Smash hit

Have you ever been hard up?

Yes, I had very little money at the age of 24, when I taught in a pub. I even thought about selling my home as I could barely pay the mortgage. Then Pontin’s, the holiday firm, offered some work and that saved us.

They wanted my dance partner and me to work four nights a week all summer for £25 a show. It meant I could pay off my debts. I did the job for three years while I set up my first studio — I’ve had four in all.

What is the most lucrative work you have done?

The best-paid job was going to America for seven weeks and appearing on Dance with the Stars on ABC. At the time, it was more favourable to be paid in US dollars because of the poor exchange rate, so I opened a dollar account with NatWest.

I’m still waiting for the rate of exchange to go the other way, which it will do again, I’m sure, but maybe not for some months. When the time is right I will probably cash it all in and go on a big spending spree.

Do you own a property?

I have two. I own my three-bedroom, Victorian terraced house, which is right on the Thames. I’ve had this house for seven years. I paid £125,000 for it and I believe it would now be worth in the region of £340,000.

I also own another dance premises in Gravesend, Kent, which has a self-contained flat above it. I bought this property for £47,000 about 22 years ago and I reckon it is now worth £400,000 or so, perhaps more.

I lease my studio in Dartford, which I’ve had now for about 30 years.

Do you invest in shares?

Until six years ago I used to mess around with stocks and shares. I don’t any more. My philosophy is that a profit is only a profit if you take it. Once there is a bit of profit in a share I get out.