What do you do when you are one of Britain’s leading dance choreographers and your personality is simply too expansive to stay on that island?
Jump the pond and come to America, of course.
That’s just what happened for Louie Spence, as NBC selected him to be part of a troika of judges who assess and grade the “cirque” capabilities of seven celebrity contestants who have been killing themselves weekly working closely with French and Russian circus pros in hopes of winning NBC’s breakout summer hit, “Celebrity Circus.”
With over 25 years dance experience, Louie Spence has an impressive résumé; he starred in first run West End musicals, including "Cats" and "Miss Saigon." He also worked with top touring UK bands; Take That, Atomic Kitten, Boyzone and the Spice Girls.
Spence was over the moon for the opportunity with NBC.
“I was thrilled to do this, I love it here, and I love everyone on this show,” he shared with me in his trailer, a few hours before the show taping at CBS Radford’s Stage 21 last Tuesday.
“They do television right here in America. It’s bigger and better, and you all spare no expense; this show’s production is top notch, there’s none of this ‘oh lets sweep up the fallen glitter off the floor and reuse it,’ business, darling. Oh no.”
Spence continued, “Here it’s ‘what do you need?’ Bang, you got it, and the network goes the whole hog and spends the money to do it with class.”
In person, Spence is a charmer, warm and irrepressible, immediately asking if he can get me something to drink, and then showing me his suit for the night’s taping.
“I am who I am; this is no act I’m putting on. I simply cannot help it, darling” laughed Spence. “No way could I ever had a corporate or office existence, to my very core I love glamour, dance and the performing arts.”
He came from humble beginnings, born in Enfield, North London, then growing up in Essex. He was one of four kids from a working class family whose mum was hard pressed to find activities for them all. She managed to enroll his three siblings in dance classes which made the fourth kid, Louie, a freebie. “I was in dance classes for free thanks to being the fourth one, and of all us kids I took to it the most naturally, I thrived in dance.”
“So, I began to dance when I was about five, then at age twelve I was enrolled in a stage school, then I did shows like “Grange Hill” (BBC TV drama) and I did “Bugsy Malone” the musical at the National Theatre in Haymarket and I did commercials too."
From there Louie was enrolled in the London Studio Centre, and after three years he went straight into “Miss Saigon,” the original cast. He also won the role of Magical Mister Mistoffelees in “Cats.”
It wasn’t just dance that Louie had a natural talent for, he’s a born contortionist too, and it enabled him to perform amazing extensions in dance. He demonstrated his dexterity as he quickly put his leg up over his head and practically around the other side. To say he is flexible is an understatement. Louie even rocked out a fast flip on stage after giving contestant and “fierce diva” Stacey Dash mad props the week earlier on the show.
Louie was snapped up by Italy’s RAI UNO TV which took him to Rome in 1991 to join the legendary TV show, Fantastico. He earned the coveted title of Primo Ballerino
“I got to a point that it was time to hang up the g-string and revealing dance outfits for stage. You know, darling, something’s got to give, and for me the interest went to finding and nurturing new talent in dance.”
Television quickly discovered the natural showman. “I was signed on to present a TV talent show in the UK called ‘Bump and Grind’ for three seasons,” explained Louie. The show was a hugely successful reality TV show on Sky’s Trouble channel.
The show scoured cities like Manchester and London for dancing talent to become finalists selected for either Louie’s crew or another presenter in the dance competition.
“That show really opened up a lot of minds, and taught some great lessons to the kids in the audience. I was completely myself, and it taught the kids who watched that there’s room for us all, everyone, black, white, Asian, gay, straight, no matter - everyone has something to give. Just be who you are, and don’t fight it,” said Louie.
“The acceptance I got from the audience was really important; it just reinforced the message to kids to not give up. Never give up. I am healthy, I avoided drugs my whole life, and if you work hard you too, and take care of yourself you will succeed. I feel I am so lucky just to be here.”
The Judges: Louie, Aurelia and Mitch, courtesy of NBC
Spence continued, “This show, NBC’s Celebrity Circus celebrates the beauty and the physical arts of the circus. All these contestants are passionate about their efforts, I mean my God, look at Christopher Knight, he’s fifty and fabulous! He is inspiration to all men, in the prime of his life.
Stacey, courtesy of NBC
Stacey gave me butterflies, she’s captured me, just sexual energy that is pure, and she’s feral.
You see, just from my own experience of acrobatics, dance and choreography I understand what they (contestants) all are doing out there, not just the technical aspects that Aurelia and Mitch seem to focus on, but the linking of the artistry, physical technical feats and the choreography. I get that, I see this.”
NBC’s Celebrity Circus airs next Wed., July 9th 10/9c.
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