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REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Nadiya & Kai  
​ ‘Once Upon A Time’
​Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
31st March 2023
During its long run on BBC1, Strictly Come Dancing has seen a number of real-life romances  spring from its dance floor. The latest pair to have found love under the famous glitter ball are the  glamorous Nadiya Bychkova and the very dashing Kai Widdrington, who now embark together on  their first tour together as a couple. 

Their show is aptly titled Once Upon A Time and takes us on a whirlwind journey, from their early  years in the Ukraine and UK respectively, when both won major junior dance competition; to how  they met and fell in love on the programme and the present day. There is a wonderful fairy tale  element to how destiny has brought them together.  Indeed, Nadiya tells us that she is a Cinderella  who has met her Prince Kai. 

Nadiya and Kai are greeted with rapturous applause on their first entrance, and it is clear that the  audience is as much in love with them as they are with each other. The show hits high voltage  almost immediately with a sensational Hollywood routine to Benny Goodman’s famous Sing Sing Sing and barely pauses for breath throughout. One dazzling routine follows another, with fast paced choreography by Steve Coldwell.  

The show next takes to Blackpool and the famous mecca of the Tower Ballroom, thanks to the  dazzling projections on four huge video screens at the back of the stage. This section is introduced very wittily by the one live singer/musician, Tomas Wolstenholme, with a spot on George  Formby impression complete with Ukulele. Whilst much of the music is pre-recorded, to give those routines a properly luxurious orchestral backing, Tom very deftly provides the vocals and great guitar during and between the big dance numbers. He covers a wide range of songs, and has an easy rapport with Kai, especially when they sit down and play a duet on guitars.  

Accompanying our stars are three professional couples from Spain, Glasgow, and, to the delight of  the audience at the Cliffs, Southend’s very own Chloe Hewitt and Oliver Beardmore. It is no surprise that they won the loudest cheers in the ‘competition’ section of the show. All six dancers are a delight to watch, and when Kai and Nadiya lead from the front, the effect is utterly dazzling. It truly feels like there are far more than only eight dancers on that stage. 
However, it is of course, Nadiya and Kai that we have come to see. Nadiya has been with Strictly  since 2017, and has already toured the country twice with Here Come The Boys. She is a stunning dancer, seemingly inexhaustible, and makes her art look so effortless. There are some  lovely solos, as well as heart-melting duets with her leading man. She apologizes for her English, as it is not her first language, but there is no need. Her warmth and generosity speak for themselves. 

Meanwhile, Kai, who is the son of footballer Tommy Widdrington, proves himself to be much more than just a dancer.  Giovanni and co need to watch out. They have major competition on their hands. Kai is a sensational leading man.  His presence and smile literally dazzle, with a winning charismatic charm that lights up the room. Kai most definitely stands for ‘Kai-risma’ in his case! 

I am sure Kai won’t mind me saying that he is a well-built man. At one time he had to choose between a career in football or dance. Yet, it is his stature that makes Kai so compelling.  As a dancer, he is as light as air on his feet, with moves that are sharp and deft. He looks magnificent, and is inspirational to watch. 

Kai also reveals a real skill as a compere. This man LOVES to chat. He has a wry sense of humour, supplying hilarious impressions of Shirley Ballas - “It’s never too early for a ten from Shirley!”  - and has a twinkle in his eye that lets you know that he is having the time of his life up on that  stage. 

Having found each other, Nadiya and Kai are very keen to share the love with their adoring fans.  Their show leaves us in no doubt that they will be dancing with each other for a long time to  come. When they finally leave the stage, to a tumultuous standing ovation, every member of the audience has fallen a little bit more in love with this glorious couple. Make sure you catch them on  tour, which is on the road until May.
​

Review:  Andrew Walters

Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington have announced they are to tour the UK throughout Spring 2023 with their brand-new dance spectacular ‘Once Upon A Time’.
 
Starring together on their own headline tour for the first time, ballroom superstars Nadiya and Kai’s new dance production is a fairytale like no other, with the couple having created a stunning show that showcases their incredible journeys and shines a spotlight on their love affair with dance.

The show will also celebrate Nadiya and Kai’s wonderful relationship on and off the dance floor. The couple will share with audiences across the country their inspirations and aspirations, whilst also telling the story of their remarkable journey from childhood dancers to ballroom and Latin champions - and, of course, becoming TV stars.
 
From the producers of smash hit dance shows Here Come The Boys, Rip It Up The 60s and Remembering The Oscars, Once Upon a Time will be a lavish production with beautiful choreography, stunning costumes and a supremely talented cast of dancers and musicians.
 
The 36 show UK tour begins in Portsmouth on 27th March and ends in Dartford on 7th May, including additional matinee performances in, Swindon (18th April), Billingham (20th April) and London (29th April).
 
Ukrainian-Slovenian dance star Nadiya Bychkova is a two-time World Champion and European Champion in Ballroom and Latin ‘10’ Dance, who made her Strictly Come Dancing debut in 2017. Since then, her Strictly partners have included David James, Lee Ryan, Davood Ghadami, Dan Walker and Matt Goss.
 
Looking ahead to the tour, Nadiya said: “Kai and I are extremely excited to perform our brand-new show ‘Once Upon A Time’ to audiences all over the UK. We have both toured with some great shows in the past so now to headline our own tour together will be something special. We’re really looking forward to sharing this experience with our fans and giving them an insight into our love of ballroom.”
 
Kai, a Junior World Latin American champion, spent four years as a professional dancer on Dancing With The Stars in Ireland before becoming a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021. During his first series, Kai was partnered with television presenter AJ Odudu, making it all the way to the coveted final, before an injury forced AJ to withdraw.
 
Kai said: “To headline a show in the UK like ‘Once Upon A Time’ is a dream come true, and to do it alongside Nadiya will make it even more amazing. We believe we have assembled one of the best casts around to support us on tour so we cannot wait to get out there next Spring and entertain audiences across the country by giving them all a show to remember.”
 
It’s an on-stage romance that you will not want to miss.
 
The full list of tour dates for Nadiya & Kai: Once Upon A Time are as follows:
April 2023
8th     Truro        Hall for Cornwall
9th     Eastbourne    Congress Theatre
11th     Cambridge    Corn Exchange
12th     Buxton         Opera House
13th     Shropshire    Theatre Severn
14th     Manchester    The Bridgwater Hall
15th     Guildford    G Live
16th     High Wycombe    Wycombe Swan Theatre
18th     Swindon    Wyvern Theatre*
19th     Liverpool    Royal Philharmonic Hall
20th     Billingham     Forum Theatre*
21st     Scunthorpe    The Bath Halls
22nd     Northampton    Royal & Derngate Theatre 
23rd     Cardiff     St     David’s Hall
25th     Perth         Concert Hall
26th     Glasgow    Royal Concert Hall
27th     Newcastle    O2 City Hall Newcastle
28th     Nottingham    Royal Concert Hall
29th     London          Peacock Theatre*
30th     St Albans    The Alban Arena

May 
2nd     Kings Lynn     Corn Exchange
5th     Ipswich     Regent Theatre
7th     Dartford     Orchard Theatre

​
 
Tickets are on sale now, available from www.nadiyaandkai.com
​

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