Strictly Come Dancing has become the most inclusive show on UK TV.
It now regularly includes same-sex partnership, last year it had Paralympian Ellie Simmonds, who has dwarfism, and in 2021 saw actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who is deaf, winning the series.
But plans to include a wheelchair user this year caused a social media backlash.
Johannes Radebe, who was partnered with John Whaite in 2021’s first male same-sex dance couple, knows the BBC1 show won’t be deterred.
The 35-year-old South African said: “Strictly are pioneers. They are trailblazers. Strictly is meant for everybody.”
While it wouldn’t be his choice, he would be happy to dance with a wheelchair user. He said: “As a professional, you take what you’re given which is also one of the incredible things.
“As a pro, you are there to serve and teach and I think there’s nothing more beautiful. It’s not about us. We have had our careers and had our moment on the dance floor.
“What we are now doing is welcoming people from all walks of life into our world. It doesn’t matter if someone has a disability.
“Anyone can be part of the show.”
He also hopes to see a trans dancer to help with the negativity the community deals with almost daily. Johannes said: “I always say Strictly Come Dancing continues to accommodate and be inclusive. The time will come for a trans person to be on the show and when it comes it will be perfect.
“We have started with same sex partnerships and should be grateful that there is progress. That will definitely come. Strictly is meant for everybody.”
Although it took the primetime show a while to catch up, having started in 2004, Strictly saw it’s first same-sex couple in 2020 when boxer Nicola Adams was partnered with Katya Jones. They only lasted one episode as the pro-dancer got sick and they had to bow out.
Great British Bake Off winner John and Johannes would become the first all-male same-sex couple to dance on the show. They went all the way to the final, coming second, and many fans believe if it hadn’t been for Rose that year, they would have won.
Last year, there were two same-sex partnerships. Comedian Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer and DJ Richie Anderson and 2021 winner Giovanni Pernice. Johannes said: “I think John and I started something and same-sex partnerships is not going to go away. We made history and we left the world a better place for it.
“That partnership felt magical for so many people. From the show’s oldest fans to the youngest, I’ve had people saying ‘thank you’ for doing it.
“I feel there’s far more understanding. I’ve had young people saying thanks as it’s helped them out with their parents.”
But Johannes wasn’t convinced the public would accept them before they began the show.
He admitted: “I was nervous about it all before it began but we reached the final. People voted for us. It was just magnificent.”
If Rose wasn’t in the competition could they have gone all the way? “Definitely,” he laughed.
Johannes is hoping Strictly’s feeling of inclusion will continue with his own show Freedom. It was his debut solo show last year and he’s bringing a new production of it back this year, waltzing to Aberdeen and Glasgow in April and Edinburgh in May.
The dancer, who was badly bullied as a child growing up in South Africa, said: “Freedom is very much my message to everybody. I’m very much about visibility.
“I’m not an activist but when people come to Freedom they know what it is to live in a world where you can take up space and you can be yourself.”
He also wants the show to represent his African background and show people the culture and traditions he grew up with. And he uses an African phrase to describe Scottish audiences.
Johannes said: “Truly, Scottish audiences are the best in the world.
“I’m not just saying that. They always remind me of the African spirit, ubuntu.”
The world ubuntu is part of the Zulu phrase “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, which literally means that a person is a person through other people. And we Scots love getting together and having a good night out.
Johannes laughed: “The reception is always absolutely incredible.
“It’s the loudest cheer of anywhere I’ve been.”
While we know Johannes has the moves from Strictly, Freedom will also show his love of a good costume. They are always bright, often African-themed. He hopes the audience will turn up looking amazing and has his own feelings about Sam Smith’s recent, much-commented on black inflatable bodysuit look at the Brits.
The pro dancer said: “Style is very subjective. For me, it’s about confidence. If people can get to a place where they can put on anything and feel comfortable in their own skin, I wold say we should stand by them and applaud.
“And if you’re not going to applaud, look the other way and walk on because that person didn’t do it for you or for your approval.
“The world needs brave people like Sam.
“I thought the social media backlash was terrible. Live and let live.”
While he’s mindful of trying to look after and help others, Freedom is a hard slog for Johannes – two months dancing around the UK.
He said: “It’s important to look after yourself, especially as people are coming to see me.
“I have a physio that looks after my body and I make sure I check in with my therapist, even if it’s on Zoom, and I keep in touch with people who love me, like my family and friends.”
While this is his second solo tour after Freedom’s debut last year, Johannes has been on the road with Strictly. And he is full of praise for the show that has given him so much. After an award-winning professional dancing life, he joined Strictly in 2018 but didn’t get a celeb.
His first celeb was Catherine Tyldesley in 2019 and has since been teamed up with Caroline Quentin, John and last year Ellie Taylor. He said: “Once I had an opportunity to come to this country and be a part of Strictly, it was the only time I could even dare to dream of having my own tour.
“There’s no other platform for dancers like that. So Strictly creates that for you. It puts you in the public eye and people like what you do. I don’t take that for granted.”
He’s now going to take Freedom back to South Africa and is planning to take the show to his hometown in 2024. He also dreams of creating his own dance school in South Africa.
Johannes said: “I’ve been away from home for such a long time. I love the opportunity to go back and inspire the next generation of dancers. I feel all the great ones have left the country to pursue their dreams, so our kids are left with no role models, so I would love to continue with the next generation.”
Freedom comes to Aberdeen Music Hall on April 21, Glasgow Armadillo on April 22 and Edinburgh Festival Theatre on May 7. www.johannes-live.com
