He never comes across to me as a woe is me character, it just felt like he was having a conversation solely to me. In the four years since he's been part of the popular BBC One show, Johannes, 34, has made incredible waves. From dancing a gorgeous, slow number with fellow pro Graziano Di Prima - the first same sex routine the programme had ever seen at the time - to sashaying across the floor in the most dynamic of high heels, to becoming part of the first all-male dance partnership on Strictly when he was partnered with John Whaite in 2021. As the show progressed, we learnt more about Johannes' move to big city Johannesburg to follow his dancing dreams. His cast of stunning dancers were a joy to watch on the night, each complimenting him perfectly. Brown, Steve (9 November 2018). " 'Strictly's Johannes Radebe recalls the 'terrible' homophobic bullying he suffered as a child". Attitude. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019 . Retrieved 21 September 2019.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe: 'I could relocate to Birmingham - I'm looking for a mortgage'Radebe was born in Zamdela. [3] He is gay and has spoken out about the homophobic bullying he received as a child. [4] He and his sister attended a dance school in their local area. [5] At the age of 11, he was offered dance training in Gauteng province, and he attended secondary school in the Johannesburg suburb of Ennerdale. [3] Career [ edit ] A poignant moment in the middle of the show; Johannes, who is openly gay, spoke about how homosexuality is still illegal in almost 70 countries. He stood still in powerful silence with his fellow dancers, before later flying onto the stage in an incredible cape depicting flags from every country where the inhumane law is still in place. Jojo: Finally Home is his never-before-told story, where he shares the experiences and challenges he's faced - from growing up in Zamdela, a township in South Africa, as a young boy with a passion for dance (and playing with Barbies), to becoming the star he is today. Dance transformed Jojo's future, giving him a tool to express himself - but as you will learn, this was not always easy. Absolute delight’ … Radebe and Ellie Taylor in the most recent series of Strictly Come Dancing. Photograph: Guy Levy/BBC There was also a stunning Argentine Tango with dancer Ben Rutter, which was a real highlight of the evening.

For his first competitive appearance in this show, in the seventeenth season series, he was partnered with actress Catherine Tyldesley. [9] The couple were eliminated in week 6, placing them in 11th place, with an overall average score of 25.5.We left that night, arm in arm, chatting about our favourite bits (all of it, if we're honest) and how we'd see the entire performance again in a heartbeat. While I live in Birmingham, Mum lives down in Gloucestershire, not far from Swindon in Wiltshire where the next performance is showing on Wednesday, April 13. Now there's an idea... That aside we find out about his upbringing and the challenges he faced especially with his sexuality and his liking as a child for Barbie dolls and it started his love of fashion and expressing himself. Throughout the highs and lows and being bullied for being different, I am glad that his mother and sister have always championed him. With sheer hard work that often meant being away from home with very little to survive and through blood, sweat and tears he is the person he is today without having to hide. In person, Radebe has bright smiling eyes and his magnanimous warmth is contagious. Comedian Ellie Taylor, his most recent Strictly partner, tells me that “the absolute delight he takes in movement and the sheer happiness you can see it brings him is so obvious it’s impossible not to share in that”. Taylor brims with praise for Radebe, for everything from his sense of style (“He turns up dressed like an absolute king every day even if he’s just sitting in a taxi and going to rehearsals”) to his sweet nature and dedication. “His talent and his hard work are endless.” The dancer will share his inspiring story of rising through the ranks of South Africa's ballroom circuit to find international success once he moved to the UK.