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What happens when a life built on performance turns toward presence? We sit down with world‑ranked dancer and coach Andrew Cuerden for a candid journey from a disciplined South African childhood to London hostels, global competitions, and the bright lights of Strictly—then beyond fame to the deeper craft of connection. Andrew shares how a £500 leap of faith, a resilient family ethos, and the hungry years shaped his artistry, and why the real validation didn’t come from TV but from peers at the Royal Albert Hall.
The conversation opens up the hidden mechanics behind partner dance—alignment, balance, timing, frame—and shows how they map directly onto relationships, communication, and trust. Andrew explains why proximity on the floor can expose cracks at home, how professionals “see a body” before a romance, and the practical ways he helps couples reconnect by removing words and letting the body learn safety. We explore the honest tensions of love and work: jealousy, freedom versus connection, and the central commitment that allows both partners to stretch without breaking. His concept of metaphysical dance weaves technique with therapy, turning lead and follow into a language for everyday leadership and empathy.
Andrew’s evolution from filling space to holding it reframes mastery as presence, patience, and passion. He talks about building Soul Hub with Carmen, creating gatherings that use movement and nature to bridge difference, and resisting the comforts that can dull creativity. At the heart of it all is the dragon he continues to face—self‑worth—and the choice to break the mould, find value beyond applause, and sustain joy by reinvesting in his own practice. If you’re curious about the crossroads of artistry, purpose, and relationship, this conversation offers both story and strategy you can feel in your bones.
If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves dance or personal growth, and leave a quick review—what did you take from Andrew’s approach to connection?

This Podcast is sponsored by Onlinevents