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In this episode of Break the Routine, Marius Iepure speaks with Oskar Odiakosa ; dancer, coach, adjudicator, and founder of Black in the Ballroom.

Oskar shares how he entered ballroom as a child in South East London, saving lunch money for lessons and travelling across the city to train, before building a career as a competitor, teacher, judge, and advocate for greater belonging in the industry.

Together, they explore representation, access, conformity, individuality, and the future of ballroom culture - including why dancers need to play a more active role in shaping the systems they are part of.

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In this episode of Break the Routine, Marius Iepure talks with Ian Waite — former elite Latin dancer, original Strictly Come Dancing professional, teacher, choreographer, and co-creator of FitSteps.

Ian looks back on how dance entered his life during a difficult family period, how the Netherlands chapter deepened his ambition, what television changed about the public’s relationship with ballroom, and why his work today is increasingly about accessibility, joy, and connection. It’s a conversation about visibility, pressure, reinvention, and what dance is really for once the pursuit of status begins to fade.

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In this episode of Break the Routine, Marius Iepure sits down with Phemelo Mabuse ; former South African Latin and Ballroom champion, teacher, endurance athlete and renewable energy leader from Pretoria. Phemelo opens up about growing up inside a family-built ballroom pathway under apartheid's shadow, why she chose a quieter path than her sisters Motsi and Oti, and how dance gave her the discipline, structure and resilience to build a high-responsibility life far beyond competition.

They talk about the township childhood, her mother's fight for black dancers in DanceSport, stepping away from the competitive floor, the transition into Ironman and ultra-endurance sport, leadership in the energy industry, and what the dance world must do better to prepare dancers for life.

In this conversation:

- growing up as a dancer in a South African township

- how her mother built access for black ballroom dancers

- why she chose privacy over public fame - moving from DanceSport into endurance sport and Ironman

- how discipline transferred into renewable energy leadership

- what DanceSport does and does not prepare dancers for

If you enjoy honest conversations about DanceSport, performance, identity and life beyond competition, subscribe to Break the Routine and let us know in the comments what stood out most from Phemelo's story.

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In this episode of Break the Routine, Marius sits down with James Wilson, a British National Latin finalist turned choreographer, performer, and teacher whose career has spanned competition floors, West End stages, and the Strictly Come Dancing world. From being dragged to his first class by his cousin to dancing for Her Majesty the Queen and starring in Dancing with the Stars Turkey, James opens up about instinct, perseverance, and why longevity matters more than titles.

They talk about the reluctant beginning that shaped his life, the reality behind the glamour of touring and TV, the difference between competition prestige and real career building, and why James insists on standards and earned legitimacy while still championing collaboration, access, and giving other dancers a break.

In this conversation:

- being dragged into ballroom by his cousin and ending up running the class

- the truth behind Strictly tours, pantomime seasons, and touring life

- two seasons on Dancing with the Stars Turkey and learning the language

- competition foundation versus the wider entertainment world

- craft versus imitation and why authenticity still matters

- producing his own show with Leila and Flavia

Follow Break the Routine for more conversations with the people shaping the world of DanceSport.

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In this episode of Break the Routine, Marius Iepure sits down with Anthony Rutherford ; dancer, performer, presenter and entrepreneur from Newcastle. Anthony opens up about growing up between football culture and ballroom, the resistance he faced as a young male dancer, and how dance gave him the confidence, discipline and communication skills to build a life far beyond one label.

They talk about stage work, TV and radio, fatherhood, creativity versus perfection, the value of public connection in dance, and how personal hardship can completely reshape your view of success, purpose and legacy.

In this conversation:

- growing up as a boy dancing in a football-first environment

- what dance and football can learn from each other

- how dance builds confidence, discipline and presence

- moving from performance into TV, radio and business

- why creativity still matters more than polished sameness

- fatherhood, identity and building a life beyond one lane

If you enjoy honest conversations about DanceSport, performance, identity and life beyond competition, subscribe to Break the Routine and let us know in the comments what stood out most from Anthony’s story.

What will you do to break your routine today?

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In this episode of Break the Routine, Marius sits down with Nicole Cutler to explore a life shaped by ambition, reinvention, and a deep love of ballroom - from growing up and competing in South Africa to building a remarkable career in the UK as a Latin champion, performer, coach, adjudicator, and one of DanceSport’s most thoughtful public voices.

They talk about what it took to leave home at 18 to chase the dream of England and Blackpool, what success and pressure felt like behind the glamour, how partnerships and life transitions reshaped her identity, and why Nicole now speaks so openly about judging, coaching, musicality, female perspective, and the ways the industry can better develop dancers without losing humanity.

In this conversation:

- leaving South Africa for the UK in pursuit of the ballroom dream

- the reality behind elite success, pressure, and partnership life

- what performing, coaching, and judging revealed about the industry

- why Nicole speaks out on musicality, female perspective, and dancer development

- how ballroom can evolve without losing quality, humanity, and common sense

Follow Break the Routine for more conversations with the people shaping the world of DanceSport.

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In this episode of Break the Routine, Marius sits down with Jaime Dieguez to explore a life shaped inside one dance home - from starting in children’s classes at seven years old to now helping lead County Dance nearly 70 years into its story. Jaime reflects on legacy, standards, and what it means to build dancers, protect quality, and carry ballroom forward from the inside.

They talk about growing up in a true dance community, why basics and authentic choreography still matter, how favouritism and politics distort opportunity, and what leadership really costs when you are trying to leave the culture healthier than you found it.

In this conversation:

- growing up inside County Dance and why it feels like family

- the shift from chasing titles to building dancers and community

- why basics, patience, and authentic choreography still matter

- how favouritism and politics damage fairness in ballroom

- what legacy, stewardship, and reform look like from inside the system

Follow Break the Routine for more conversations with the people shaping the world of DanceSport.

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In this episode of Break the Routine, Marius Iepure sits down with Michael Shelton to explore an unusual life shaped by law, theatre, and nearly 50 years around the world of DanceSport. From an unexpected introduction through Peter Maxwell to senior roles in judging, governance, and discipline, Michael reflects on how trust, fairness, and authority are built — and challenged — inside a sport that lives between artistry, politics, and procedure.

They talk about how Michael first entered the dance world, what he learned from a career as a judge and theatre producer, why DanceSport still struggles with fragmentation and control, and what fairness really means in a system where subjectivity can never fully disappear.

In this conversation:

- Michael’s unusual path from law and theatre into DanceSport

- how judging, trust, and fairness work behind the competition floor

- the tension between politics, procedure, and credibility in the sport

- what DanceSport still struggles with when it comes to governance and control

- why protecting fairness in an inherently subjective world is so difficult

Follow Break the Routine for more conversations with the people shaping the world of DanceSport.