Date of Birth:
1944 Manchester
Show History: Current Role
Arlene Phillips' love for dance was clear since the very early stages of her life. She had grown to love it and, when she finally got the opportunity to take her dancing to that next level, she put a huge amount of effort into becoming a successful choreographer.
Arlene Phillips first shot to fame when she stepped in as one of a panel of four judges on the BBC1 programme Strictly Come Dancing. She was also a judge on two series of the related BBC show Strictly Dance Fever and has since assessed the BBC's Saturday night DanceX talent show with Bruno Tonioli.
In January 2008 it was revealed that Arlene was to choreograph the ITV1 musical drama Britannia High. Arlene Phillips currently has three shows playing in the West End for which she choreographed the dance routines; Grease, The Sound of Music and We Will Rock You.
Early Life
Arlene Phillips was born in Manchester in 1944 where she first discovered her passion for dancing. After a lengthy career on the stage, Arlene focussed her attention on working behind the scenes and is now one of the most famous and respected British choreographers in the arts today.
Arlene managed to overcome personal tragedy after the death of her Mother when she was just 15, to succeed as one of the most successful choreographers in the world.
Career Highlights
After training as a dancer at The Muriel Tweedy School of Dance, Arlene Phillips founded the innovative dance troupe Hot Gossip. She then went on to score the original choreography for many West End Broadway shows, numerous music videos and countless TV programmes.
Arlene has choreographed over one hundred commercials in England, Europe and the USA including: Dr Pepper, 7-Up, Coca-Cola, Levi Jeans, Burger King, Vidal Sassoon, Yellow Pages and American Express. Many of her videos include work with Aretha Franklin, Robbie Williams, Freddie Mercury and Queen, The Bee Gees, Duran Duran, Erasure, Boy George, Whitney Houston, Elton John, Cliff Richard, Diana Ross and Tina Turner.
Interesting Facts
- Arlene Phillips directed and choreographed Saturday Night Fever- the stage musical, in the West End and on Broadway.
- Phillips was also the director and choreographer for Starlight Express on US National Tour which played such prestigious venues as The Las Vegas Hilton.
- She got her break into show business when she was a baby-sitter for Ridley Scott, who used her as a choreographer in an ice-cream commercial on British Television.
- Her mother unfortunately died when Arlene was just 15 years of age. Looking back, Arlene said "it felt like the end of my dreams of becoming a dancer". This was because without her mother's assistance Arlene was unable to see how she could make the journey to dance school on her own.
Awards
- She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1999 for Best Theatre Choreographer for her production of Saturday Night Fever
- She was awarded an O.B.E. during the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2001 for her services to Dance.
- She was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Choreographer in 1987 for her production of Starlight Express
