford, began dancing at seven. He was ranked world number one for the Ten Dance — the equivalent of the decathlon — and went on to judge 47 World Championships.

He now has his sights set on the Strictly panel. Although he refused to say how far discussions with BBC producers had gone, he said he was under the impression only a handful of candidates remained in the running.

“If they are looking for a direct Len replacement it has to be me,” he said. “I am qualified in everything. If we are looking at qualifications, I would say it would be Karen [Hardy, former Strictly professional] versus me.

“If they are looking for a balance on the panel, then it would be Anton [du Beke, Strictly professional] versus me. They have to have a balance of ability and personality, while maintaining the credibility of the panel.”

Follow @LizzieEdmo and @StandardEnts for more entertainment news.

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