Strictly stars say it best when they say nothing at all

MIDNIGHT TANGO, Opera House, Manchester
IN the seven years of television’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing” the pairing of Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace has developed a fan base all of its own.

And while that show has paired them off with a variety of celebrities of varying abilities, their stunning prowess is showcased best when they come together to perform the Argentine tango. It’s been a series showstopper for years.

They have danced together for 17 years and have now choreographed and star in this Arlene Phillips/Adam Spiegel-produced show.

They are the stars of 90 minutes of exhilarating dance. There are no words — but every move speaks volumes.

Early numbers are quite light until competition enters the fray in the form of El Gato (Leonel di Cocco) and the dance-offs are simply stunning.

The other dancers more than hold their own — so much so that you could do with more than one pair of eyes to see all that is going on across the compact stage.

But the second-half display of the dynamic duo is spellbinding and the final Argentine foray brought gasps of delight from the appreciative audience.

Wound all the way through the show — driven by a talented group of musicians topped by violinist Ros Stephen — is the comedic performance of Teddy Kempner and Tricia Deighton as bar owners Carlos and Rosa, who link the dance sequences.

The whole show — which on opening night here even had “Strictly” favourite Edwina Currie tapping her feet in the audience — is polished to the very last kick and is a credit to the dedication of the world-class Latin dancers.

As for the principals, Simone has an almost laid-back style that belies the phenomenal effort that goes into the intricate routines. Cacace, beautiful and sultry — I swear she walks better than most people can dance — is surely one of the very best dancers in the world at the moment.

The two together have a chemistry that many Hollywood directors would kill for between their lead men and women. Some of their holds are hot stuff. And they say it best when they say nothing at all.