Winning Strictly, Dealing with Rejection & My Insecurities With my Mentor & Disruptive Entrepreneur Rob Moore
Kevin is best known as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing and in this first episode of the Kevin Clifton Show, he sits down with his mentor, Rob Moore and they talk all things from performing, dancing and Strictly to understanding yourself and why being in the spotlight has more than one side.
This very personal podcast is an insight into the man who is the current glitterball champion and the journey he is on. He is someone who wants to entertain and has achieved this through Strictly but if you want to get to know the real Kevin Clifton then this podcast is a must.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
My vision for the podcast is to bring people from all areas of performing life to talk about what it is really like. When you have the chance to listen to successful people and hear about their journeys and vulnerabilities then you are able to identify more closely with them and imagine it is possible for you to do it as well. As a performer, your worth in your career is entirely based on the opinion of the judges or an audience. I have always worried about other’s opinions, have constant imposter syndrome and suffer from anxiety across all areas of my life. Instead of thinking I love entertaining and I'm going out to entertain my thought process is focused on feeling I am not good enough, It’s the paradox of being successful. If there is no void there is no drive. My demeanour is co-dependant on how an audience reacts, in relationships, it’s based on what my partner thinks. You can’t help but notice how the crowd are performing and I can be very reliant on the energy of the audience Winning Strictly was an amazing moment that I’ll never forget but there was that thought about this success being a result of the people voting and so you are dependent on the approval of others. I've always had this need to prove myself and it has resulted in me having an incredible drive for work and to achieve. I went through a stage of total self-hatred and I didn’t know how to deal with it I didn’t know how to function as a person, and I don’t know how to label it. I was constantly a ball of stress and emotion. I had been convinced I needed to change but it was about not becoming something different but getting back to who you are. As a kid, you live to your best values but as you grow up you put labels on yourself and then fight for the labels because they have become your identity. It’s vital to get rid of all the stuff and get back to what makes you feel happy and your values. Getting back in touch with who I am as a person and concentrating on what I really want to do in life and being clear about my values has moved my life from darkness and self-hatred to a much better place. You must be true to yourself and not be ruled by the expectation of others. You must be the person you are not the person you think others want you to be.
BEST MOMENTS
‘I’ve just never been that confident and worry about whether people like me all the time’
‘I was constantly this ball of stress and emotion, constantly sad and emotional’
My mum and dad invested in me and my sister they did anything to help us along in our careers
‘I am starting to understand it doesn’t matter and most people don’t care’
ABOUT THE HOST
Kevin Clifton is a professional dancer who has been performing & competing at the highest level for over a decade. Kevin has worked on shows like 'Burn the floor' & 'Rock of Ages' to 'Strictly Come Dancing' one of the biggest TV shows in the UK which Kevin won in 2018.
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