Former Strictly pro Gleb Savchenko wants to dance with a male partner
The Dancing with the Stars professional says Strictly should have introduced same-sex pairings "long ago".
By Will Stroude
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Gleb Savchenko has called on the BBC ballroom competition to allow same-sex pairings, saying bosses should have taken the step “long ago”.
34-year-old Gleb, who currently serves as a professional on Strictly‘s US equivalent, Dancing with the Stars, says that he’d be more than happy to dance with a male partner, and that any concerns about the fairness of two men or women competiting against mixed-sex couples are unfounded.
“[Strictly should have done it long ago!” he says in Attitude’s July issue – available to download and in shops now.
“Look at the history of the Argentine tango: it was only men. They danced together to attract girls on the street.”
Gleb, who reached the semi-finals of Strictly in 2015 with partner Anita Rani, continues: “I’d be down for [dancing with a man].
“I want to be as creative as possible. It’s a challenge and I love challenges.
“I’d be like, ‘OK, what are we going to do?”
He goes on: “For example, I would totally dance with Jordan Fisher, who won last season’s Dancing with the Stars. He was on tour with us for three months and we became good friends.
Gleb Savchenko, shot by Markus Bideaux exclusively for Attitude’s July issue
“He’s really talented, a good guy and an amazing singer, so we’d be able to do something super cool.”
Quizzed over conerns that including same-sex pairings wouldn’t be fair because of the issues presenting by doing some moves such as lifts, Gleb remains resolute – and says Strictly should move with the times if they want to stay ahead in the ratings.
“The professionals are dancers and choreographers and we do everything pretty much from scratch,” he explains.
“You meet your partner, start rehearsing, and work out the story and what you want to push and develop, and you choreograph a routine that brings out their pluses and hides their minuses.
“The same thing would apply to same-sex couples, only you’d have to be more creative, and it would be more exciting for the audience — people would tune in because they wouldn’t know what to expect.
“In ballroom dancing competitions, there are so many same-sex couples competing. I think it’s fun. A TV show [is more] more than a dancing competition.
“To create a hit TV show you have to do something outstanding.”
Read Gleb’s full interview in Attitude’s July issue. Buy now and take advantage of our best-ever subscription offers: 3 issues for £3 in print, 13 issues for £19.99 to download to any device.
