Melanie Walters, best known for playing Gwen West in Gavin & Stacey, is joining the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing despite having no formal dance training. DVD Fever reported that the actor views the BBC dance competition as a step outside her comfort zone, describing her usual style as freestyle disco rather than choreographed ballroom routines.
Stepping Into Unfamiliar Territory on Strictly Come Dancing
The actor, who has also appeared in Death Valley and Hollyoaks, admitted to DVD Fever that her involvement in musicals and pantomimes throughout her career relied on character acting rather than technical dancing. “We’re talking disco, not clubbing!” she told DVD Fever, noting that the reality show format is entirely outside her normal life.
Learning the professional choreography presents a specific challenge for the performer. She told DVD Fever that she experiences apprehension about the learning process: “I’m nervous about my head saying, ‘Yes, I can do that move’, but my body disagreeing!”
Two Decades of Pilates Experience and Physical Conditioning
Despite her self-deprecation regarding her dance skills, Walters brings extensive physical conditioning to the dancefloor through a long-standing background in Pilates. Away from the spotlight, she is a successful Pilates teacher and studio founder who started practising more than 20 years ago.
She initially turned to the discipline to counteract posture issues. “I took up Pilates originally because I had been told it was very good for improving posture. I had started to notice that my back was getting quite curved, a bit like those signs you see for old people,” she told Wales Online, noting that the practice helped her upper-body strength and slimmed her center.
Founding Pili Pala and Professional Fitness Qualifications
Her passion for the discipline led her to establish her own studio, originally called Practical Pilates and later named Pili Pala, in Swansea. According to the studio’s website, she holds an advanced instructor CYQ level 3 qualification alongside certifications from The Pilates Institute in London covering mat-based Pilates, back care, clinical posture, pregnancy Pilates, and functional rehabilitation.
Beyond Pilates, Walters is also an advanced personal trainer with gym and circuit training, nutrition, exercise program design, and fitness testing qualifications. The BBC reported that she maintains her daily fitness routine by swimming in the sea near her home in Mumbles.
Common Questions About Melanie Walters and Her Fitness Background
What dance experience does Melanie Walters have before joining Strictly?
Walters has no formal dance training. She has stated that her previous stage involvement in musicals and pantomimes relied on character acting rather than technical dance skills, and she describes her usual style as freestyle disco.
Why did Melanie Walters start practising Pilates?
She began practising Pilates more than 20 years ago to improve her posture and support her back after noticing her upper back starting to curve. She subsequently gained advanced teaching qualifications and founded her own studio in Swansea.
What other hobbies does Melanie Walters have outside of acting?
According to the BBC, she enjoys swimming in the sea near her home in Mumbles every day alongside her work as a Pilates instructor and actor.
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