Arlene Phillips, 73, created routines for dance troupe Hot Gossip before working on West End and Broadway musicals. She was a judge on Strictly Come Dancing for five years, has two daughters and lives in London with her partner, Angus Ion, 62.
I’ll never forget phoning my family to tell them I was going to stay in London to follow my dreams. It was quite dramatic - and traumatic.
I was 22 and lived in Manchester. I’d come down to London to spend a week at the Dance Centre in Covent Garden and I fell in love with a new type of dance.
I’d dreamed of going to one of the London ballet schools but circumstances were too difficult. My mother died of leukaemia when I was 15, my father was also sick and I had to look after my younger sister.
Ballet classes were my escape. But our family bond was so strong I didn’t feel I could be the one to break it.
Instead I started teaching dance in Manchester. Out of the blue, the head of the ballet school said she’d pay for me to go to London for a week to take classes in contemporary dance.
On my last day, I took an American jazz class run by the tutor, Molly Molloy. After class, Molly and I bonded over a coffee. As I told her my story, how I’d had to put my life on hold, we both realised how vital this week had been. She said she’d give me a scholarship. My life was transformed.
She introduced me to her friend, Ridley Scott. Back then he was directing adverts, now, of course, he’s a famous film director.
On the Saturday I phoned my family and explained that if I came back I’d never have the courage to leave again. I promised I’d make it work.
In a week I’d changed my life. In a 50-year career, I’ve had success beyond my wildest dreams.
I’ve lived life by always moving forward. If I hadn’t, I might not have met Molly and mine might be a very different story.