• Ore Oduba will host the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s annual Christmas choral concerts
  • Danny Mac will star as Prince Charming in Qdos Entertainment’s Cinderella at Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 19 December
  • Strictly legend Anton Du Beke returns to Symphony Hall for his ninth consecutive year
  • On and off-screen couple, James and Ola, present a sexy, edgy interpretation of their life story at the New Alexandra Theatre in March
  • Giovanni Pernice brings his hotly anticipated new tour to Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre next year

The fab-u-lous stars of Strictly will be cha-cha-cha-ing to the city following the final of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday 16 December, with celebrities and professional dancers alike scheduled to perform at venues across Birmingham.

Two finalists from the 2016 series, including the champion, will take to the stage at separate venues on Tuesday 19 December. At Symphony Hall, Strictly Come Dancing 2016 Winner Ore Oduba will join the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to host their annual Christmas choral concerts for three-nights-only. Overflowing with good cheer, magical sounds, and seasonal music old and new, the annual concerts are a splendid way to celebrate the festive season.

Birmingham audiences shall go to the ball from Tuesday 19 December – Sunday 28 January in the fairy godmother of pantomimes, Cinderella. Strictly Come Dancing finalist Danny Mac will bring his Prince Charming to the Hippodrome, along with soul-diva Beverley Knight, Birmingham panto-favourite Matt Slack, pop and television star Suzanne Shaw, comedy duo The Grumbleweeds, and the most faaaaabulous Ugly Sisters in show business, Ceri Dupree and Phil Randall. Cinderella, produced by Olivier-nominated pantomime producer Qdos Entertainment, will feature all the ingredients of the perfect Hippodrome pantomime: a fabulous cast and orchestra, laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery and special effects, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses for all the family to enjoy.

Danny Mac, who reached the final in last year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing, said: “It’s great to be back in Birmingham for a few weeks, following my visit to the city last month in Sunset Boulevard. Cinderella is a brilliant pantomime and we have a fantastic cast, so I am sure that it’s going to be a really enjoyable show for everyone that comes to watch.”
Looking ahead to the new year, Symphony Hall boasts live performances from Anton du Beke, who partnered Ruth Langsford this year, and Erin Boag; Brendan Cole, who clashed with head-judge Shirley Ballas over her criticism of his Top Gun Tango with partner, Charlotte Hawkins; Aljaž Škorjanec, who partners Gemma Atkinson; Janette Manrara, who controversially left the show this season with dance partner Aston Merrygold, after a dance-off with The Saturdays’ Mollie and AJ; Kevin from Grimsby, a nickname awarded to him by the legendary Sir Bruce Forsyth; and Karen Clifton, who partnered Simon Rimmer.

Anton Du Beke, who has been bringing his show to Symphony Hall since 2009, said: “There are few venues that make your jaw drop when you enter them. Symphony Hall is certainly one and the chance to play there again is incredible. Any performer is lucky to do what they do but to perform in a venue like Symphony Hall is one of the best experiences one can have.”

Catch on and off-screen Strictly couple, James and Ola, at the New Alexandra Theatre for one night only on Monday 5 March. James & Ola: Uncensored brings their true love story and world championship dance journey together in one incredible dance show. Packed full of high-energy dance routines and steamy scenes, this show promises to leave Strictly fans wanting more!

On announcing their UK tour, James and Ola said: “It’s great to be able to do our own tour, our way, and to offer something totally different to any other dance show. We want to perform a sexy, edgy interpretation of our life story, whilst still having all the sparkle and fun people expect from us – and the best part is that we get to dance together again, we cannot wait.”
Giovanni Pernice will be joined by seven world class professionals at the Crescent Theatre on Saturday 14 April. With choreography by Strictly Come Dancing’s creative director Jason Gilkison, get ready for glitzy costumes, amazing routines, energy, passion and even more heat.

Giovanni, who has been a professional dancer on the BBC TV series since 2015, said: “I love coming to Birmingham with the live tour, and now I am really excited to bring my own tour ‘Born To Win’ to The Crescent Theatre next April.”

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