Cooking on the Ritz

Choreographer and creative director Arlene Phillips' career includes a host of musical, stage and screen credits.

I hope this brings many people who haven’t experienced dance before to live the joy I’ve had throughout my life from dance

She first came to prominence when she created the risque dance troupe Hot Gossip in 1974. Since then she has choreographed some of the most successful musicals in West End and Broadway history.

She was a regular panellist for six series of Strictly Come Dancing and she was awarded a CBE in 2013 for her services to dance.

We asked Arlene what creativity means to her:

How do you get creative outside of work?

Creative cookery combined with dance, I call it Cooking on the Ritz!

How does it make you feel?

I’d like to say “fabulous” but as I still have a lot to learn I would call it stressful fun.

Why would you encourage other people to get creative?

Everyone needs to open the mind to something that can bring them a different kind of fulfilment into their busy lives as it energises and complements whatever they may do as a day job. I hope this brings many people who haven’t experienced dance before to live the joy I’ve had throughout my life from dance.