Katya Jones’ dance lessons for panto co-stars

ICONINSIDER — Katya Jones has been teaching her panto co-stars to dance.
The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ professional is playing the Wicked Queen in a production of ‘Snow White’ taking place just outside of Manchester, and has been bonding with the rest of the cast by sharing her best moves with them.
She said “I get to do a bit of dancing. There’s a dance-off featuring some of my famous moves and a bit of ‘Gangnam Style’.
“I like to teach my moves to the cast members.
“I think they enjoy having a bit of ‘Strictly’ fun in the traditional panto.
“I also sing a song. I’m not a singer, clearly, but I give it absolutely everything.”
Katya previously played Glinda the Good Witch in a production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in 2019 but admitted she prefers being a baddie.
She laughed: “I think I prefer playing the baddie you know.
“I just love getting into a character, whether they’re good or bad, and panto is right up my street.
“To go from TV to stage is quite nice.”
Katya grew up in Russia so had never experienced pantomime until she first starred in one, but thinks she “fit in like a glove” due to her sense of humour.
She said in a recent interview: “We don’t have anything like panto back at home but somehow my banter is very British. I fit in like a glove.
“You feel responsible being on stage because a lot of people associate Christmas with panto, especially children.
“I love the tradition of it – like with ‘Strictly’.
“When it comes on, you know Christmas is around the corner.”

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