AJ is positively buzzing with excitement when we speak. The famous Strictly Come Dancing professional is in rehearsals for his new tour which comes to Oxford’s New Theatre next week and he can’t wait to get going.
“It’s really nice to know that curtis will be right there alongside me as a safety net, because we know each other so well and the audience will really feel that warmth.”
‘AJ LIVE 2020’ is the culmination of a lifetime’s work and AJ is determined to make the show as brilliant as possible. He talks about it in terms of a ‘concept arena extravaganza’ and discusses the dazzling special effects, his energy increasing with each breath.
“My heart is beating so fast at the moment I think it might burst out of my chest,” he laughs, “but this is the best bit, the anticipation, the adrenaline, the expectation.”
Which is easy to understand when you consider that AJ LIVE 2020 is his brainchild and lifelong ambition, or that he is not only the performer and lead dancer, but the director and producer of the show.
“All the ideas are mine,” he grins. “This is literally the culmination of all my notes and ideas from the last six years, all the things I’ve done on Strictly, or wanted to do on Strictly, and what else we can do apart from the 90 second routines we perform on TV.”
CUrtis will probably say I’ve got the best technique, but he’s the better performer, and I’ll give him that.”
As if that wasn’t enough, AJ will be joined on stage by his brother Curtis, who came to fame via ITV2’s cult show Love Island and more recently The Greatest Dancer.
“It’s so nice to be working with Curtis again. I’m so happy about that. To be working with former dance partners as well as family, is just great,” he says.
“It’s really nice to know he’ll be right there alongside me, a bit of a safety net, because we know each other so well and the audience will really feel that warmth.
“And while Curtis came to fame on Love island and The Greatest Dancer, people don’t know what a great dancer he actually is, so that’s really exciting too. It’ll be great for both of us to challenge ourselves. So when I was picking the cast, Curtis was always going to be up there alongside me.”
Presumably AJ wasn’t always so complimentary about his younger brother when they were growing up in Stoke-On-Trent? “No we were very competitive when we were younger,” AJ laughs.
So who’s better? “He will probably say I’ve got the best technique, but he’s the better performer, and I’ll give him that.”
So with all the preparations underway, does AJ have to pinch himself that the show is actually going ahead? “It’s crazy but one of my strengths is making things happen. Yes there have been sleepless nights but I want it to be just like I’ve envisaged it in my head.
“But then that’s the point, the audience will see the polished version and not the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into it, and that’s how it should be.
“It’s been a lifetime in the making, six years of planning and a year to bring it all together. I’ve been busy turning my dreams into a reality.”
AJ Pritchard’s ‘AJ Live 2020’ is at New Theatre Oxford on Wednesday March 11.
https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/aj-pritchards-aj-live-2020/new-theatre-oxford/
