Strictly Star Erin Boag Says Motherhood Her New Priority

For 17 years, Auckland-born ballroom dancer Erin Boag, 39, and British partner Anton Du Beke, 48, have been tripping the light fantastic together, in a journey that has seen them rise through the amateur rankings, turn professional in 2002 and become household names on BBC1’s prime-time show Strictly Come Dancing.

Boag and Du Beke were among the original line-up of professional dancers when Strictly Come Dancing launched in 2004.

The couple performed this month at the BBC Proms in the Park at the iconic Titanic Slipways in Belfast.

After taking part in 10 series of the show as a professional dancer, Boag decided to quit last year when she found out that she was expecting.

She has no regrets about leaving Strictly behind her, saying she has very fond memories of the show. But she says the time was right to go and that motherhood was her number one priority.

“I love being a mum, it’s an absolute pleasure,” she says. “I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it so much. I get woken up every morning at the crack of dawn by my little baby and when I poke my head over the top of his basket, he’s always smiling back at me. You can’t be upset at that. Every day is different. Every day is a milestone. I love it.”

Boag is an honorary patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.

Original article by Maureen Coleman, Belfast Telegraph, September 12, 2014.