Strictly for fun - but Kev's knees-up is a bit of a pain!

THE Swansea Strictly audience will no doubt be expecting a good dose of theatricality from Kevin Johns when he gets up on the dance floor on October 7.

Judge Kevin Sacre, who starred alongside Kev in Swansea's Snow White a couple of years ago, says he will be surprised if the panto regular takes to the Swansea Strictly stage in something other than a dress and false lashes.

But, says Kev, while he will focus on fun, don't think he is taking the dancing lightly — his knees tell the story of intense hard work.

"It is hard on the knees. I have some aches and pains and my left knee is a bit dodgy, but I can't tell you how much I am enjoying it.

"Apart from the dancing it is a lot of fun being in the group. There are people among the other dancers I knew well and some I knew a little but now we are all close friends and that has been great."

As far as the routines are concerned Kevin takes on a colourful cha cha cha and a hustle and he says he will be concentrating hard on his footwork.

"I am a bit nervous about the cha cha cha because there are some steps at the beginning of it that you have to get right otherwise it throws the rest of the dance out completely. So I have to get those correct."

While you might have seen Kevin cut a rug over the years with comic dance turns at Swansea Grand Theatre's panto, he admits he isn't a natural.

"Most people would say I am not a natural dancer. In my head I am a dancer. But my feet say something else.

"But I knew it was going to be hard work because when I do the panto I see the dancers and how much they do. I think the dancers are the hardest workers in the theatre. And while I am used to being on stage, with this event I am out of my comfort zone completely, so I do have some nerves."

But Kevin is planning to keep the mood light, he says.

"There will be a John Travolta moment. There is something in the rules that says you can't wear a white suit, so it will be a cream one instead for the big moment.

"Because at the end of the day we are having fun and raising money for charity and that is what I am keeping in mind. I am supporting Treat Trust Wales, which is such a good cause. They are opening a well-being and rehabilitation centre at Morriston Hospital and I am, very happy to get behind them and the great work that they do."

Former Miss Wales Sara Manchip is likely to make an impression too.

And much to the delight of her Nan, who is an avid watcher of the TV show and a big dance fan, Sara has fallen head over heels for dancing during the run-up to Swansea Strictly.

2011's Miss Wales will take to the floor with David Morgan to do the elegant Viennese waltz, and she says she will be sad to take the glitter and greasepaint off when it is all over.

"I used to get nervous thinking about the event itself, but now I wish it hadn't come around so quickly because I don't want it to be over. The rehearsals have been amazing. It is a shame the actual event is just one night.

"We have become a real family, laughing with each other, laughing at each others' mistakes and encouraging each other.

"We really enjoy being together and my partner David has been fantastic."

A waltz specialist, you might not guess from his straight-backed demeanour and his natty footwork that he is an LGV driver by day.

But having a fellow learner, albeit a very advanced one, as her partner has made the whole experience less daunting for Sara, she says.

"I have no dance experience at all, but David has been brilliant with me. He is a great dancer, but because he is learning all the time too it makes me feel more relaxed.

"He is a fluent Welsh speaker too, like me, so we talk together in Welsh and he gives me my instructions in Welsh. And we do a lot of laughing."

A university student reading psychology and counselling, Sara has a part-time job in Subway too, so sometimes she heads off to her dance classes after an 11 hour shift, but the enthusiasm doesn't dim, she says.

"I live with my Nan and grandpa and my Nan is so into the TV show. She loves it. She would like to dance herself, but grandpa won't do it.

"So she is so pleased I am doing Swansea.

"I really like watching Victoria Pendleton on the show because she has achieved so much and she is such a role model."

Sara has signed up to support Llys Nini RSPCA on the night, a charity she ran the Swansea 10k for this year too.

She adds: "I just love all they do and hope to be able to help in my own way as well.''